The Study of the Meaning of Ο ΝΟΜΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ in Galatians 6:2
Ho Hyung Cho (The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)
I briefly introduce multifarious views regarding the phrase ο ν?μο? το? Χριστο? in Galatians 6:2. I place my work within broad scholarship’s trajectory by explaining my thesis that the νο?μο? in the phrase refers to “principle,” unwritten law, rather than written law such as the Mosaic law or any other written laws. I investigate the usages of νο?μο? from the 7th century BC to 2nd century AD and pave the way for its various possible meanings. With the certainty that the meaning of a word is revealed in the context in which it is found, I argue that νο?μο? in the phrase in 6:2 refers to “principle,” unwritten law in the situational context of Galatians. In a broad context, 6:2 is in 5:13-6:10, which is termed as Paraenesis, which is made up of exhortations for the people of the new covenant. In the narrower context, 6:2 belongs under section 5:25-6:6, which shows that they should perform in one community with the Christian principle of life, i.e. πνε?ματι στοιχ?μεν (“Let us keep in step with the Spirit,” 5:25). The verb, στοιχε?ω means being in line with a person considered as standard for one’s conducts. Used with the πνευμα as a dative of association, στοιχε?ω implies a sense of order harmonized with the Christian principle formed by the Spirit. For Paul, being led by the Spirit is a sine quo non for believers who are the new people by faith in Christ. I explore ο ν?μο? το? Χριστο? in 6:2 itself. First, I note that ν?μο? is used almost always in q positive sense in Galatians. Remarkably, Paul negatively depicts ν?μο? as the written Mosaic law throughout the letter. Through the difference of the two’s tone, I maintain that the ν?μο? means unwritten law, that is, ‘principle.’ Why then does Paul use ν?μο? to signify ‘principle’? In effect, as is appeared in his letters, he must have known other words such καν?ν, στοιχειον, and ?ρχ? to mean ‘principle’. Even so, he uses it as a device for communication with his recipients as two occurrences of ν?μο? demonstrate in 4:21. Second, I assert that the genitive Χριστο? is a genitive of production/producer, which creates the head noun modified by the genitive. According to this grammatical view, the phrase, ο ν?μο? το? Χριστο? means the principle created by Christ. The principle results from the new era inaugurated by the crucified and risen Christ who is the turning point between the old age and the new one (3:23-25; 4:4-5). Third, as is generally known, the verb ?ναπληρο?ω, which takes the phrase as a direct object, has been understood as having a sense of fulfillment. However, as is mentioned above, it would be appropriate to mean “conforming to a standard” because Paul presents the principle of life for the people of the new age, i.e. the walking with the Spirit. Lastly, “burdens” include all problems that believers should bear in one community. In conclusion, in 6:2 Paul exhorts the people of the new era to conform to the new era’s principle created by the crucified and risen Christ.