After several chapters of polemic against nomos, Paul finally has a kind word for law, commending the “law of Christ” in  Galatians 6:2.

Some have suggested that the phrase refers to a set of teachings of Jesus, the sermon on the Mount perhaps as a kind of Christianized Torah. Other commentators have suggested instead that the phrase comes from Paul’s opponents. Others that the “law of Christ” is simply “love.”

In a fine article on the passage, Richard Hays has pointed out that the phrase is consistent with Paul’s own rhetorical devices. the apostle is fond of employing nomos ironically and even playfully. While attacking the law as a way of justification, he still insists that the Christian life is not autonomous or antinomian. (Hays cites the use of “law” language in 1 Corinthians 9:21; Romans 3:27; 8:2.)

The Galatians want to be under the law (Galatians 4:21). “Fine,” Paul says. “You are. But the law you are under is the law of Christ, which is the law of faith and the law of the Spirit.”

The phrase “law of Christ” is preceded by an exhortation to “bear one another’s burdens” and just before that Paul has instructed the mature, those who display the fruits of the Spirit, to restore all who are caught in trespasses. These are the ones who are fulfilling the law of Christ. Since this is the law of Christ, “bearing one another’s burdens” means not merely helping each other out. “Bearing burdens” means taking responsibility for one another’s sins, sins that are not ours. This is how Jesus “bore  burdens” on the cross:, by taking the curse of Israel to Himself. 

The crucified Jesus is not only the center of Paul’s gospel (the indicative) but also the center of Paul’s ethical instruction (the imperative). Paul teaches that we are delivered from the flesh through the cross, so that we can take up our cross and follow Jesus.

The law of Christ is a law of love but we can be more specific. It is a law that obligates Christians to imitate the love that Christ has shown to us. It is love that is self-giving, love by a cross, love that uses freedom to serve one another, love liberated in order to be enslaved. Truly the nomos of Christ worked out in the lives of His people.