Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 67:2 (Jun 2024)
Article: Hearing The Echo Of Freedom: A Metaleptic Reading Of Paul’s Use Of Isaiah 52:5 In 1 Timothy 6:1
Author: N. Cody Roberts

JETS 67:2 (June 2024) p. 251

Hearing The Echo Of Freedom: A Metaleptic Reading Of Paul’s Use Of Isaiah 52:5 In 1 Timothy 6:1

N. Cody Roberts*

* N. Cody Roberts is a PhD student at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He may be contacted at [email protected].

Abstract: While many scholars recognize the echo of Isaiah 52:5 in 1 Timothy 6:1, they limit the meaning of the echo to a warning against unfaithfulness. However, the intertextual significance is deeper than this warning alone. I argue that Paul employs metalepsis to recontextualize the theme of deliverance from Isaiah 52 to give Christian slaves the hope of a future deliverance. Hays and Wagner argue convincingly that Paul recontextualizes Isaiah 52:5 in Romans 2:24 to depict non-Christian Jews as spiritual exiles under the dominion of sin. Through metalepsis, Paul imports the theme of deliverance from Isaiah 52 so that his reproach implied God’s promise of Israel’s ultimate salvation. I argue that Paul uses metalepsis in a similar way when employing the same verse in 1 Timothy. In 1 Timothy 6:1, Paul uses Isaiah 52:5 to depict enslaved Christians as exiles under the dominion of earthly oppressors. By recontextualizing Isaiah’s hope of deliverance from Babylonian exile, Paul’s metalepsis serves as a divine promise of Christians’ eschatological deliverance at Christ’s return.

Key words: intertextuality, metalepsis, figural interpretation, 1 Timothy, Isaiah, deliverance

In 1 Timothy 6:1, Paul1 employs an echo of Isaiah 52:5 in his charge for Christian slaves to respect their masters and live godly lives in bondage so that the name of God would not be blasphemed.2 Scholars who recognize this echo correctly

JETS 67:2 (June 2024) p. 252

note that Paul evokes Isaiah 52:5 as a warning to the Christian slaves that the sins of God’s people bring reproach to God.3 However, this warning does not exhaust the significance of the intertextual connection between Isaiah 52:5 and 1 Timo...