G.K. Beale, «Peace and Mercy Upon the Israel of God. The Old Testament Background of Galatians 6,16b», Vol. 80 (1999) 204-223

This essay has contended that Paul’s reference to "new creation" and the pronouncement of "peace and mercy" on the readers in Gal 6,15-16 is best understood against the background of Isa 54,10 and the surrounding context of similar new creation themes elsewhere in Isa 32–66, which are echoed also earlier in Galatians, especially in 5,22-26. The analysis confirms those prior studies which have concluded that "the Israel of God" refers to all Christians in Galatia, whether Jewish or Christian. Lastly, the demonstration of an Isaianic background for the concept of new creation in Gal 6,15-16 falls in line with Paul’s other reference to "new creation" in 2 Cor 5,17 and John’s allusion to new creation in Rev 3,14, where Isa 43 and 65–66 stand behind both passages. Isa 54,10 was likely not the sole influence on Gal 6,16, but such texts as Psalm 84 (LXX), the Qumran Hymn Scroll (1QH 13,5), and Jub 22,9 may have formed a collective impression on Paul, with the Isaiah text most in focus; alternatively, the texts in Qumran and Jubilees may be mere examples of a similar use of Isaiah 54 on a parallel trajectory with that of Paul’s in Galatians 6.

a phrase which is based on the new creation prophecies of Isa 43,19 and 48,6-7: cf. "eternal mercy [dsx] unto all [brief lacuna] for peace [Mwl#$]" (1QH 13,5 [=5,11])²³ with "[by bringing to an end the] former [things] and by creating things that are new, by setting aside the former covenants and by [set]ting up that which shall remain for ever" (1QH 13,11-12 [following the Dupont-Sommer editon in lines 11-12]; the discussion of new creation actually begins in 13,8)²⁴. In addition, this example is the only place in Qumran where the two words occur in such close connection as two separate qualities to be bestowed upon saints²⁵! Noticeably, the DSS passage has in common with Isaiah 54 and Gal 6,15-16 (cf. 4,24-27) the mention of a "covenant" (cf. 1QH 13,12), and both Galatians and 1QH have in mind the annulment of the old covenant and the establishment of a new covenant²⁶.