Adam the Servant

In a 1962 article, one Leslie Allen connections Paul’s discussion of the work of the Last Adam in Romans 5 with the work of the Servant of Isaiah: ”In Paul’s great formulation of the origin and effect of sin and its redemptive counteraction in Christ (Romans v. 12 ff.) it has been recognized that the concepts of the Son of Man and of the Servant have been united.  O. Cullmann has written of v. 19: ‘Verse 19 shows clearly that the apostle had in mind the Servant of Isaiah: . . . by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.’ This is a reference to Isaiah liii. 11: My Servant shall make many to be accounted righteous.’ A. M. Hunter agrees: ‘The latter half of the verse [v. 19] surely echoes Isaiah liii. 11.’ It is noticeable that Cullmann omits   b e da‘t? [by his knowledge] in his quotation from Isaiah liii.11. But is not that too echoed in Romans v. 19, in the words dia tes upakoes tou enos (‘by the obedience of the one’)?”

This has intriguing implications in various directions.  First, it indicates that the Servant of Isaiah is, among other things, an Adamic figure.  Second, it shows how Paul’s theology of atonement and justification is rooted in Isaiah’s Servant prophecies.  Third, Paul’s interpretation of the phrase “by his knowledge” as “by obedience” is arresting.  Fourth, the reference to “knowledge” in Isaiah 53 becomes more explicable: Because the Servant is an Adam, his work is about undoing the sin of Adam at the tree of knowledge.  Justifying many by his knowledge/obedience might be taken to mean “justifying many by obeying with regard to knowledge,” by a right use of the fruit of the tree of knowledge.