The Bible Book

300

See also: Council of Jerusalem 292–93 ■ The Way of Love 296–97 ■

The Power of the Resurrection 304–05

I

n his letter to the Galatians—

new churches in a province

in present-day Turkey—Paul

delivers an impassioned affirmation

of the importance of having faith in

Christ, as he implores the people

not to return to a sinful life.

In Galatians 5, in particular,

Paul uses two lists in order to

compare the vices produced by

human effort to the virtues that

are “the fruit of the Spirit” (5:22).

The first list outlines “acts of the

flesh,” listing qualities such as

“sexual immorality ... hatred” and

“selfish ambition” (5:19–20) among

the vices of sinful humanity. For

Paul, these sins dominate a society

that has become focused purely

on its selfish impulses.

The second list establishes

the virtuous alternative to sin

as the “fruit of the Spirit”—love,

joy, peace, forbearance, kindness,

gentleness, and self-control. For

Paul, those who have embraced

these “have crucified the flesh”

(5:24) within themselves and have

been freed from their egotism,

enabling them to better serve God.

Although Greek and Roman

philosophers often made lists of

vices and virtues, Paul’s primary

intention in Galatians is to draw

attention to the inevitable choice

between the sins of the self-

righteous and living by the Spirit.

Paul focuses on vices that cause

dissent among communities, such

as jealousy, factions, and envy. The

“fruit of the Spirit,” in contrast,

emphasizes principles centered on

healing communities; such as love,

patience, and gentleness. ■

BUT THE FRUIT OF THE

SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY,

PEACE, FORBEARANCE,

AND KINDNESS

GALATIANS 5:22–23, FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT

IN BRIEF

PA S SAGE

Galatians 5:13–26

THEME

Living by the Spirit

SETTING

48–55 ce Galatia, a province

in modern-day Turkey.

KEY FIGURES

Paul An Apostle of Christ who

acted as a missionary in the

early Christian Church, later

writing letters to the churches

he founded. Many of these

epistles became books of the

New Testament.

Galatians Lapsed followers of

Christ from Galatia, a Roman

province founded in the 3rd

century bce.

So, I say, walk by the Spirit,

and you will not gratify

the desires of the

sinful nature.

Galatians 5:16

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