Wednesday 13 October 2010

Background

Paul, the writer of this letter to the Christians in Galatia, inmodern-day Turkey, has been arguing passionately that the newpeople of God, Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews) who have faith inChrist, are free from the demands of the Jewish Law.

But this is an argument open to misunderstanding. The Jewish Lawwas not just about the outward marks of religious identity, but its613 commandments covered all aspects of human behaviour, righteousliving as well as outward religious symbols. A god who did what isright demanded that his people do what is right too. In generalterms of 'right behaviour' Jews and educated Gentiles would havebeen in agreement, as is evident from the 1st century ethical codesof the wider Greek and Roman world. So Paul could not risk hishearers getting the idea that moral behaviour no longer mattered tothose who were 'in Christ', which could otherwise be theimplication of "If you are led by the Spirit, you are not subjectto the law".

The "works of the flesh" were indeed obvious to both Jews andGentiles, and Paul recites a familiar list. By 'flesh' Paul doesnot mean the physical body, but human life unrestrained by thepower and presence of God ("the Spirit"), and he emphasises thatthose who live like that are not acceptable to God (just in case hehas given the wrong impression).

Similarly, the list of characteristics of right behaviour wouldhave been equally familiar, not least to Jews, but Paul is carefulto say that these are derived not from the Jewish Law but from thepresence of the Spirit of God in the lives of those who are inChrist, both Jew and Gentile. Note that "the fruit of the Spirit"is singular, it is not 'fruits'. The whole list characterises theperson who belongs to Christ. And, just as fruit reveals the truenature of the plant bearing it, so Christians are identifiable toJews and Gentiles as gracious people, guided by the Spirit.

To Ponder

Christians, says Paul, should be recognisable bytheir behaviour, not by outward religious symbolism. How true isthat today?

For Paul, gracious behaviour is the mark of aperson guided by the Spirit of God. How do you understand the workof the Spirit in a believer's life?

How relevant are Paul's two lists today? Wouldyou amend them in any way? If so, how?