CRUCIFY ALL SELF INDULGENCES TO BE WITH CHRIST

CRUCIFY ALL SELF INDULGENCES TO BE WITH CHRIST

By Fr. Felix (African Times Guest Writer)

Lists of virtues and vices are common in the

moralistic writings of the Hellenistic age, and

the lists given here help significantly to explain

what is meant by Paul’s frequent contrast

between ‘flesh’ and ‘spirit’, or at least what is

not meant.

‘Flesh’ is not necessarily the bodily element in

the human personality, for this plays little part

in idolatry, sorcery, quarrelling and other ‘works

of the flesh’ listed here. Some have translated

the word by ‘unspiritual nature’ (REB), others by

‘self-indulgence’ (NRSV), others by ‘natural

inclinations’ (NJB).

On the other hand, the virtues listed are all

‘spiritual’ in the sense of being the gift of the

Spirit of God. It is tempting to understand ‘the

flesh’ as being human nature unassisted by the

Spirit of God, and possibly frail and

disordered.

A further possibility is suggested by the

statement that those led by the Spirit are not

subject to the Law. This could imply that it is a

matter of legislation: the Law is thought of as

an external impetus or curb, while the Spirit is

an internal impetus.

The matter is complicated still more by Paul’s

way (conscious or unconscious) of using words

in several different ways, for instance ‘law’ as

the moral law, God’s law, the Law of Judaism, or

an observed way of behaviour. In any case, it all

stresses the importance of the Spirit for

tolerable human behaviour!