Spirit and flesh in conflict – Exegetical and meta exegetical reflections

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7213/2175-1838.17.001.DS01

Abstract

The article analyzes the conflict between Spirit and flesh in Galatians 5:13-26, challenging traditional dualistic interpretations. Instead of a metaphysical dichotomy between human and divine, it proposes a socio-political reading, situating the opposition within the context of the Galatian communities. Flesh does not represent a cosmic force or sinful nature but rather an attempt to structure Christian identity under the norms of the Law and the Greco-Roman honor system. The Spirit, on the other hand, operates within the community, fostering a model of coexistence based on freedom and mutual love. The article critiques exegetical approaches that implicitly reintroduce ontological dualism and suggests that the conflict between flesh and Spirit should be understood through the social and historical relations of Paul’s communities. Using contemporary categories, such as subjectivation devices, the study demonstrates that Paul proposes a new community organization where freedom is not individual autonomy but heteronomy without domination. Thus, the exegesis of Galatians 5:13-26 is reconnected with social and political reality, offering a more coherent reading of Pauline thought and relevance for contemporary contexts.

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Author Biography

Julio Paulo Tavares Mantovani Zabatiero, Faculdade Teológica de São Paulo da IPI do Brasil

Ph. D. in Theology

Professor

Published

2025-04-30

How to Cite

Zabatiero, J. P. T. M. (2025). Spirit and flesh in conflict – Exegetical and meta exegetical reflections. Pistis Praxis, 17(1), 05–18. https://doi.org/10.7213/2175-1838.17.001.DS01