04_Biblica_Aletti_Layout 1 08/07/13 12:56 Pagina 414 414 JEAN-NOËL ALETTI * * * After having laid out the boundaries of the exhortative part of Galatians, and after having shown that one cannot interpret Gal 5,17 negatively, as describing the ethical paralysis of the believers, it has been possible for us to take into account the importance given to the opposition of the flesh/Spirit that goes from 5,13 to 6,10. The radi- cality of the ethical choices (the flesh or the Spirit) and, from there, the ecclesial consequences, clearly indicate a posteriori the decisive importance of the argumentation in Galatians 1‒4: what is a stake is quite simply the gospel! The repeated mention of the term νόµος in these exhortations also shows, if there were need, that the Law remains on the horizon of Paul’s thoughts and confirms the radicality of his position: he is not only criticizing the importance given to the identity markers, in other words to the erroneous usage of the Law, but he is also placing the Law beside the flesh and indicating that it cannot be a way of salvation. Pontifical Biblical Institute Jean-Noël ALETTI Via della Pilotta, 25 I-00187 Rome SUMMARY After having shown that Gal 5,13-25 forms a rhetorical and semantic unit, the article examines Gal 5,17, a crux interpretum, and proves that the most plausible reading is this one: “For the flesh desires against the Spirit — but the Spirit desires against the flesh, for those [powers] fight each other — to prevent you from doing those things you would”, and draws its soteriological consequences. the brothers, they are not however proposing Christ as a model of welcome and compassion. Compare with Rom 14,15, 15,7; Eph 5,2, 25; Col 3,13. This comes without a doubt from the importance given to the divine Spirit and to the effects of his presence in the believers in 5,22-23. © Gregorian Biblical Press 2013 - Tutti i diritti riservati