The Flesh/Spirit Conflict in Galatians

(Paperback)

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This book questions the long-standing and pervasive view that "flesh" is a force within the life of the Christian that he or she must continually struggle against and overcome only by choosing to walk in the power of God's "Spirit." This internal dualism between the forces of "flesh" and "Spirit" emerges as both a central paradigm for the spiritual life and a major construct in approaching Paul's theology. It is the central thesis of this book that this internal dualism, while accurate in some respects, is nonetheless significantly flawed in viewing "flesh" and "Spirit" as an internal polarity.
Contents: ^I The Flesh/Spirit Conflict in Theology, Lexicography and History; A Rhetorical Analysis of Galatians and the Flesh/Spirit Conflict; The Social Dynamics of the Flesh/Spirit Conflict; A Thematic Analysis of the Flesh/Spirit Conflict in Galatians; The Flesh/Spirit Conflict in Galatians 5:13-26; The Flesh/Spirit Conflict in Galatians 6:1-18; Some Conclusions about the Flesh/Spirit Conflict; Works Cited; Index of Scripture References.

Reviews

Russell sets himself to the worthy scholarly aim of emphasizing and elaborating the significance of the social dimension of the ancient personality for the interpretation of Galatians. -- Charles H. Cosgrove, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Brookfield, IL * Review of Biblical Literature *
Russel has demonstrated a thorough grasp of both the secondary literature and exegetical issues to the antithesis between sarx and pneuma in Galatians. ...experts in the field would certainly find its explication of the Galatian situation quite useful..... -- Stephen Pattee, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Winona * Catholic Biblical Quarterly *
...an interesting fresh contribution...a welcome emphasis on the social dynamics of Paul's dispute with his opponents in Galatia. * The Expository Times *
...an interesting fresh contribution...a welcome emphasis on the "social dynamics" of Paul's dispute with his "opponents" in Galatia. * The Expository Times *
Russell sets himself to the worthy scholarly aim of emphasizing and elaborating the significance of the social dimension of the ancient personality for the interpretation of Galatians. -- Charles H. Cosgrove, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Brookfield, IL * Review of Biblical Literature *

Russel has demonstrated a thorough grasp of both the secondary literature and exegetical issues to the antithesis between sarx and pneuma in Galatians.
...experts in the field would certainly find its explication of the Galatian situation quite useful.

Author Bio

Walter Bo Russell, III is Associate Professor of New Testament at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, California.