"Other elements of the fruit of the Spirit have also a strong experiential or emotional dimension, particularly...joy and peace. It should be noted, however, that Paul would not have thought of either of these in individualistic terms: joy was characteristically for Paul a shared experience strengthening bonds of community (e.g. Rom 15.32; 2Cor 8.2; Phil 2.19-30; Philemon 7); and in Jewish thought peace was not reducible to a personal tranquility but included all that makes for social well-being and harmonious relationships."
The Theology of Galatians, J D G Dunn, (Cambridge, CUP 1993) p.112
I allow myself in this series of posts, one unsuperfluous comment -
given the heavy dependence of Evangelical spirituality on the writings and theology of Paul,
and in the light of Evangelicalism's characteristic individualism in the narratives of Evangelical experience,
such corrective exegesis might broaden, deepen and renew the Evangelical vision of discipleship
as intentionally following after Jesus in the community that is the Body of Christ,
that Body given to God in praise and prayer and worship,
and offered in service to the world to embody and express the Love of God,
by actively working towards the renewing of creation,
the redeeming of loss, and the reconciliation of all things
in the power of the Living Christ.
Long sentence for one comment I know. Important point though.
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