Rethinking Pauline Ethics as Compared to Graeco-Roman Virtue Ethics — Implication of the Fruit of the Spirit

Rethinking Pauline Ethics as Compared to Graeco-Roman Virtue Ethics
—Implication of the Fruit of the Spirit

Elijah LIANG Yi Li Yah

The study of Paul's ethics was profoundly influenced by the perspective of Graeco-Roman virtue ethics. Most studies show that Paul's ethics originated from the Graeco-Roman virtue ethics and without much difference from it, just like a new song composed from an old melody. In fact, these studies focused only on the outward framework of Paul's ethics, showing that its embracement, practice, and living was performed by habit. This is demonstrated in the ethics of Aquinas who depended heavily on Aristotle. If looking at it intrinsically, however , there are huge differences between Paul's ethics and the Graeco-Roman virtue ethics. The most representative idea of Paul's ethics is the fruit of the Spirit, which proves that his ethics is not about turning certain virtues into habits, but an inward transformation due to salvation and coming into the sphere of new creation, to live out the virtues by the guidance of the Spirit.