"Christian freedom is not libertinism and the freedom Saint Paul is speaking about is not exempting us from doing good actions," continued Benedict XVI. "The Law we have been freed from and that is not saving us," explained the Pope, is for St Paul the Torah with all its five books and its pharisaic interpretation," which includes a number of behaviours, and "ritual and cultural practices, that substantially define the identity of the righteous man," expressing "a social, cultural and religious identity." The observance of these practices, continued the Pontiff, had become very important at the time when the Hellenistic culture was dominant. Being polytheist and apparently rational and tolerant, this culture "was striving for a cultural stantardisation which was undermining Israel’s identity and the precious legacy of their Fathers’ faith in the One God." Against this strive "a shield was necessary. The wall of opposition protecting the precious legacy of their faith was, precisely, the observance of these practices." This was their function according to Paul, who – explained the Pope – saw "the legacy of the faith in the One God menaced by Christians’ freedom" and for this reason he started persecuting them. (continued)
