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Paul's Statement on Regarding Christ According to Flesh

In 2 Corinthians 5:16, Paul states, "Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer" [1]. This declaration signifies a profound shift in perspective for believers, moving beyond superficial or worldly evaluations of individuals, including Christ himself [11].

The term "flesh" (Greek: sarx) in biblical usage carries multiple meanings. In the Old Testament, it can refer to a part of the body, the entire body, all living things, or humanity as a whole, often implying mutability and weakness [3]. In the New Testament, particularly in Paul's writings, "flesh" frequently denotes the sinful element or a worldly way of living [3, 2]. For instance, Galatians 5:24 speaks of crucifying "the flesh with its passions and desires" [2]. Augustine, in his anti-Manichaean writings, clarifies that Paul's use of "flesh" in passages like "the flesh lusteth against the spirit" refers to the sinful inclinations that persist even in the baptized, rather than the physical body itself [5, 8]. Tertullian similarly interprets "living after the world" as moral behavior rather than the physical body [4].

Paul's statement in 2 Corinthians 5:16 indicates that his previous understanding of Christ, which might have been based on earthly or nationalistic expectations, has been transformed [11]. Before his conversion, Paul, as a Pharisee, likely viewed the Messiah through a lens of worldly power or Jewish heritage. However, after encountering the risen Christ, his perception changed dramatically. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary suggests that "knowing no man after the flesh" means not evaluating individuals based on "mere worldly and external relations," such as being Jew or Gentile, rich or poor [11]. This new understanding applies equally to Christ, meaning that His identity is no longer defined by His earthly lineage or physical presence alone [1].

The patristic writers also grappled with the concept of Christ's flesh. Irenaeus, for example, emphasized that Christ assumed actual flesh from the Virgin Mary, refuting those who denied His physical humanity [6]. Tertullian further argued against the idea of a "spiritual flesh" for Christ, asserting that Christ truly called himself "man and the Son of man" [10]. Calvin, in his Institutes, notes that Christ "suffered his divinity to be concealed under a veil of flesh," highlighting the humility of the incarnation [7]. He also interprets "God manifested in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16) as an express testimony to both Christ's divine and human natures, emphasizing the distinction yet unity of these natures in one person [9].

Therefore, Paul's declaration in 2 Corinthians 5:16 marks a transition from a carnal, worldly understanding to a spiritual one, recognizing Christ and all people through the lens of their new creation in Him [1, 11].

Sources

  1. 2 Corinthians “2 Corinthians 5:16 (NASB) — Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.”
  2. Galatians “Galatians 5:24 (BSB) — Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Flesh — In the Old Testament denotes (1) a particular part of the body of man and animals (Gen. 2:21; 41:2; Ps. 102:5, marg.); (2) the whole body (Ps. 16:9); (3) all living things having flesh, and particularly humanity as a whole (Gen. 6:12, 13); (4) mutability and weakness (2 Chr. 32:8; comp. Isa. 31:3; Ps. 78:39). As suggesting the idea of softness it is used in the expression "heart of flesh" (Ezek. 11:19). The expression "my flesh and bone" (Judg. 9:2; Isa. 58:7) denotes relationship. In the New Testament, besides these it is also used to denote the sinful eleme”
  4. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP.XLVII.--ST. PAUL, ALL THROUGH, PROMISES ETERNAL LIFE TO THE BODY. (part 1): For that must be living after the world, 580 which, as the old man, he declares to be " crucified with Christ,"[1] not as a bodily structure, but as moral behaviour. Besides, if we do not understand it in this sense, it is not our bodily frame which has been transfixed (at all events), nor has our flesh endured the cross of Christ; but the sense is that which he has subjoined, "that the body of sin might be made void,''[2] by an amendment of life, not by a destruction of the substance, as h”
  5. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 25 [IX.]--CYPRIAN'S TESTIMONIES CON- (part 2): done both in the spirit and in the flesh, the soul which is newborn by Him may be preserved. And this the Apostle Paul openly and manifestly declares by his words. 'The flesh,' says he, 'lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.'"(1) And a little after he says: "And it may be thus understood, most beloved brethren, that since the Lord commands and teaches us even to love our enemies, and to ”
  6. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. XXII.--CHRIST ASSUMED ACTUAL FLESH, CONCEIVED AND BORN OF THE VIRGIN. (part 1): 1. Those, therefore, who allege that He took nothing from the Virgin do greatly err, [since,] in order that they may cast away the inheritance of the flesh, they also reject the analogy [between Him and Adam]. For if the one [who sprang] from the earth had indeed formation and substance from both the hand and workmanship of God, but the other not from the hand and workmanship of God, then He who was made after the image and li”
  7. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 49: what kind of body Christ assumed, but that, when he might have justly asserted his divinity he was pleased to exhibit nothing but the attributes of a mean and despised man. For, in order to exhort us to submission by his example, he shows, that when as God he might have displayed to the world the brightness of his glory, he gave up his right, and voluntarily emptied himself; that he assumed the form of a servant, and, contented with that humble condition, suffered his divinity to be concealed under a veil of flesh. Here, unquestion”
  8. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 61 [LIII.] -- PAUL ASSERTS THAT THE FLESH IS CONTRARY EVEN IN THE BAPTIZED.: Now let us see whether we anywhere read about the flesh being contrary in the baptized also. And here, I ask, to whom did the apostle say, "The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye do not the things that ye would?" (2) He wrote this, I apprehend, to the Galatians, to whom he also says, "He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the w”
  9. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 15.5: in these words, “God manifested in the flesh.” First, we have here an express testimony of both natures; for he declares at the same time that Christ is true God and true man. Secondly, he points out the distinction between the two natures, when, on the one hand, he calls him God, and, on the other, expresses his “manifestation, in the flesh.” Thirdly, he asserts the unity of the person, when he declares, that it is one and the same who was God, and who has been manifested in the flesh. Thus, by this single passage, the true and”
  10. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. XV.--THE VALENTINIAN FIGMENT OF CHRIST'S FLESH BEING OF A SPIRITUAL NATURE, EXAMINED AND REFUTED OUT OF SCRIPTURE. (part 1): Valentinus, indeed, on the strength of his heretical system, might consistently devise a spiritual flesh for Christ. Any one who refused to believe that that flesh was human might pretend it to be anything he liked, for--as much as (and this remark is applicable, to all heretics), if it was not human, and was not born of man, I do not see of what substance Christ Himself spoke when He called Himself man and the Son of man, saying: "But now y”
  11. 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 5:16: Wherefore--because of our settled judgment (Co2 5:14), henceforth--since our knowing Christ's constraining love in His death for us. know we no man after the flesh--that is, according to his mere worldly and external relations (Co2 11:18; Joh 8:15; Phi 3:4), as distinguished from what he is according to the Spirit, as a "new creature" (Co2 5:17). For instance, the outward distinctions of Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, slave or free, learned or unlearned, are lost sight of in the higher life of those who are dead in Christ's death, and alive w”
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