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The Flesh vs the Spirit in Believers' Lives

The tension between the "flesh" and the "Spirit" is a central theme in the New Testament, particularly in the writings of the Apostle Paul, describing an ongoing spiritual conflict within believers [2, 9]. This concept highlights the struggle between sinful human nature and the divine influence of the Holy Spirit.

In the Old Testament, "flesh" (Hebrew: basar) primarily referred to the physical body, all living things, or humanity in its mutability and weakness [5]. It could also denote close relationship, as in "my flesh and bone" [5]. However, in the New Testament, especially in Paul's epistles, "flesh" (Greek: sarx) takes on a more theological meaning, often representing the sinful, unregenerate nature of humanity, prone to sin and opposed to God [7]. John 3:6 states, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit," indicating a fundamental distinction between natural birth and spiritual rebirth [4].

Paul explicitly contrasts the "flesh" and the "Spirit" in Romans and Galatians. Romans 8:5 declares, "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit" [1]. The outcome of these two orientations is starkly different: "The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace" [3]. This does not mean that the physical body itself is inherently evil, but rather that the "flesh" refers to the corrupt human nature that persists even in believers [7].

The conflict is vividly described in Galatians 5:17: "For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want" [2]. This passage emphasizes that the desires of the flesh and the desires of the Spirit are in direct opposition, creating an internal struggle for the believer [9]. John Chrysostom, an early Church Father, noted that walking by the Spirit is the remedy for the lusts of the flesh, suggesting that love, generated by the Spirit, strengthens one against carnal desires [8].

The "flesh" in this context is not merely the physical body but the sinful element that remains in a person even after conversion [5, 7]. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, explains that "flesh" refers to the "corruption of nature, which still is in regenerate persons," propagated by carnal generation and having carnal things as its object [7]. This internal warfare is a continuous aspect of the Christian life [6]. Believers are called to "walk by the Spirit" to avoid fulfilling the desires of the flesh [8].

While Christians "walk in the flesh" in the sense of living in physical bodies in a fallen world, they are not to "war after the flesh" [11]. The warfare of saints is not carnal but spiritual, directed against the devil, the world, and the flesh itself [6]. The goal is not to eradicate the flesh entirely in this life, but to live in such a way that the Spirit's influence prevails over the flesh's desires [9]. Paul's statement, "I have been crucified with Christ... nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ that liveth in me," illustrates this transformation, where the old self, associated with the flesh, is put to death, and a new life in Christ, empowered by the Spirit, begins [10].

Sources

  1. Romans “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. -- Romans 8:5”
  2. Galatians “Galatians 5:17 (BSB) — For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.”
  3. Romans “Romans 8:6 (BSB) — The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace,”
  4. John “That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. -- John 3:6”
  5. 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”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Warfare of Saints — Is not after the flesh -- 2Co 10:3. Is a good warfare -- 1Ti 1:18,19. Called the good fight of faith -- 1Ti 6:12. Is against The devil. -- Ge 3:15; 2Co 2:11; Eph 6:12; Jas 4:7; 1Pe 5:8; Re 12:17. The flesh. -- Ro 7:23; 1Co 9:25-27; 2Co 12:7; Ga 5:17; 1Pe 2:11. Enemies. -- Ps 38:19; 56:2; 59:3. The world. -- Joh 16:33; 1Jo 5:4,5. Death. -- 1Co 15:26; Heb 2:14,15. Often arises from the opposition of friends or relatives -- Mic 7:6; Mt 10:35,36. To be carried on Under Christ, as our captain. -- Heb 2:10. Under the Lord's banner. -- Ps 60:4. With fait”
  7. Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 5:16: For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,.... By "flesh" is meant, not the carnal or literal sense of the Scripture, which is Origen's gloss, as militating against the spiritual sense of it; nor the sensual part of man rebelling against his rational powers; but the corruption of nature, which still is in regenerate persons: and is so called because it is propagated by carnal generation; has for its object carnal things; its lusts and works are fleshly; and though it has its seat in the heart, it shows itself in the flesh or members of the body, which are yielded as”
  8. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: between the spirit and the flesh.”—Lightfoot.—G.A.] path which makes duty easy, and secures what had been said, a path whereby love is generated, and which is fenced in by love. For nothing, nothing I say, renders us so susceptible of love, as to be spiritual, and nothing is such an inducement to the Spirit to abide in us, as the strength of love. Therefore he says, “Walk by the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh:” having spoken of the cause of the disease, he likewise mentions the remedy which confers health. A”
  9. Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 5:17: For--the reason why walking by the Spirit will exclude fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, namely, their mutual contrariety. the Spirit--not "lusteth," but "tendeth (or some such word is to be supplied) against the flesh." so that ye cannot do the things that ye would--The Spirit strives against the flesh and its evil influence; the flesh against the Spirit and His good influence, so that neither the one nor the other can be fully carried out into action. "But" (Gal 5:18) where "the Spirit" prevails, the issue of the struggle no longer continues ”
  10. Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 2:20: I am crucified--literally, "I have been crucified with Christ." This more particularizes the foregoing. "I am dead" (Gal 2:19; Phi 3:10). nevertheless I live; yet not I--Greek, "nevertheless I live, no longer (indeed) I." Though crucified I live; (and this) no longer that old man such as I once was (compare Rom 7:17). No longer Saul the Jew (Gal 5:24; Col 3:11, but "another man"; compare Sa1 10:6). ELLICOTT and others translate, "And it is no longer I that live, but Christ that liveth in me." But the plain antithesis between "crucified" and "live,”
  11. 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 10:3: For though we walk in the flesh,.... The apostle removes the calumny of walking after the flesh, by owning that they were in the flesh, in the body, in a state of imperfection, attended with many weaknesses and infirmities, and surrounded with a variety of afflictions and sorrows; in this sense they were, and lived and walked in the flesh; but then he denies the charge exhibited against them, we do not war after the flesh: every Christian's life is a warfare with Satan, and his principalities and powers, with the world, the men and lusts of it, and with the c”
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