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Struggling with Fleshly Patterns of Behavior in Christian Life

The concept of "fleshly patterns of behavior" in Christian life refers to actions and attitudes that are contrary to a life lived according to the Spirit. The Apostle Paul frequently contrasts "flesh" (Greek: sarx) with "Spirit" (Greek: pneuma) to describe two opposing ways of living [9]. To "walk in the flesh" signifies a life characterized by human weakness, sin, and self-centeredness, rather than being guided by God's Spirit [1, 3].

Scripture identifies various behaviors as "fleshly." In 1 Corinthians 3:3, Paul states that jealousy, strife, and factions among believers indicate they are "still fleshly" and "walk in the ways of men" [1]. Similarly, Torrey's Topical Textbook lists strife as a "work of the flesh" and an "evidence of a carnal spirit" [6]. Selfishness, characterized by pleasing oneself, seeking one's own interests, and neglecting others, is also presented as contrary to God's law and the example of Christ [5]. Malice, stemming from an evil heart, is forbidden and seen as a hindrance to spiritual growth [7]. Peter also speaks of a past life lived "after the way of the Gentiles, given up to the desires of the flesh, to drinking and feasting and loose behaviour and unclean worship of images" [2].

The struggle against these fleshly patterns is a recurring theme. Paul describes an internal conflict, noting, "I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members" [4]. This internal battle is between the desires of the flesh and the guidance of the Spirit [12]. John Chrysostom clarifies that "the flesh" in this context does not refer to the physical body itself, but to a "fleshly and worldly" life marked by self-indulgence, which can make the entire person "flesh" [11].

Christians are called to live "in the Spirit" rather than "in the flesh" [9]. This involves a commitment to righteous conduct, fearing and loving God, obeying Christ, and following His example [8]. The Christian life is understood as a spiritual warfare, not against physical adversaries, but against spiritual forces and the sinful desires within [10]. Living godly in Christ often entails encountering troubles and persecution [13, 15]. Believers are spiritually joined to Christ, and their bodies are considered parts of Christ, which means they are not free to violate them through sinful acts [14].

Sources

  1. 1 Corinthians “for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men? -- 1 Corinthians 3:3”
  2. I Peter “I Peter 4:3 (BBE) — Because for long enough, in times past, we have been living after the way of the Gentiles, given up to the desires of the flesh, to drinking and feasting and loose behaviour and unclean worship of images;”
  3. 2 Corinthians “Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh. -- 2 Corinthians 10:2”
  4. Romans “but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. -- Romans 7:23”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Selfishness — Contrary to the law of God -- Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Jas 2:8. The example of Christ condemns -- Joh 4:34; Ro 15:3; 2Co 8:9. God hates -- Mal 1:10. Exhibited in Being lovers of ourselves. -- 2Ti 3:2. Pleasing ourselves. -- Ro 15:1. Seeking our own. -- 1Co 10:33; Php 2:21. Seeking after gain. -- Isa 56:11. Seeking undue precedence. -- Mt 20:21. Living to ourselves. -- 2Co 5:15. Neglect of the poor. -- 1Jo 3:17. Serving God for reward. -- Mal 1:10. Performing duty for reward. -- Mic 3:11. Inconsistent with Christian love -- 1Co 13:5. Inconsistent with communi”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Malice — Springs from an evil heart -- Mt 15:19,20; Ga 5:19. Forbidden -- 1Co 14:20; Col 3:8; Eph 4:26,27. A hindrance to growth in grace -- 1Pe 2:1,2. Incompatible with the worship of God -- 1Co 5:7,8. Christian liberty not to be a cloak for -- 1Pe 2:16. Saints avoid -- Job 31:29,30; Ps 35:12-14. The wicked Speak with. -- 3Jo 1:10. Live in. -- Tit 3:3. Conceive. -- Ps 7:14. Filled with. -- Ro 1:29. Visit saints with. -- Ps 83:3; Mt 22:6. Pray for those who injure you through -- Mt 5:44. Brings its own punishment -- Ps 7:15,16. God requites -- Ps 10:14; Eze 36:5. Pun”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
  9. Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 3:3: begun--the Christian life (Phi 1:6). in the Spirit--Not merely was Christ crucified "graphically set forth" in my preaching, but also "the Spirit" confirmed the word preached, by imparting His spiritual gifts. "Having thus begun" with the receiving His spiritual gifts, "are ye now being made perfect" (so the Greek), that is, are ye seeking to be made perfect with "fleshly" ordinances of the law? [ESTIUS]. Compare Rom 2:28; Phi 3:3; Heb 9:10. Having begun in the Spirit, that is, the Holy Spirit ruling your spiritual life as its "essence and active p”
  10. 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”
  11. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: please God, and to make our escape from the flesh? and would you have us be homicides, and so lead us to virtue? You see what inconsistencies are gendered by taking the words literally. For by “the flesh” in this passage, he does not mean the body, or the essence of the body, 435 but that life which is fleshly and worldly, and uses self-indulgence and extravagance to the full, so making the entire man flesh. For as they that have the wings of the Spirit, make the body also spiritual, so do they who bound off from this, and are the slaves of the belly”
  12. Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 5:17: For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit - God still continues to strive with you, notwithstanding your apostasy, showing you whence you have fallen, and exciting you to return to him; but your own obstinacy renders all ineffectual; and through the influence of these different principles, you are kept in a state of self-opposition and self-distraction, so that you cannot do the things that ye would. You are convinced of what is right, and ye wish to do it; but, having abandoned the Gospel and the grace of Christ, the law and its ordinances which ye have chosen in”
  13. 1 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Thessalonians 3:3: 3:3 we are destined for such troubles: Suffering for the faith is often part of a Christian’s life (1:6; 2:14; Phil 1:29; 1 Pet 1:6; 2:21; 3:17; 4:19).”
  14. 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:15: 6:15-17 To be a Christian is to be spiritually joined to Christ in both life and death (cp. Rom 6:3-11). As a result, believers’ bodies have become parts of Christ (cp. 1 Cor 12:12-28; Rom 12:4-5). This spiritual union (cp. John 14:20; 17:21-23) means that they are not free to violate their bodies by physical union with a prostitute.”
  15. 2 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Timothy 3:12: Yea, and--an additional consideration for Timothy: if he wishes to live godly in Christ, he must make up his mind to encounter persecution. that will, &c.--Greek, "all whose will is to live," &c. So far should persecution be from being a stumbling-block to Timothy, he should consider it a mark of the pious. So the same Greek is used of the same thing, Luk 14:28, Luk 14:33, "intending (Greek, 'wishing') to build a tower . . . counteth the cost." live godly in Christ-- (Gal 2:20; Phi 1:21). There is no godliness (Greek, "piously") or piety out of ”
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