SPECIAL TOPIC: FLESH (sarx)

SPECIAL TOPIC: FLESH (sarx)

Scholars differ on how to characterize the different connotations of this term. There is surely some semantic overlap in meanings. The following is merely an attempt to note the wide semantic field of the term. Remember, words have meaning only in specific contexts. Context determines meaning, not lexicons!
1. the human body, Luke 24:39; Rom. 2:28; 1 Cor. 5:5; 7:28; 2 Cor. 4:11; 7:5; 12:7; Gal. 2:16,20; 4:13; Phil. 1:22,24; Col. 1:24; 2:5,11; 1 Tim. 3:16; 1 Pet. 4:6
2. human descent, John 3:6; 8:15; Rom. 1:3; 4:1; 9:3,5,8; 11:14; 1 Cor. 10:18; 2 Cor. 5:16; 11:18; Gal. 4:23,29; Phil. 3:4
3. the human person, John 1:14; Rom. 3:20; 7:5; 1 Cor. 1:29; 3:1,3; 2 Cor. 10:3; Gal. 2:16; 5:24
4. humanly speaking, 1 Cor. 1:26; 2 Cor. 1:12; 5:16; 10:2; Gal. 6:12
5. human weakness, Rom. 6:19; 7:18,25; 8:3-9,12-13; 13:14; 2 Cor. 10:4; Gal. 3:3; 5:13,16,19-21; Col. 2:18
6. hostility of humans toward God, related to the consequences of the Fall, Matt. 26:41; Mark 14:38; Rom. 7:5,14; 13:14; 1 Cor. 3:1,3;Gal. 5:13,16,17,19,24; 6:9; Eph. 2:3; Phil. 3:3; Col. 2:18; 1 Pet. 2:11; 4:2; 1 John 2:16
7. "all flesh" meaning all humans, Luke 3:6; John 17:2; Acts 2:17; 1 Pet. 1:24
8. "flesh and blood" idiom
  1. a human being ‒ Matt. 16:17; Gal. 1:16; Eph. 6:12
  2. a human body ‒ 1 Cor. 15:50; Heb. 2:14
9. Jesus' true humanity (see SPECIAL TOPIC: Gnosticism) ‒ John 1:14; 6:51-5,63; Acts 2:26,31; Rom. 1:3; 8:3; 9:5; Eph. 2:15; Col. 1:22; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 5:7; 10:20; 1 Pet. 3:18; 4:1; 1 John 4:2; 2 John v. 7
It must be emphasized that "flesh" is not viewed as evil in the NT, as it is in Greek thought.
1. For the Greek philosophers, "flesh" was the source of human problems; death freed one from its influence.
2. But in the NT, "flesh" is the battle ground of the spiritual conflict (cf. Eph. 6:10-18), yet is neutral. One can use the physical body for good or evil.

SPECIAL TOPIC: Spirit in the Bible

SPECIAL TOPIC: The Fall of Mankind

SPECIAL TOPIC: Spiritual Warfare