Flesh
“Flesh, from its plump freshness”
Summary
A term with extensive application in Scripture denoting the physical body, human nature, kinship, and ethically the sinful nature opposed to the Spirit of God.
☩Physical Meanings
Flesh refers generally to the whole animal creation and to meat used for food. It designates the body as distinguished from soul or spirit, or the whole body as possessed of a soul. The expression 'flesh and blood' serves as a periphrasis for the whole animal nature of man. It is also used for kinship and relationship: 'my flesh and bone' indicates close family connection.
☩Human Nature and Limitation
'All flesh' means all mankind, emphasizing human weakness and frailty in contrast to God. 'Flesh and blood' does not convey inherent sinfulness but merely ignorance and frailty compared to spiritual nature. Peter's recognition of Christ's Divinity came not from flesh and blood but from divine revelation. The Word became flesh—Christ assumed full human nature with all its limitations except sin.
☩The Ethical Sense
Paul uses 'flesh' distinctively to denote the seat and instrument of sin in fallen humanity, opposed to the 'mind' which accepts God's Law and the 'Spirit' which is the principle of life in the regenerate. The flesh is inhabited by sin and inclines toward evil, hindering the fulfillment of divine law. To live 'according to the flesh' is to live sinfully; the carnal mind is enmity against God.
☩Victory Over the Flesh
Though the flesh remains in the Christian, the Spirit resists its accomplishment of lusts. Christ came in the likeness of sinful flesh to condemn sin in the flesh, securing power for believers to overcome. Christians are called to crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts, walking by the Spirit. They are no longer 'in the flesh' in terms of state, though the flesh remains to be mortified daily.
Related Verses369 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Flesh," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Flesh," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Flesh," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 4.George Morrish, "Flesh," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).