Bible Encyclopedia: Carnal

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

CARNAL

kar'-nal: In the Old Testament there is an expression which indicates sexual intercourse shikhebhath zera`, "lying of seed," (Leviticus 18:20; Leviticus 19:20 Numbers 5:13). In the New Testament the words rendered "carnal" are derived from sarks, "flesh." This refers to the flesh as opposed to the pneuma, "spirit," and denotes, in an ethical sense, mere human nature, the lower side of man as apart from the Divine influence, and therefore estranged from God and prone to sin; whatever in the soul is weak and tends toward ungodliness (see FLESH). Thus one may be carnal (sarkinos), sold under sin (Romans 7:14). Christians may be carnal (sarkinos, 1 Corinthians 3:1; sarkikos, 1 Corinthians 3:3); the lower side of their being is dominant and not the spirit, hence, they fall into sins of envy and strife. The weapons of the Christian warfare are not carnal, not merely human (of the flesh the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version), but spiritual (2 Corinthians 10:4); "not after the law of a carnal commandment" (Hebrews 7:16); "The carnal mind is enmity against God" ("mind of the flesh" the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, Romans 8:7). So, "to be carnally minded is death" ("mind of the flesh" the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, Romans 8:6). There are "carnal ordinances," in contrast to the spiritual ones of the gospel (Hebrews 9:10); "Minister unto them in carnal things," those that pertain to the body in contrast to spiritual things (Romans 15:27 1 Corinthians 9:11). The same expressions are elsewhere rendered "fleshly" (2 Corinthians 1:12; 2 Corinthians 3:3 the Revised Version (British and American) "hearts of flesh"; 1 Peter 2:11).

Is there any difference between sarkinos and sarkikos? The former more definitely denotes the material of which an object is made. It may express with emphasis the idea of sarkikos, the spiritual given up as it were to the flesh.

See MAN (THE NATURAL).

G. H. Trever

Greek

4559. sarkikos -- pertaining to the flesh, carnal
... pertaining to the flesh, carnal. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: sarkikos
Phonetic Spelling: (sar-kee-kos') Short Definition: fleshly, carnal ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4559.htm - 7k

4561. sarx -- flesh
... nature, materiality; kindred. 4561 properly, ("carnal"), merely . [4561
("flesh") is not always evil in Scripture. Indeed, it is ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4561.htm - 8k

4560. sarkinos -- of the flesh
... Adjective Transliteration: sarkinos Phonetic Spelling: (sar'-kee-nos) Short Definition:
consisting of flesh Definition: fleshly, consisting of flesh, carnal. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4560.htm - 7k

4625. skandalon -- a stick for bait (of a trap), generally a snare ...
... 4625 ("the means of stumbling") stresses the () of , ie how someone is caught
by (like their personal bias, carnal thinking). ["4625 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4625.htm - 8k

4754. strateuo -- to make war, hence to serve as a soldier
... to serve in a military campaign; figuratively, to execute the apostolate (with its
arduous duties and functions), to contend with carnal inclinations -- soldier ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4754.htm - 7k

4152. pneumatikos -- spiritual
... From pneuma; non-carnal, ie (humanly) ethereal (as opposed to gross), or (daemoniacally)
a spirit (concretely), or (divinely) supernatural, regenerate ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4152.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

4904. mishkab -- place of lying, a couch, act of lying
... From shakab; a bed (figuratively, a bier); abstractly, sleep; by euphemism, carnal
intercourse -- bed((-chamber)), couch, lieth (lying) with. see HEBREW shakab. ...
/hebrew/4904.htm - 6k

Library

Whether Carnal Intercourse is an Integral Part of this Sacrament?
... OF MATRIMONY AS A SACRAMENT (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether carnal intercourse is
an integral part of this sacrament? Objection 1: It would ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether carnal intercourse is an.htm

Whether Spiritual Sins are Fittingly Distinguished from Carnal ...
... OF THE DISTINCTION OF SINS (NINE ARTICLES) Whether spiritual sins are fittingly
distinguished from carnal sins? ... Now carnal sins are called works of the flesh. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether spiritual sins are fittingly.htm

Whether Carnal Sins are of Less Guilt than Spiritual Sins?
... OF THE COMPARISON OF ONE SIN WITH ANOTHER (TEN ARTICLES) Whether carnal
sins are of less guilt than spiritual sins? Objection 1: It ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether carnal sins are of.htm

Of Carnal Life, which is to be Understood not Only of Living in ...
... Book XIV. Chapter 2."Of Carnal Life, Which is to Be Understood Not Only of Living
in Bodily Indulgence, But Also of Living in the Vices of the Inner Man. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 2 of carnal life which.htm

Parting with Carnal Joys.
... Hymns. Book 2. Composed on Divine Subjects. Hymn 2:10. Parting with carnal
joys. 1 My soul forsakes her vain delight, And bids the ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 2 10 parting with carnal.htm

The Humble Enlightened, and Carnal Reason Humbled; Or, the ...
... Hymns. Book 1. Hymn 1:11. The humble enlightened, and carnal reason humbled;
or, The sovereignty of grace, Luke 10. 21 22. 1 There ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 1 11 the humble enlightened.htm

The Carnal Mind Enmity against God
... The Carnal Mind Enmity Against God. A Sermon (No.20). ... REV. CH SPURGEON. At Exeter
Hall, Strand. "The carnal mind is enmity against God""Romans 8:7. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the carnal mind enmity against.htm

Whether Carnal Intercourse after Consent Expressed in Words of the ...
... OF THE CONSENT TO WHICH AN OATH OR CARNAL INTERCOURSE IS APPENDED (TWO ARTICLES)
Whether carnal intercourse after consent expressed in words of the future ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether carnal intercourse after consent.htm

The Carnal Mind is Unable to Comprehend this Doctrine of the ...
... Fifth Head of Doctrine Article 15 The carnal mind is unable to comprehend
this doctrine of the perseverance of the saints� The ...
/.../various/the canons of dordt/article 15 the carnal mind.htm

October 13. "The Carnal Mind is Enmity against God" (Rom. viii. 7) ...
... OCTOBER 13. "The carnal mind is enmity against God" (Rom. viii. 7). "The carnal
mind is enmity against God" (Romans 8:7). The flesh is incurably bad. ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /october 13 the carnal mind.htm

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Unconverted men are so called (1 Corinthians 3:3). They are represented as of a "carnal mind, which is enmity against God" (Romans 8:6, 7). Enjoyments that minister to the wants and desires of man's animal nature are so called (Romans 15:27; 1 Corinthians 9:11). The ceremonial of the Mosaic law is spoken of as "carnal," because it related to things outward, the bodies of men and of animals, and the purification of the flesh (Hebrews 7:16; 9:10). The weapons of Christian warfare are "not carnal", that is, they are not of man's device, nor are wielded by human power (2 Corinthians 10:4).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (a.) Sensual; pertaining to the body or its appetites; fleshly; sensual; human or worldly as opposed to spiritual.

2. (a.) Flesh-devouring; cruel; ravenous; bloody.

Thesaurus

Carnal (11 Occurrences)
... Unconverted men are so called (1 Corinthians 3:3). They are represented as of a
"carnal mind, which is enmity against God" (Romans 8:6, 7). Enjoyments that ...
/c/carnal.htm - 13k

Natural (49 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 2:15; Ephesians 4:24 Colossians 3:10); (2) the outward man and the inward
man (2 Corinthians 4:16 Romans 7:22 Ephesians 3:16); (3) the carnal man and ...
/n/natural.htm - 42k

Knowledge
... 6. (vi) Sexual intercourse; -- usually preceded by carnal; as, carnal knowledge.
7. (vt) To acknowledge. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. KNOW; KNOWLEDGE. ...
/k/knowledge.htm - 12k

Flesh (468 Occurrences)
... 6. Applied to the Carnal Nature: Flesh in the sense of carnal nature (sarkikos,
"carnal"; the King James Version uses sarkinos in Romans 7:14). ...
/f/flesh.htm - 69k

Man (26072 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 2:15; Ephesians 4:24 Colossians 3:10); (2) the outward man and the inward
man (2 Corinthians 4:16 Romans 7:22 Ephesians 3:16); (3) the carnal man and ...
/m/man.htm - 56k

Whereas (55 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying,
and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? ...
/w/whereas.htm - 24k

Envying (8 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). 1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you
envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? ...
/e/envying.htm - 8k

Emulation (5 Occurrences)
... (DBY YLT). 1 Corinthians 3:3 for ye are yet carnal. For whereas there are among
you emulation and strife, are ye not carnal, and walk according to man? (DBY). ...
/e/emulation.htm - 9k

Enmity (23 Occurrences)
... The "carnal mind" is "enmity against God" (Romans 8:7). By the abrogation of the
Mosaic institutes the "enmity" between Jew and Gentile is removed. ...
/e/enmity.htm - 15k

Divisions (92 Occurrences)
... (BBE). 1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying,
and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? ...
/d/divisions.htm - 37k

Bible Concordance

Carnal (11 Occurrences)

Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
(KJV ASV WBS RSV)

Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
(KJV WBS)

Romans 15:27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
(KJV ASV WBS)

1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
(KJV ASV WBS)

1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

1 Corinthians 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
(KJV WBS)

1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
(KJV WBS)

Hebrews 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
(KJV ASV WBS)

Hebrews 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
(KJV ASV WBS)

Ezekiel 16:36 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness exposed through thy carnal connection with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give to them;
(WBS)

Subtopics

Carnal

Carnal Christian

Carnal Mindedness: General Scriptures Concerning

Related Terms

Natural (49 Occurrences)

Knowledge

Flesh (468 Occurrences)

Man (26072 Occurrences)

Whereas (55 Occurrences)

Envying (8 Occurrences)

Emulation (5 Occurrences)