2 Corinthians 5:16
So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
So from now on
This phrase marks a pivotal transition in the Apostle Paul's thought process and ministry. The Greek word used here, "ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν" (apo tou nyn), signifies a decisive change in perspective. Historically, this reflects Paul's transformation after his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus. It underscores the moment of conversion and the ongoing renewal of the mind that believers experience. This phrase invites Christians to embrace a new way of seeing the world, one that is informed by spiritual realities rather than earthly appearances.

we regard no one
The Greek verb "οἴδαμεν" (oidamen) means "to know" or "to perceive." In this context, it implies a deep, discerning understanding. Paul is urging believers to adopt a spiritual lens when evaluating others, moving beyond superficial judgments. This aligns with the broader biblical teaching that emphasizes the heart over outward appearances, as seen in 1 Samuel 16:7. It challenges Christians to see others as God sees them, with inherent worth and potential for redemption.

according to the flesh
The term "σάρκα" (sarka) refers to the human, earthly nature, often associated with sin and mortality. In the historical context of Paul's writings, "the flesh" represents the old way of life, bound by worldly values and limitations. By rejecting this perspective, Paul calls believers to transcend the physical and embrace a spiritual worldview. This shift is foundational to Christian identity, emphasizing the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in renewing our minds and relationships.

Although we once regarded Christ in this way
Paul acknowledges his past misconceptions about Christ, which were based on a limited, earthly understanding. The Greek word "ἐγνώκαμεν" (egnōkamen) suggests a past knowledge that has since been corrected. This admission is significant, as it reflects Paul's personal journey from a persecutor of Christians to a devoted apostle. It serves as a reminder that even our understanding of Christ can grow and deepen over time, as we move from seeing Him merely as a historical figure to recognizing Him as the risen Lord.

we do so no longer
This phrase, "οὐκέτι" (ouketi), meaning "no longer," signifies a complete and permanent change. It highlights the transformative impact of encountering the risen Christ, which redefines all previous perceptions. For Paul, and for all believers, this means living in the reality of the new creation, where Christ is known not by worldly standards but by His divine nature and redemptive work. This transformation is central to the Christian faith, calling us to continually renew our minds and align our lives with the truth of the Gospel.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of 2 Corinthians, addressing the church in Corinth, emphasizing the transformation in how believers should view others and Christ.

2. The Church in Corinth
The recipients of the letter, a diverse and often troubled congregation in a major Greek city, dealing with issues of division and misunderstanding of spiritual truths.

3. Christ
Central to the passage, highlighting the shift from a worldly understanding to a spiritual recognition of His identity and mission.
Teaching Points
Spiritual Perspective Over Worldly View
As believers, we are called to see others through the lens of Christ's love and redemption, not through worldly judgments or appearances.

Transformation in Understanding Christ
Our understanding of Christ should move beyond a historical or earthly perspective to a deep spiritual recognition of His divine nature and work.

Unity in Christ
In Christ, earthly distinctions fade, and we are united as one body. This unity should guide our interactions and relationships with others.

Judgment and Discernment
We are encouraged to exercise spiritual discernment rather than judgment based on external factors, aligning our views with God’s perspective.

Living by the Spirit
Embracing a life led by the Spirit transforms our relationships and interactions, reflecting the new creation we are in Christ.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does viewing others "according to the flesh" differ from seeing them through a spiritual perspective?

2. In what ways can we apply the principle of not regarding Christ "according to the flesh" in our daily walk with Him?

3. How does understanding our identity in Christ help us overcome worldly divisions and distinctions?

4. What practical steps can we take to ensure we are living by the Spirit and not by the flesh in our relationships?

5. How can the transformation in our perspective, as described in 2 Corinthians 5:16, influence our witness to others?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Romans 8:5-9
Discusses living according to the Spirit rather than the flesh, paralleling the transformation in perspective Paul describes.

Galatians 3:28
Emphasizes unity in Christ, transcending earthly distinctions, similar to the call to regard no one according to the flesh.

Philippians 3:7-8
Paul speaks of considering all things as loss for the sake of knowing Christ, reflecting the shift from worldly to spiritual values.

John 8:15
Jesus speaks of not judging by human standards, aligning with the call to regard no one according to the flesh.

1 Samuel 16:7
God’s instruction to Samuel about looking at the heart rather than outward appearance, illustrating the principle of seeing beyond the flesh.
Person and Ministry of the Apostle Further ConsideredC. Lipscomb 2 Corinthians 5:11-21
Missionary EnthusiasmW. Thorpe.2 Corinthians 5:12-17
Paul's Self-CommendationF. W. Robertson, M. A.2 Corinthians 5:12-17
Zeal in the Cause of ChristW. M. Punshon, LL. D.2 Corinthians 5:12-17
People
Corinthians, Paul
Places
Achaia, Corinth
Topics
Christ, Flesh, Forward, Future, Henceforth, Human, Indeed, Longer, Point, Reason, Recognize, Regard, Regarded, Simply, Though, Thus, View, Wherefore, Worldly, Yea, Yet
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Corinthians 5:16

     6166   flesh, sinful nature

2 Corinthians 5:14-20

     6690   mercy, response to God's

2 Corinthians 5:15-17

     6139   deadness, spiritual

2 Corinthians 5:15-19

     5110   Paul, teaching of

Library
August 1. "For we must all Appear Before the Judgment Seat of Christ; that Every one May Receive the Things done in his Body, According to that He Hath Done" (ii Cor. v. 10).
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done" (II Cor. v. 10). It will not always be the day of toil and trial. Some day, we shall hear our names announced before the universe, and the record read of things that we had long forgotten. How our hearts will thrill, and our heads will bow, as we shall hear our own names called, and then the Master shall recount the triumph and the services which we had
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Work and Armour of the Children of the Day
'Let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet the hope of salvation.'--1 THESS. v. 8. This letter to the Thessalonians is the oldest book of the New Testament. It was probably written within something like twenty years of the Crucifixion; long, therefore, before any of the Gospels were in existence. It is, therefore, exceedingly interesting and instructive to notice how this whole context is saturated with allusions to our Lord's teaching,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Great Reconciliation
"God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself." 2 COR. V. 19. Such considerations as we have had before us, are of far more than theoretical interest. They are of all questions the most practical. Sin is not a curious object which we examine from an aloof and external standpoint. However we regard it, to whatever view of its nature we are led, it is, alas, a fact within and not merely outside our experience. And so we are at length brought to this most personal and most urgent inquiry,
J. H. Beibitz—Gloria Crucis

Tent and Building
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.'--2 COR. v. 1. Knowledge and ignorance, doubt and certitude, are remarkably blended in these words. The Apostle knows what many men are not certain of; the Apostle doubts as to what all men now are certain of. 'If our earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved'--there is surely no if about that. But we must remember that the first Christians,
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

The Love that Constrains
'The love of Christ constraineth us.'--2 COR. v. 14. It is a dangerous thing to be unlike other people. It is still more dangerous to be better than other people. The world has a little heap of depreciatory terms which it flings, age after age, at all men who have a higher standard and nobler aims than their fellows. A favourite term is 'mad.' So, long ago they said, 'The prophet is a fool; the spiritual man is mad,' and, in His turn, Jesus was said to be 'beside Himself,' and Festus shouted from
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

Pleasing Christ
'We labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of Him.'--2 COR. v. 2. We do not usually care very much for, or very much trust, a man's own statement of the motives of his life, especially if in the statement he takes credit for lofty and noble ones. And it would be rather a dangerous experiment for the ordinary run of so-called Christian people to stand up and say what Paul says here, that the supreme design and aim towards which all their lives are directed is to please Jesus Christ.
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

The Entreaties of God
'Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech ... by us: we pray ... in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.'--2 COR. v. 20. These are wonderful and bold words, not so much because of what they claim for the servants as because of what they reveal of the Lord. That thought, 'as though God did beseech,' seems to me to be the one deserving of our attention now, far rather than any inferences which may be drawn from the words as to the relation of preachers of the Gospel to
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

The Patient Workman
'Now He that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God.'--2 COR. v. 5. These words penetrate deep into the secrets of God. They assume to have read the riddle of life. To Paul everything which we experience, outwardly or inwardly, is from the divine working. Life is to him no mere blind whirl, or unintelligent play of accidental forces, nor is it the unguided result of our own or of others' wills, but is the slow operation of the great Workman. Paul assumes to know the meaning of this protracted
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

The Old House and the New
'We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.'--2 COR. v. 8. There lie in the words of my text simply these two things; the Christian view of what death is, and the Christian temper in which to anticipate it. I. First, the Christian view of what death is. Now it is to be observed that, properly speaking, the Apostle is not here referring to the state of the dead, but to the act of dying. The language would more literally and accurately
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

The Sacrifice of Christ.
Preached June 23, 1850. THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST. "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead; and that He died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again."--2 Corinthians v. 14, 15. It may be, that in reading these verses some of us have understood them in a sense foreign to that of the apostle. It may have seemed that the arguments ran thus--Because Christ
Frederick W. Robertson—Sermons Preached at Brighton

The Believer a New Creature
We have two great truths here, which would serve us for the subject of meditation for many a day: the believer's position--he is "in Christ;" and the believer's character--he is a "new creature." Upon both of these we shall speak but briefly this morning, but may God grant that we may find instruction therein. I. First, then, let us consider THE CHRISTIAN'S POSITION--he is said to be "in Christ." There are three stages of the human soul in connection with Christ: the first is without Christ, this
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 15: 1869

The Great Assize
Beside that direct testimony, it should be remembered there is a convincing argument that so it must needs be, from the very fact that God is just as the Ruler over men. In all human governments there must he an assize held. Government cannot be conducted without its days of session and of trial, and, inasmuch as there is evidently sin and evil in this world, it might fairly be anticipated that there would be a time when God will go on circuit, and when he will call the prisoners before him, and
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 18: 1872

Substitution
Note the doctrine; the use of it; the enjoyment of it. I. First, THE DOCTRINE. There are three persons mentioned here. "He (that is God) hath made him (that is Christ) who knew no sin, to be sin for us (sinners) that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Before we can understand the plan of salvation, it is necessary for us to know something about the three persons, and, certainly, unless we understand them in some measure, salvation is to us impossible. 1. Here is first, GOD. Let every
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Christ --Our Substitute
Little however, did I think I should live to see this kind of stuff taught in pulpits; I had no idea that there would come out a divinity, which would bring down God's moral government from he solemn aspect in which Scripture reveals it, to a namby-pamby sentimentalism, which adores a Deity destitute of every masculline virtue. But we never know to-day what may occur to-morrow. We have lived to see a certain sort of men--thank God they are not Baptists--though I am sorry to say there are a great
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 6: 1860

A Solemn Embassy
"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."--2 Corinthians 5:20. THERE has long been war between man and his Maker. Our federal head, Adam, threw down the gauntlet in the garden of Eden. The trumpet was heard to ring through the glades of Paradise, the trumpet which broke the silence of peace and disturbed the song of praise. From that day forward until now there has been no truce, no treaty between God and
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 62: 1916

"But if the Spirit of Him that Raised up Jesus from the Dead Dwell in You, He that Raised up Christ from the Dead Shall Also
Rom. viii. 11.--"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." It is true the soul is incomparably better than the body, and he is only worthy the name of a man and of a Christian who prefers this more excellent part, and employs his study and time about it, and regards his body only for the noble guest that lodges within it, and therefore it is one of the
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Life of Mr. Hugh Binning.
There being a great demand for the several books that are printed under Mr. Binning's name, it was judged proper to undertake a new and correct impression of them in one volume. This being done, the publishers were much concerned to have the life of such an useful and eminent minister of Christ written, in justice to his memory, and his great services in the work of the gospel, that it might go along with this impression. We living now at so great distance from the time wherein he made a figure in
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Of Meditating on the Future Life.
The three divisions of this chapter,--I. The principal use of the cross is, that it in various ways accustoms us to despise the present, and excites us to aspire to the future life, sec. 1, 2. II. In withdrawing from the present life we must neither shun it nor feel hatred for it; but desiring the future life, gladly quit the present at the command of our sovereign Master, see. 3, 4. III. Our infirmity in dreading death described. The correction and safe remedy, sec. 6. 1. WHATEVER be the kind of
Archpriest John Iliytch Sergieff—On the Christian Life

Death and Judgement.
TO THE AUTHOR OF THE GUARDIAN. Sir, THE inclosed is a faithful translation from an old author, which if it deserves your notice, let the reader guess whether he was a Heathen or a Christian. I am, Your most humble Servant. "I cannot, my friends, forbear letting you know what I think of death; for, methinks, I view and understand it much better, the nearer I approach to it. 1 am convinced that your fathers, those illustrious persons whom 1 so much loved and honoured, do not cease to live, though they
Joseph Addison—The Evidences of the Christian Religion, with Additional Discourses

The Inwardness of Prayer
The Inwardness of Prayer It is difficult and even formidable thing to write on prayer, and one fears to touch the Ark. Perhaps no one ought to undertake it unless he has spent more toil in the practice of prayer than on its principle. But perhaps also the effort to look into its principle may be graciously regarded by Him who ever liveth to make intercession as itself a prayer to know better how to pray. All progress in prayer is an answer to prayer--our own or another's. And all true prayer
P. T. Forsyth—The Soul of Prayer

The Work of Regeneration.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new."--2 Cor. v. 17. In our former article we contended that regeneration is a real act of God in which man is absolutely passive and unable, according to the ancient confession of the Church. Let us now reverently examine this matter more closely; not to penetrate into things too high for us, but to cut off error and to clear the consciousness. Regeneration is not sacramentally effected
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

But this Being the Case, How to this Opinion that Should not be Contrary...
2. But this being the case, how to this opinion that should not be contrary which the Apostle says, "For we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, that each may receive according to the things he hath done by the body, [2710] whether good or bad;" [2711] this, thou signifiest, thou dost not well see. For this apostolic sentence doth before death admonish to be done, that which may profit after death; not then, first, when there is to be now a receiving of that which a person shall have
St. Augustine—On Care to Be Had for the Dead.

In the Work of the Redemption of Man, not Only the Mercy, but Also the Justice, of God is Displayed.
In the work of the Redemption of man, not only the mercy, but also the justice, of God is displayed. 15. Man therefore was lawfully delivered up, but mercifully set free. Yet mercy was shown in such a way that a kind of justice was not lacking even in his liberation, since, as was most fitting for man's recovery, it was part of the mercy of the liberator to employ justice rather than power against man's enemy. For what could man, the slave of sin, fast bound by the devil, do of himself to recover
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

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