Dictionary of Bible Themes The physical aspect of human beings, which distinguishes them from God and is therefore frequently used in the NT as a symbol of human sinful nature in contrast with God's perfection. (The Greek word for "flesh" is sometimes translated by other words and phrases in the passages cited in this theme.). Psalms 84:2Flesh as the bodily substance of human beings See also As individuals or in relation to others Genesis 2:23-24; 29:141 Corinthians 15:39 Galatians 2:20 Philippians 1:22-24 The following two examples from Paul, where the normal word for "flesh" underlies the translation "body", make clear that to live "in the flesh" is normal human experience; the phrase does not necessarily imply that human nature is sinful, even though in many other instances a specific connection between "flesh" and "sin" is intended: John 1:14See also As the means by which Jesus Christ identified with the human race to bring salvation Ephesians 2:15Hebrews 10:20 1 John 4:2 Isaiah 40:6-7 See also As subject to mortality Psalms 78:39Acts 2:31 1 Corinthians 15:50 2 Chronicles 32:8 See also As subject to weakness Psalms 73:26Matthew 26:41 pp Mk 14:38 Isaiah 31:3Flesh as contrasting human nature with God's perfection See also The powerlessness of human beings contrasted with God's eternal power John 3:6; 6:63John 8:15 See also Human or worldly standards contrasted with God's standards 1 Corinthians 1:262 Corinthians 5:16; 10:3-4 Romans 7:18 Flesh as denoting the sinful nature of human beings The tendency to sin See also Jeremiah 17:5Paul does not mean that no goodness at all exists in people; nor that the physical aspect of human beings is inherently evil. He means that humans are invariably infected by evil and subject to its power. Galatians 5:17See also The conflict in human experience between the sinful nature and the Spirit of God Romans 8:4-9Galatians 5:19-25 Galatians 5:19-21 The sinful nature is opposed to God and his will See also This opposition finds expression in a range of acts and attitudes Romans 7:14-25; 8:7; 13:13-141 Corinthians 6:9-11 Ephesians 5:5 James 1:14-15 1 Peter 2:11 2 Peter 2:10,18 1 John 2:16 Romans 8:3 Confidence in the law is futile Galatians 3:3Because of the sinfulness of human nature, God's law is powerless to bring people into relationship with God See also Romans 7:25Even the attempt to find acceptance with God through keeping his law is an act of the sinful nature because it involves rejecting his offer of salvation through his grace. Philippians 3:3-9Romans 8:8 See also The sinful nature controls human behaviour in ways which run counter to God's purpose Romans 7:5Romans 8:13 The sinful nature therefore makes people subject to God's judgment and to death Ephesians 2:3See also Galatians 6:8Romans 8:3 Believers are not controlled by the sinful nature See also Through Jesus Christ's entering into human flesh, God delivers from the power and consequences of human sinfulness Ephesians 2:15Romans 7:5-6 See also Believers have crucified the sinful nature Romans 8:8-9Galatians 5:24 Colossians 2:11 Romans 8:13 See also The power of God's Spirit enables believers to continue to resist the sinful nature Romans 13:14Galatians 5:13 Colossians 3:5-6 1 Peter 2:11 1 Corinthians 5:5 God's provision of church discipline in eliminating the sinful nature See also The discipline of excluding a sinner from the church community is intended to bring him to repentance and so abandon his sinful course of action. Repentance provoked by physical suffering is possibly also in mind. 2075 Christ, sinless5020 human nature 5083 Adam, and Christ 5136 body 6020 sin 6157 fall, of Satan 6203 mortality 6214 participation in Christ 6248 temptation 6658 freedom 8451 mortification 9020 death |
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