 |  |
(2)
Corporeity according to its material side, which, as an organic
whole is called soma, body, so in 1 Corinthians 15:39. The
corporeal part of man (Acts 2:26).
(3)
It mediates and brings about man's connection with nature (Gen.
2:23,24; 1 Cor. 6:16). So the contrast between 'children of the
flesh' (Rom. 9:8) and 'children of the promise' (Rom. 4:19). It
indicates kinship (Rom. 1:3; 9:3; 11:14); and all mankind are
designated 'all flesh' (John 17:2).
(4)
It denotes human nature in and according to its corporeal
manifestation (1 John 4:2). 'Jesus Christ came in the flesh' (1
Tim. 3:16). 'Manifested in the flesh'.
(5)
All that is peculiar to human nature in its corporeal embodiment
is said to belong to it. This is specially the aspect of Paul's
Epistles and his use of sarx. It is in contrast with the new
creation (2 Cor. 5:16,17). It stands in contrast with pneuma,
spirit, the divine nature, in a metaphysical and moral sense
(Rom. 8:3; Gal. 3:3; 5:17). Thus sarx comes, at length, in
distinct and presupposed antithesis to pneuma, to signify --
(6)
The sinful condition of human nature, in and according to its
bodily manifestation. So we have 'the flesh of sin' (Rom. 8:3);
'satisfying of the flesh' (Col. 2:23); 'an occasion of the flesh'
(Gal. 5:13). Such expressions as 'the mind of the flesh' (Rom.
8:5,7), 'the lusts of the flesh' (Gal. 5:16,24) and the 'wills of
the flesh' (Eph. 2:3), may be explained by the fact that sarx
denotes sinfully conditioned human nature.
In addition to sarx, 'flesh', we must take note of sarkikos and
sarkinos, 'fleshly' and 'fleshy'. Thus we have sarkinos, 2 Corinthians 3:3,
'the fleshy tables of the heart': sarkikos, 'not as spiritual but as carnal'
(fleshly) (1 Cor. 3:1). The reading in Romans 7:14 is doubtful. The
Received Text reads sarkikos, 'fleshly', but the Critical Texts read
sarkinos, 'fleshy'. Textual criticism appears simple until it is attempted,
and then it sometimes baffles the keenest research and intuition.
What an awful picture of human nature does this study reveal! But what
a blessing beyond words it is to know that the statement can be true of us:
'Ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit
of God dwell in you' (Rom. 8:9).
Romans 6 to 8 has much to say about 'the flesh' and the occurrences are
so wonderfully distributed as to form a very complete survey:
Sarx in Romans 6 to 8
A
6:19. The weakness of the flesh.
B
7:5. In the flesh passions of sin.
C
7:18. In my flesh DWELLETH no good thing.
D
7:25. With the flesh I serve the law of sin.
A
8:3.
The weakness of the law because of the flesh.
a
8:3. Christ sent in likeness of flesh of sin.
b
8:3. Condemned.
c
8:4. Law's requirements fulfilled.