We Know No Man After The Flesh

[fivesense]

Sometimes an awful lot of stuff can be packed into a passage of scripture, and I think this one is one of those. From what I know of the word of God, Paul never met the Lord face to face while He was on earth, so what does this "after the flesh" business amount to? Any thoughts would be welcomed.
fivesense



AV 2C 5:16 . Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [him] no more.


The surrounding verses are supportive, but this conclusion is pretty strict. Whada ya think?

 

[jiggyfly]

Here is a couple of other translations of this text that you might want to consider.


So that we henceforth have known no one according to the flesh, and even if we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him no more; YLT


So that we, from now on, are acquainted with no one according to flesh. Yet even if we have known Christ according to flesh, nevertheless now we know Him so no longer. TCV

Some help may come from the context.
[font="'Times New Roman"]14 For the love of Christ is constraining us, judging this, that, if One died for the sake of all, consequently all died.
15 And He died for the sake of all that those who are living should by no means still be living to themselves, but to the One dying and being roused for their sakes.
16 So that we, from now on, are acquainted with no one according to flesh. Yet even if we have known Christ according to flesh, nevertheless now we know Him so no longer.
17 So that, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: the primitive passed by. Lo! there has come new!
18 Yet all is of God, Who conciliates us to Himself through Christ, and is giving us the dispensation of the conciliation,
19 how that God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them, and placing in us the word of the conciliation.[/font]

 

[fivesense]

Thank you jiggyfly. Those surrounding verses are good and are connected. Still, I was wondering about Paul having "known Christ after the flesh", which he never did according to the record, and then not knowing Him that way any longer. How can he know Him according to flesh, having never met Him in person, and then turn around and say he did know Him "according to flesh"? There's a nugget here, I just know it...
fivesense

 

[jiggyfly]

Thank you jiggyfly. Those surrounding verses are good and are connected. Still, I was wondering about Paul having "known Christ after the flesh", which he never did according to the record, and then not knowing Him that way any longer. How can he know Him according to flesh, having never met Him in person, and then turn around and say he did know Him "according to flesh"? There's a nugget here, I just know it...
fivesense

I'll study some on it too.

 

[whirlwind]

Thank you jiggyfly. Those surrounding verses are good and are connected. Still, I was wondering about Paul having "known Christ after the flesh", which he never did according to the record, and then not knowing Him that way any longer. How can he know Him according to flesh, having never met Him in person, and then turn around and say he did know Him "according to flesh"? There's a nugget here, I just know it...
fivesense

11 Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [him] no more.​

Is "the flesh" the flesh of Christ or....Paul's (and ours) flesh/carnal nature? We knew Christ according to the letter and then, as a new creature....we know Him in spirit. Our flesh nature is dead.

So, is the verse saying.....When we have died to self, when our carnal nature contained in our "old man" has been crucified with Him then we live with Him in spirit. We "know Him no more" in our flesh bodies but we know Him in spirit.

 

[fivesense]

11 Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [him] no more.​

Is "the flesh" the flesh of Christ or....Paul's (and ours) flesh/carnal nature? We knew Christ according to the letter and then, as a new creature....we know Him in spirit. Our flesh nature is dead.

So, is the verse saying.....When we have died to self, when our carnal nature contained in our "old man" has been crucified with Him then we live with Him in spirit. We "know Him no more" in our flesh bodies but we know Him in spirit.

I really like that response whirlwind. It looks to be the crux of the passage.

There was a time when Jesus Christ was "according to flesh", walking and talking among His disciples in the land, and teaching them at that time. Paul was not among them. Paul seems to have begun his ministry teaching the same things, but, at some point, he seems to discard the principles of works and faith, which was the Lord's message while He was alive, and begins to preach grace and faith-obedience above those things, the power of God manifesting in a new, spiritual creation. This appears to be what the glorified Christ came back to earth to tell Paul to preach, knowing the Jews would continue to reject the terms of the New Covenant made in His blood. It is a spiritual Body that God is working through now, not a Jewish priesthood, as planned.

So, I think it is at least a combination of what you are saying, the death to self resulting in life with Him in spirit, and the fact that the things the Lord taught and preached were limited and confined because of weak flesh.

It is only through the faith of Christ operating in us powerfully that fruit and growth can take place, it can't be done any other way by humanity. Maybe Paul is putting the kabosh on works as proof of sonship towards God, having dealt with false brethren and the hostile disciples of the Lord under James. Maybe it was the turning point in God's operations, and Paul was, like the Prophets of old, the deliverer of the message. Could be...
fivesense