2 Corinthians 5 16

2 Corinthians 5:16 kjv

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.

2 Corinthians 5:16 nkjv

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.

2 Corinthians 5:16 niv

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

2 Corinthians 5:16 esv

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

2 Corinthians 5:16 nlt

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!

2 Corinthians 5 verses

2 Corinthians 5 16 Meaning

2 Corinthians 5:16 declares a profound transformation in perspective for believers, rooted in the finished work of Christ. It means that, from the moment of encountering Christ's reconciling death and resurrection, believers no longer perceive, judge, or evaluate any person—or even Christ Himself—based on outward, human, or superficial standards ("the flesh"). This new, spiritual understanding rejects prior prejudices, social classifications, or earthly expectations, seeing everyone and everything through the lens of God's redemptive purpose in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5 16 Context

2 Corinthians 5:16 is nestled within Paul's discourse on the radical transformation and reconciliation wrought by Christ's death and resurrection. The preceding verses (5:14-15) establish the profound motivations for believers: Christ's love compels them, His death means "all have died," and those who live "no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised." This foundational truth about Christ's universal redemptive work directly precipitates the paradigm shift expressed in verse 16. Paul is presenting the "new creation" (v. 17) as a present reality that dictates how believers now perceive everything.

The broader context of 2 Corinthians also involves Paul defending his apostolic ministry and credentials against critics in Corinth who judged him by human standards—his appearance, speaking ability, suffering, and lack of worldly prestige. By stating "we regard no one according to the flesh," Paul establishes a principle that invalidates such superficial critiques, shifting the focus from external evaluations to internal, spiritual reality. This verse highlights the move from the old covenant, with its emphasis on external markers, to the new covenant, centered on Christ's reconciling Spirit and transformative work. It's a call to abandon the worldly, carnal lens through which people are typically evaluated, whether they are others, or even Christ Himself, and to adopt God's spiritual perspective.

2 Corinthians 5 16 Word analysis

• Therefore (ὥστε - hōste): This conjunction introduces a conclusion, signifying that what follows is a logical consequence of the preceding statements, particularly Christ's death for all (vv. 14-15) and the resultant imperative to live for Him. It marks a decisive shift in worldview.

• from now on (ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν - apo tou nun): This temporal phrase emphasizes a distinct break with the past. It signifies a new era, a permanent change in perception and evaluation that began with conversion and a new understanding of Christ.

• we (ἡμεῖς - hēmeis, implied): Refers to Paul and his fellow apostles/believers. It implies a shared, communal experience of this transformed perspective among those "in Christ."

• regard/know (οἴδαμεν - oidamen): From the Greek verb oida, meaning "to know" or "to have a settled, intuitive understanding." It signifies not merely acquaintance but a deep, fundamental apprehension or way of seeing. It's about how one evaluates or assesses character and worth.

• no one (οὐδένα - oudena): An absolute and emphatic negation, meaning "not even one." This principle applies universally, extending to every single individual.

• according to the flesh (κατὰ σάρκα - kata sarka): This is a pivotal phrase in Pauline theology.

  • κατὰ (kata): "According to," "on the basis of," "in relation to." It indicates the standard or criterion being used for judgment.
  • σάρκα (sarka): "Flesh." In Paul, sarx often denotes human nature as corrupted by sin, worldly values, carnal desires, or an orientation away from God. Here, it signifies judging based on outward appearance, worldly status (e.g., social standing, wealth, ethnicity, nationality, physical attractiveness), human strength or weakness, human wisdom, or any purely natural, unspiritual criteria. It contrasts with spiritual understanding.

• Even though (εἰ - ei): This is a concessive particle, meaning "if indeed" or "even if," acknowledging a past reality or possibility.

• we once regarded/knew (ἐγνώκαμεν - egnōkamen): From the verb ginōskō, meaning "to know by experience" or "to become acquainted with." The perfect tense suggests a completed past action with ongoing results. This form of "knowing" implies a less complete or experiential understanding compared to oida for the "no one" previously. Paul admits to a former, inadequate, human-centric knowledge of Christ.

• Christ (Χριστόν - Christon): Refers to Jesus, the Messiah.

• thus no longer (οὐκέτι ... οὕτως - ouketi ... houtōs, implied): "No longer in this way." This directly repudiates the former, fleshly perception of Christ, asserting that it has been definitively abandoned.

Word Group Analysis:

• "Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh": This phrase marks a radical departure from conventional human judgment. The implication is that because Christ died for all and all who believe are a new creation (v. 17), the former standards of evaluation based on superficial distinctions (race, status, appearance, national origin, religious pedigree) are now irrelevant for believers. The love of Christ, which motivates this new way of living, dissolves all such worldly categories.
• "Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer": This is a profound personal confession by Paul. Before his conversion (and likely for many others before the resurrection), Christ was perceived by human standards: as a Jewish man, a carpenter's son, a miracle worker, or perhaps even a mere prophet or a threat to religious authority. Jewish people, including Paul, looked for a Messiah according to their nationalistic, earthly expectations (a political liberator). Paul explicitly states that this limited, worldly view of Jesus as simply a man—or worse, a blasphemer executed by Roman authority—is completely superseded by a spiritual understanding of Him as the resurrected, divine Son of God whose death and resurrection offer universal salvation. His value is no longer measured by physical presence or earthly status but by His saving work.

2 Corinthians 5 16 Bonus section

• Paul's Personal Transformation: This verse resonates deeply with Paul's own biographical journey. As Saul, he was an ardent Pharisee who judged Jesus and His followers "according to the flesh"—seeing them as a deviant sect, violating Jewish law and tradition, worthy of persecution. His entire former identity (Phil 3:4-6), rich in "fleshly" accomplishments, was rendered meaningless compared to knowing Christ. His Damascus Road experience was the definitive moment he stopped knowing Christ "according to the flesh."
• Critique of Worldly Wisdom: The Corinthian church itself was prone to "fleshly" judgment, elevating eloquent speakers or worldly philosophies (1 Cor 1-3) and dividing along human-defined lines. Paul's statement is a direct counter-challenge to their carnal way of operating, urging them towards spiritual discernment and unity in Christ.
• Basis for Christian Unity: This verse provides a fundamental theological basis for Christian unity across all traditional societal divisions (Gal 3:28; Col 3:11). If Christ has rendered all human distinctions secondary or irrelevant, then the Church should embody this reality by truly seeing one another as "new creations" rather than defined by race, gender, status, or any other outward identifier.
• The Cross as the New Lens: The cross itself represents the ultimate triumph over "fleshly" evaluation. It was perceived as a symbol of shame, weakness, and curse "according to the flesh," yet "according to the Spirit," it is the power and wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:18, 23-24). The verse implies that believers, having embraced the cross, now evaluate everything through this new, counter-cultural lens.

2 Corinthians 5 16 Commentary

2 Corinthians 5:16 articulates one of the most transformative principles in Christian theology: the abolition of judging by human standards for those in Christ. This verse flows directly from the revelation of Christ's all-encompassing love and redemptive death (vv. 14-15), which empowers believers to live not for themselves but for Him. Consequently, a new criterion for perception emerges: one shaped by the Spirit, not the flesh. "Flesh" here encompasses any external, superficial, worldly, or self-centered way of evaluation that disregards the spiritual reality of new life in Christ. This means prejudices based on race, social status, gender, or outward appearance are utterly dismantled.

The statement that "we once regarded Christ according to the flesh" is particularly striking. Paul, a devout Jew, likely evaluated Jesus during His earthly ministry either as an impostor, a failed Messiah, or at best, an interesting rabbi, rather than the divine Son of God and universal redeemer. This "fleshly" understanding failed to grasp His true identity and the redemptive purpose of His suffering and death. However, post-resurrection and post-conversion, particularly Paul's encounter on the road to Damascus, this earthly lens was shattered. Christ is no longer merely an historical figure, but the living Lord, whose significance is understood primarily through His atoning sacrifice and His role as the head of the new creation.

This verse challenges believers to dismantle their own biases and worldly metrics. If even Christ Himself is no longer viewed by superficial measures, then surely no other human being should be. It calls for seeing humanity, and ourselves, through God's eyes—as potential or actual subjects of His grace, defined by their spiritual standing in Christ rather than their external circumstances. The implication for practical Christian life is immense: it mandates inclusive community, compassionate engagement, and an unwavering focus on the spiritual reality of reconciliation offered to all through Jesus.