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 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cor 5:15 | Christ died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. | Sets up the motivation for change in perspective. |
| Gal 2:20 | I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. | Echoes the concept of a transformed life in Christ. |
| Phil 3:7-8 | But whatever gain I had, I counted loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. | Reinforces the idea of valuing Christ above all earthly considerations. |
| John 4:23-24 | But the hour is coming, and is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is a Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. | Highlights a shift from external (flesh) to internal (spirit) realities. |
| Rom 8:1 | There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. | Connects knowing Christ apart from the flesh to freedom from condemnation. |
| Col 2:11 | In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made by hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ. | Uses flesh imagery to describe spiritual transformation. |
| Eph 2:15 | by abolishing in his flesh the hostility to the law, with its commandments and rules, so that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace. | Describes Christ's work creating a new humanity, transcending former divisions. |
| Acts 17:11 | Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see that these things were so. | Mentions discerning truth, relevant to evaluating former knowledge of Christ. |
| Matt 26:29 | I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. | Christ speaks of a future, transformed communion. |
| Mark 14:25 | Truly, I tell you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God. | Parallel passage emphasizing future transformation. |
| 1 Peter 1:24-25 | For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever. | Contrasts the temporary nature of the flesh with the eternal word of God. |
| 1 Cor 1:23 | but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. | Mentions Jewish perspective on Christ's humiliation. |
| 1 Cor 15:50 | I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. | Explicitly states the flesh cannot enter God's kingdom. |
| Heb 9:14 | how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to serve the living God. | Emphasizes the purifying power of Christ's sacrifice. |
| 1 Cor 2:14 | The natural person does not accept what belongs to the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. | Highlights the limitation of a fleshly perspective in understanding spiritual truths. |
| Gal 5:6 | For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but faith working through love. | Faith and love are paramount, not fleshly distinctions. |
| 1 Cor 6:16 | Or do you not know that the one who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For God said, “The two will become one flesh.” | Uses "flesh" to denote union, contrasting it with spiritual union. |
| Eph 4:22-24 | to put off your old self, which belongs to your former conduct and is corrupted through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. | Describes spiritual renewal and putting on a new self. |
| 2 Cor 4:16 | So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. | Contrasts the outward decay (flesh) with inward renewal. |
| 1 John 5:20 | We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. | Assures genuine knowledge comes from Christ's revealing work. |
2 Corinthians 5 verses
2 Corinthians 5 16 Meaning
From now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet we know him so no more.
2 Corinthians 5 16 Context
In 2 Corinthians chapter 5, Paul is addressing issues of reconciliation with God and the new identity Christians have in Christ. This verse comes after Paul discusses the powerful impetus for ministry derived from the love of Christ and the conviction that Christ died for all. He then pivots to emphasize that this new reality in Christ transforms how believers view themselves and others, moving beyond superficial, earthly standards. The Corinthian church faced internal divisions and influences from false apostles, who likely operated on worldly prestige and relationships. Paul’s assertion here is a polemic against judging or relating to people based on their earthly status, achievements, or perceived power, a common practice in the Greco-Roman world and in contemporary Jewish religious circles. He is establishing a new basis for relationships and assessment grounded in one's standing with Christ.
2 Corinthians 5 16 Word Analysis
Swy (hōs) - "thus," "so," "in this way." Indicates the manner or method by which something is done or regarded.
kai (kai) - "and." A common conjunction linking clauses or words.
ē (ē) - "or," "but rather." Introduces a contrast or an alternative.
egnoōmen (egnōmen) - "we knew," "we have come to know." Perfect tense indicating a completed action with continuing results, referring to their past knowledge.
Xriston (Christon) - "Christ." The Messiah, Jesus.
katō (katō) - "down," "according to," "beneath." Here it refers to the earthly, visible, physical aspect.
thn (thn) - contracted form of "thn" (tēn), the definite article "the."
sarkas (sarkas) - "flesh," "body," "human nature," "carnal." In this context, it refers to the physical, material, and earthly dimension of human existence, including superficial qualifications, relationships, and worldly standards.
alla (alla) - "but." A strong adversative conjunction introducing a significant contrast.
pō (pō) - "yet," "still," "from now on." Indicates a change or transition to a new state.
eidōmen (eidōmen) - "we know," "we perceive," "we recognize." Present tense, signifying ongoing knowledge or understanding.
mēketi (mēketi) - "no longer."
ouk (ouk) - "not." Negation.
Group: "from now on we regard no one according to the flesh" - This phrase encapsulates a radical shift in perspective. It means that Paul and the other apostles are no longer evaluating people based on their worldly achievements, social status, ethnic background, physical appearance, or earthly affiliations. The "flesh" represents all that is impermanent and subject to worldly standards, a stark contrast to the eternal reality in Christ.
Group: "Even though we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet we know him so no more" - This speaks to their past experience of Jesus during His earthly ministry. They knew Him as a physical person, perhaps assessing Him by His earthly circumstances and public reception. However, after His resurrection and the outpouring of the Spirit, their understanding and knowledge of Christ have been fundamentally transformed. The emphasis shifts from the visible and tangible aspects of Jesus’ life to His resurrected, glorified, and spiritually present reality.
2 Corinthians 5 16 Bonus Section
The phrase "according to the flesh" (kata sarka) is significant throughout Paul's letters. It denotes anything belonging to the unregenerate, sinful human nature, or pertaining to the material world's limitations. This is contrasted with the "according to the Spirit" (kata pneuma). This verse establishes a crucial hermeneutical principle for understanding the new covenant realities: superficial, earthly measures are obsolete, replaced by a spiritual understanding. The transformation in how they knew Christ is a paradigm for how they must now know everyone else – through the new creation in Him, where old divisions and earthly classifications are irrelevant.
2 Corinthians 5 16 Commentary
This verse marks a pivotal point in Paul’s argument, signifying a complete reorientation of Christian perspective. The core message is a detachment from judging individuals and even Christ Himself by carnal, worldly standards. The past knowledge of Christ was experiential and earthly; the present knowledge is spiritual and eternal. This change isn't about denying the historical Jesus, but about understanding Him through the lens of His finished work and resurrected power. It implies that all other relationships and assessments must also be filtered through this new spiritual reality in Christ.
- Practical application: Believers should strive to see others, including leaders and fellow members of the church, through God's eyes, focusing on their spiritual state and identity in Christ rather than their worldly accomplishments or failures. This transforms how we interact, forgive, and serve one another.