According to the flesh

[The Mighty Sword]

There is a scripture that is a little vague to me concernng the phrase "according to the flesh". If someone can shed some light on this in full detail please enlighten me.


Ephesians 6:5 (KJV) 5Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

Thanks in advance.

[-SEEKING-]

The first thing that comes to mind is that it's referring perhaps to a worldly boss. Your employer perhaps.

[notuptome]

The first thing that comes to mind is that it's referring perhaps to a worldly boss. Your employer perhaps.

This would include the magistrates who had the rule over the people.

I think in this verse Paul is speaking directly to those who were slaves who have received Christ. They were to continue to serve their owners as unto the Lord. In verse 9 we see the owners addressed.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

[wenlock]

This would include the magistrates who had the rule over the people.

Then why tell just slaves?

I think in this verse Paul is speaking directly to those who were slaves who have received Christ. They were to continue to serve their owners as unto the Lord.

Unto?

[The Mighty Sword]

Then why tell just slaves?


Unto?

A little off topic.

[Desperaux]

There is a scripture that is a little vague to me concernng the phrase "according to the flesh. If someone can shed some light on this in full detail please enlighten me.


Ephesians 6:5 (KJV) 5Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

Thanks in advance.

It means that slaves are to obey their masters who are earthly, physical, of the flesh, as being obedient to Christ.

[The Mighty Sword]

It means that slaves are to obey their masters who are earthly, physical, of the flesh, while not foregoing one's obedience to Christ.

Amen, I should have pointed out just the "Flesh" aspect.

[wenlock]

There is a scripture that is a little vague to me concernng the phrase "according to the flesh". If someone can shed some light on this in full detail please enlighten me.


Ephesians 6:5 (KJV) 5Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

Thanks in advance.

'Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear.' Eph 6:5 (NLT)

[BroRog]

The phrase "according to the flesh" translates the Greek phrase "kata sarka" and appears at least 20 times, mostly in Paul's writings. In each case it seems to me that the Greek term "kata" is intended to convey the idea of "with regard to" and the term "sarka" is intended to convey the idea of our humanity, which includes our identity, our family line, our ethnicity, our economic status, our occupation, our religion, etc.

A typical example can be found in the first chapter of Romans.

Roma 1:1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called [as] an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh . . .

Paul says that Jesus was born a descendant of David "according to the flesh." In this instance the "flesh" conveys the idea of Jesus' family line, just as many human beings identify with their family tree and take their identity from the family tree, Paul has placed Jesus among the human family as a descendant of David.

To take a step back for a moment, we can ask two questions about a person's humanity: Who are you?, and What are you? The answer to "what are you? are things like: flesh and blood; body, soul and spirit; creature; homosapien, and etc. The answer to "Who are you?" are things like: name, address, family line, ancestry, ethnicity, culture, history, social group, country of origin, economic status, religion, military status, etc.

The phrase "according to the flesh" conveys the side of our humanity that answers the question, "Who are you?" And so, who is Jesus according to his human identity? He is a descendant of David. That's his ancestry.

Here is another example from Romans.

4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?

From Paul's perspective, if someone were to ask Paul, "Who are you? One thing he would say is "Abraham is my ancestor; he is my forefather." According to human reckoning, Abraham is part of Paul's family line; Abraham was part of Paul's personal history; Abraham was a patriarch of Paul's family.

Now for the verse at hand.

Ephesians 6:5 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ . . .

With regard to how human beings classify and identify themselves, some Christians were slaves. If someone were to ask, "who are you?", the slave would answer "I am the slave of so-and-so". His slave status is part of who he is, reckoned in terms of his humanity. In terms of his new identity in Christ, he is a slave of Jesus Christ. But in terms of his present identity in this world, he is a slave of a master "according to the flesh", or "with regard to how we answer the question, "who am I?" as a human being.

[The Mighty Sword]

The phrase "according to the flesh" translates the Greek phrase "kata sarka" and appears at least 20 times, mostly in Paul's writings. In each case it seems to me that the Greek term "kata" is intended to convey the idea of "with regard to" and the term "sarka" is intended to convey the idea of our humanity, which includes our identity, our family line, our ethnicity, our economic status, our occupation, our religion, etc.

A typical example can be found in the first chapter of Romans.

Roma 1:1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called [as] an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh . . .

Paul says that Jesus was born a descendant of David "according to the flesh." In this instance the "flesh" conveys the idea of Jesus' family line, just as many human beings identify with their family tree and take their identity from the family tree, Paul has placed Jesus among the human family as a descendant of David.

To take a step back for a moment, we can ask two questions about a person's humanity: Who are you?, and What are you? The answer to "what are you? are things like: flesh and blood; body, soul and spirit; creature; homosapien, and etc. The answer to "Who are you?" are things like: name, address, family line, ancestry, ethnicity, culture, history, social group, country of origin, economic status, religion, military status, etc.

The phrase "according to the flesh" conveys the side of our humanity that answers the question, "Who are you?" And so, who is Jesus according to his human identity? He is a descendant of David. That's his ancestry.

Here is another example from Romans.

4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?

From Paul's perspective, if someone were to ask Paul, "Who are you? One thing he would say is "Abraham is my ancestor; he is my forefather." According to human reckoning, Abraham is part of Paul's family line; Abraham was part of Paul's personal history; Abraham was a patriarch of Paul's family.

Now for the verse at hand.

Ephesians 6:5 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ . . .

With regard to how human beings classify and identify themselves, some Christians were slaves. If someone were to ask, "who are you?", the slave would answer "I am the slave of so-and-so". His slave status is part of who he is, reckoned in terms of his humanity. In terms of his new identity in Christ, he is a slave of Jesus Christ. But in terms of his present identity in this world, he is a slave of a master "according to the flesh", or "with regard to how we answer the question, "who am I?" as a human being.

Good answer, Thank you.

[Partaker of Christ]

1Co 7:20 Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called.
1Co 7:21 Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that.
1Co 7:22 For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord's freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ's slave.
1Co 7:23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.
1Co 7:24 Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.

If we are slaves [servants; bondman] to anyone when we were called, we should remain as we are, and do not worry about it. But if we are able to become free, we should do that. We ought not (I believe voluntary) become slaves of men, because we belong to Him who bought us with a price.

If when called we are someone's slave we ought to serve them as unto the Lord, and the Lord will not put any other burden upon us to serve Him, we are His freedman. If we are free when called, then we are His slave [servant; bondman]

[The Mighty Sword]

I have always thought that the phrase "according to the flesh" meant, according to the world, Am I wrong???

[Vhayes]

I think it all ties in together with being IN the world but not OF the world.

Employers may hold your allegiance and have your loyalty as an employee but ultimately, your loyalty belongs to God over and above your employer.

We should always do our best work for our employer, not grudgingly but with happiness, so when we are commended on our attitude and our work ethic we can give the credit to God.

[The Mighty Sword]

Good Godly advice. Thanks V.