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Flesh, The

From: Doctrinal Definitions: A Handbook of Doctrinal Terms & Expressions in the New Testament

By: Stanley Bruce Anstey

Narrator: Chris Genthree

Duration: 1min

• 1 min. read • grade level: 9

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When used with the article “the” before the word, it refers to the fallen sin-nature in man. But when it is used without the article, it usually is denoting what is human, rather than what is sinful. (Unfortunately, the KJV does not always follow this rule, as do the more critical translations produced by J. N. Darby, W. Kelly, etc.)

In keeping with this, Scripture is careful to state that the Lord Jesus came “in flesh”—leaving out the article (1 John 4:2-3²Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: ³And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:2‑3); Rom. 1:3³Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; (Romans 1:3); 1 Tim. 3:16¹⁶And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)). To say, “in the flesh” in connection with the Lord’s humanity could imply that He took part in the fallen sin-nature, which He most definitely did not. However, the article “the” is rightly used in connection with men because all in Adam’s race have been born with a fallen sin-nature (Rom. 7:5⁵For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. (Romans 7:5), etc.).

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Doctrinal Definitions: A Handbook of Doctrinal Terms & Expressions in the New Testament

• Day of Christ, The

• Day of God, The

• Day of the Lord, The

• Deliverance

• Discipleship

• Dispensations

• Earnest of the Spirit, The

• Elect, The (Chosen)

• Eternal Damnation

• Eternal Life

• Eternal Security of the Believer, The

• Eternal Son

• Eternal State, The

• Filled With the Spirit

• First Man, The

• Flesh, The

• Foreknowledge

• Forgiveness (Remission)

• Fulness of the Gentiles, The

• Gathered to the Lord's Name

• Gospel, The