FLESH, FLESHLY
The term flesh refers primarily to men (and animals) as corporeal creatures as opposed to spirit. It was used for the physical body (Daniel 1:15), the whole person as corporeally determined (Psalms 63:2), all mankind (Isaiah 66:23), and finally humanity and the animal world (Genesis 6:17ff). Flesh characterizes the weakness and transitoriness of creaturely existence (Isaiah 40:6, 8) as opposed to the power and life of spirit (Isaiah 31:3). Because of the weakness of the flesh it easily comes under the power of sin when not in fellowship with the spiritual power of God. This leads to the ethical use of the term flesh, which signifies man living apart from God and thus under sin's domination.
material body
• Numbers 19:7; Job 14:22; 19:26; Matthew 26:41; 1 Corinthians 15:39; Galatians 2:20; 4:13; Philippians 1:22-24; Colossians 2:5; 1 Peter 4:2
the whole person
• 2 Chronicles 32:8; Psalms 16:9; 56:4; 78:39; Jeremiah 17:5; John 1:14; Romans 1:4; 8:3; Ephesians 6:12; 1 Timothy 3:16
all mankind
• Psalms 145:21; Isaiah 40:5; Matthew 24:22; Acts 2:17; Romans 3:20; 1 Corinthians 1:29; 1 Peter 1:24
all mankind and animals
family relationships
sinful nature
• Romans 7:18, 25; 8:7-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Galatians 5:17; 6:8; Colossians 2:18, 23; 1 John 2:16; 1 Peter 2:11; 2 Peter 2:10
This topic is from the Lockman Foundation.