As we continue to read in Paul’s Letter to the Romans we find a passage filled with words that made sense to the first audience without a lot of explanation, but which need some interpretation in 2011. Here is an excerpt opening the English words “flesh” and “body” as used by Paul in Greek in this letter and in his theology. Walter F. Taylor, Jr. is the Ernest W. and Edith F. Ogram Professor of New Testament Studies at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, OH.
Our text [Romans 8:1-11] uses several times the word flesh, making what seem to be almost nonsensical statements such as “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (verse 8). If that is the reality, why even try to live in God-pleasing ways? The key is what Paul means by flesh (sarks). To understand his usage, we turn first to its apparent twin, body (soma). For Paul the body is neither good nor bad in and of itself. The issue is how the body is used. When the body is used as God intended, the body is good. But when the body is used inappropriately and opposed to God’s intention, it is for Paul a sinful body. Paul’s shorthand expression for a body that is misused is the term flesh. And so to live inappropriately is called living according to the flesh (kata sarka). Read more about Paul’s theology. (Select “2nd Reading” tab)
What helps you to live fully for God? How has your living for God changed over the years? What kinds of “grown up” things do you do as you seek to know and do God’s will?
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