2 Corinthians 5:16

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. WHEREFORE - because of our settled judgment (2 Corinthians 5:14). HENCEFORTH - since our knowing Christ's constraining love (2 Corinthians 5:14). KNOW WE NO MAN AFTER THE FLESH - answering to "old things" (2 Corinthians 5:17); i:e., according to his mere worldly relations (2 Corinthians 11:18;...

16._Therefore we henceforth know no man. _To _know, _here, is taken as meaning to _reckon. _“We do not judge according to external appearance, so as to reckon that man to be the most illustrious who seems so in appearance.” Under the term _flesh, _he includes all external endowments which mankind are accustomed to hold in estimation; and, in short, every thing which, apart from regeneration, is reckoned worthy of praise. At the same time, he speaks more particularly of outward disguise, or _appearance, _as it is termed. He alludes, also, without doubt, to the death of which he had made mention. “Since we ought, all of us, to be dead to the present life, nay more, to be nothing in ourselves, no one must be reckoned a servant of Christ on the ground of carnal excellence.” _Nay, though we have known Christ. _The meaning is — “Though Christ lived for a time in this world, and was known by ma...

16-21 The renewed man acts upon new principles, by new rules, with new ends, and in new company. The believer is created anew; his heart is not merely set right, but a new heart is given him. He is the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Though the same as a man, he is changed in his character and conduct. These words must and do mean more than an outward reformation. The man who formerly saw no beauty in the Saviour that he should desire him, now loves him above all things. The heart of the unregenerate is filled with enmity against God, and God is justly offended with him. Yet there may be reconciliation. Our offended God has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. By the inspiration of God, the Scriptures were written, which are the word of reconciliation; showing that peace has been made by the cross, and how we may be interested therein. Though God cannot...

Verse 16. _KNOW WE NO MAN AFTER THE FLESH_] As we know that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; and as we know that all are alienated from God, and are dead in trespasses and sins; therefore we esteem no man on account of _his family_ _relations_, or the _stock_ whence he proceeded, because we see all are shut up in unbelief, and all are children of wrath. _YEA, THOUGH WE HAVE KNOWN CHRIST AFTER THE FLESH_] We cannot esteem a man who is a _sinner_, were he even allied to the blood royal of David, and were he of the same _family_ with the _man Christ_ himself; nor can we prize a man because he has seen Christ in the flesh; for many have seen him in the flesh to whom he will say; _Depart from me, for I never knew you_. So we: nothing weighs with us, nor in the sight of God, but redemption from this death, and _living to him_ who died for them. We know that the Jews va

WHEREFORE HENCEFORTH - In view of the fact that the Lord Jesus died for all people, and rose again. The effect of that has been to change all our feelings, and to give us entirely new views of people, of ourselves, and of the Messiah, so that we have become new creatures. The word “henceforth” (ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν apo tou nun) means properly from the present time; but there is no impropriety in supposing that Paul refers to the time when he first obtained correct views of the Messiah, and that he means from that time. His mind seems to have been thrown back to the period when these new views burst upon his soul; and the sentiment is, that from the time when he obtained those new views, he had resolved to know no one after the flesh. KNOW WE NO MAN - The word “know” here (οἴδαμεν oidamen) is used i

EXPOSITION Continuation of the topic that hope is the chief support of the preacher of the gospel (2 Corinthians 5:1). Their self-sacrifice in preaching the gospel of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:11). 2 CORINTHIANS 5:1 _The hope of the future rife is the great support of our efforts._ 2 CORINTHIANS 5:1 FOR. A further explanation of the hope expressed in 2 Corinthians 4:17. WE KNOW. T

WHEREFORE HENCEFORTH KNOW WE NO MAN AFTER THE FLESH..... Since the death and resurrection of Christ, which has broken down the middle wall of partition, and has took away all distinction of men, we know, we esteem, we value no man on account of his carnal descent, and fleshy privileges, as being of the Jewish nation, a descendant of Abraham, and circumcised as he was; or on account of their outward state and condition, as being rich and honourable among men, or on account of their natural parts and acquirements, their learning, wisdom, and eloquence; nor do we own any man to be a Christian, that lives after the flesh, to himself, and not to Christ; nor do we make account of the saints themselves as in this mortal state, but as they will be in the resurrection, in consequence of Christ's having died for them, and rose again. YEA, THOUGH WE HAVE KNOWN CHRIST AFTER THE FLESH: some of them...

1. _For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens._ Is not this grand courage on the part of the apostle? With all the world against him, and himself «alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake,» he looks at the new body, the new house that God is making for him, and he reckons that, to shuffle off this mortal coil will be no loss to him, since, when he loses the tent in which he lives here, he will go to «a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.» 2-4. _For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed,_ We are not impatient to enter the disembodied stat...

6. CONCERNING THE FUTURE. THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION. CHAPTER 5 _ 1. The Earthly and the Heavenly House. (2 Corinthians 5:1 .)_ 2. The Judgment Seat of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:9 .) 3. The Constraint of Love. (2 Corinthians 5:13 .) 4. The Ministry of Reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17 .) The certainty of the future things is brought more fully in view. The apostle had given the great doctrines concerning the resurrection of the body, the coming of the Lord and the blessed hope in his first epistle (chapter 15). In the closing verses of the prece

The emphasis is on the opening words of 2 Corinthians 5:11. Among the clouds of misrepresentation to which he was exposed was the sneering assertion that in some unworthy sense he persuades or gets round men (_cf._ Galatians 1:10). If it can be said of him with any truth at all, this, which he has just stated, is the reason. In any case both his motives and his methods are plain to God and (he will never let go the hope) plain also to the inward judgment of the Corinthians. This does not mean that he is justifying another charge made against him, the charge of commending himself. He is really inviting them to be proud of him, as they will be if they do him justice. So will they be able to face his opponents, who found their claim on outward things such as eloquence ...