The NT Epistle reading for Lent 5 (sometimes called Passion Sunday) is Paul’s account of his ‘great reversal’. (The gospel reading is the anointing at Bethany in John 12).
Paul uses the language of ‘the flesh’ here as he has done in 2 Cor 5 to talk about mere human evaluation of things. On the surface, he appears to be one of the (religious) elite, given his impeccable qualifications.
But these all count for nothing; Paul uses terms of financial accounting to transfer what might be on the ‘credit’ side and putting it on the ‘loss’ side. The only credit that he needs or that counts is the righteousness from God that comes through faith in Jesus, who has called him upward to know him.
Paul’s extraordinary and passionate commitment includes all the paradoxes of faith—it all comes from God, yet we each need to take hold of it. It is about the hope of resurrection—but also participation in suffering. And there is a decisive change—but the journey is not yet complete. So Paul strains towards the completion of God’s work in him.
The commentary on the gospel reading of John 12.1–8 can be found here.
If anyone has not read Derek Prince’s The Divine Exchange (or the longer Atonement), it is recommended – brings out the deep-structure core underlying pattern of the reality of grace and salvation.
“Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee” (Phil 3:4–5)
James Dunn argues – surely correctly – that ‘sarx’ here means ‘family’ — and then Paul lists his ‘family’ qualifications. It was of course a misplaced confidence. (James D. G. Dunn, The Theology of Paul the Apostle (Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1998), 70). I also think it is possible (mentioned in the video) that Paul is making a wordplay viz a viz circumcision.
I would argue that ‘family’ should be the first option for translating ‘sarx’ (and never ‘sinful nature’). A second is, ‘world’ (i.e. the ‘family’ of the lost) – thus:
“I could not address you [the church at Corinth] as people who live by the Spirit but as people [lost Adamic humanity] who are still worldly [sarx, i.e., of this world]” (1 Cor 3:1, NIV)
And I would suggest the same for 2 Corinthians 5:16 (mentioned in the video):
“From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh [‘sarx’]” – would be best translated ‘world’.
A third translation is, of course, literally ‘flesh’ — and I would suggest that Paul uses it specifically of human corporeal frailty.
“A third translation is, of course, literally ‘flesh’ — and I would suggest that Paul uses it specifically of human corporeal frailty.”
And I would suggest ‘human corporeal frailty’ for the translation of ‘sarx’ in Galatians 5 – also, I think, mentioned in the video.
From this passage it is clear that Paul is no Religious Pluralist.
Agreeing to walk together, or, “ you have your truth and I have mine”.
Here there can be no Reconciliation as Paul goes on to suggest that some of them are dogs!
The pluralist argues dogmatically that no one has claim to hold exclusive truth,
or it is not good Christianity to be confrontational.
See http://www.anglicanfutures.org/post/bishop-martyn-responds-to-what-kind-of-future-awaits-the-faithful
Paul had many detractors and critics which endure to this day,
“He is misogynist, paternal, etc.”
They do not see that their authority is ordained by Jesus and upon whom The Church is founded; The apostles’ doctrine is not something they invented themselves. It is in complete agreement with the determination of God.
Through divine guidance the apostles established doctrines and practices for the church, nothing other than what God had established in heaven.
Through divine inspiration the apostles also revoked certain things, such as the Old Covenant, things God had also revoked in heaven.
The apostles were ambassadors of Christ led by God’s Spirit.
When Jesus gave the seventy-two prophetic power and sent them out to preach, He said:
“He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me” (Luke 10:16).
One trick of some false teachers is to claim that we must listen to the words of Jesus in the Gospels, but that we do not have to obey the teaching of the apostles in the later books.
Together with Christ, the apostles and prophets form the foundation of the church:
“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:19,20).
Also in the first century there were false teachers who rejected the authority of the apostles.
Paul warned: “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:37).
We must avoid people who reject the authority of the apostles:
“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ,
but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech
deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18).
John wrote: “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).
The names of the twelve apostles are on the foundations of the wall of Zion (Revelation 21:14). (http://www.oldpaths.com/they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine ACTS 2 V 42..
Paul declares that “we are not ignorant of his(Satan’s’) devices”. 2 Cor 2:11
Ps 37:7
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass
Ps 33:10
The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
“Devices” is an interesting word study- Jer 11:19; Jer 18:18