Living in the Flesh by the Spirit

What does Paul mean by “the flesh”? There is a great deal of confusion among laymen and disagreement among scholars on this issue. Christians know that we are supposed to “walk by the Spirit” so that they will not gratify the desires of the flesh, but it is not entirely clear what these expressions mean. Furthermore, Paul can also be confusing when he addresses the Christian’s relationship to the flesh—are we in the flesh or not? This book clarifies these issues for us by exploring the different meanings of “flesh” throughout the Bible, and analyzing the influence both of Old Testament conceptions of “flesh” as well as new salvation-historical realities on Paul’s thinking, especially in the context of the controversy over circumcision in Galatians. By carefully following Paul’s thought, we will also gain greater insight into other Pauline themes that intersect with his theology of the new creation and his view of this age and the one to come. Most importantly, we will discover Paul’s own program for our spiritual transformation so that we may live a life of Christlike love and service despite the moral weakness of our flesh.