• 2 Corinthians 5:16
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 16 Ὥστε As-and ἡμεῖς we ἀπὸ from τοῦ the νῦν now οὐδένα no one οἴδαμεν we have known κατὰ according to σάρκα· flesh; εἰ if καὶ and ἐγνώκαμεν we have known κατὰ according to σάρκα flesh Χριστόν, Christ, ἀλλὰ but νῦν now οὐκέτι not yet γινώσκομεν. we are knowing.

  • 2 Corinthians Study Notes—Chapter 5
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 5:16

      from a fleshly viewpoint: Or “from a human point of view.” Lit., “according to the flesh.” In this context, the term “flesh” (Greek, sarx) refers broadly to things connected with the limitations of humans, including the way they reason and the things they achieve. (See study notes on Ro 3:20; 8:4.) Paul’s point was that Christians would not evaluate one another on the basis of position, wealth, race, national origin, or other such factors. Since Christ died for all, those fleshly distinctions were irrelevant. It was the spiritual relationship between fellow believers that mattered.​—Mt 12:47-50.

      we certainly no longer know him in that way: Any Christian who initially viewed Jesus from a fleshly, or human, perspective​—hoping that he had come to restore the Jews’ earthly kingdom​—abandoned such a viewpoint. (Joh 6:15, 26) Instead, Christians realized that Jesus had given his fleshly body as a ransom and that he was now a life-giving spirit.​—1Co 15:45; 2Co 5:15.