7 Responses to “The Flesh”

1. K.L.B.  
   Wrote the following comment on May 19th, 2011 at 8:31 pm #

   Aye, but it tastes so good! You like making them, I like eating them! Bon apetit! Oh… and that noise you hear IS coming from south of the border, just like Ross said it would.

2. Anthony Velez  
   Wrote the following comment on May 19th, 2011 at 9:00 pm #

   C’mon Kevin you know I mean the principle of falleness that blights the human condition, and not the tasty meats we enjoy of lower life forms. If I was talking about that kind of flesh I would have been using adjectives like “succulent” “tender” and “savory.”

3. K.L.B.  
   Wrote the following comment on June 1st, 2011 at 3:33 pm #

   It’s all the same.

4. Anthony Velez  
   Wrote the following comment on June 2nd, 2011 at 7:04 am #

   Actually, the idea that it’s all the same is a symptom of how Greek philosophy has negatively influenced biblical anthropology. In dominant strains of Greek philosophy sins arise because the bad (corrupt) body (aka flesh) distracts and distorts the pure soul. Whereas the Bible consistently conceives of the body (flesh) as good, and integral to being human. When Paul speaks of the flesh, he is conceiving of the principle of human autonomy that eclipses God. This is why the flesh is often opposed to the Spirit, as both are possible sources for funding human life.

5. K.L.B.  
   Wrote the following comment on June 2nd, 2011 at 1:17 pm #

   While, of course, I respect your scholarliness, I must say that the very word “flesh” – which is that to which I presume to which you mean, which also is “carnal,” as in our “carnal nature,” has this etymological basis: c.1400, “fleshly, sensual, sexual,” from M.L. carnalis “natural, of the same blood,” from L. carnis “of the flesh,” gen. of caro “flesh”

   The fleshly, or carnal nature, is one that appeals to our physical nature – our carnal nature – our unredeemed nature, if you prefer. It is that unredeemed nature – the one of a pagan – that seeks to have it’s own desires fulfilled.

   Indeed, however, our bodies are not bad. God made them and called them good. They are not evil, and rather are a reflection of us – for our soul and our body are one. They are unified, if you prefer to think of it that way.

   By your response, it seems that there may be some misunderstanding. of course, so this may be a mere matter of what we are perceiving the other to be ‘saying’ rather than a genuine “symptom of how Greek philosophy has…”

6. Anthony Velez  
   Wrote the following comment on June 2nd, 2011 at 3:51 pm #

   I was just a bit confused about your response regarding the flesh tasting so good since my post wasn’t quite about flesh in the sense of meat, but rather, as you say, the unredeemed nature. In reading your response to my response, I think that we agree about what the scriptures generally mean by the flesh. And, in thinking this through, it seems to me that you may have just been having fun with the ambiguity of this term, and so, please pardon and ignore my unnecessary theological exposition.

7. K.L.B.  
   Wrote the following comment on June 2nd, 2011 at 6:12 pm #

   Okay.

   Now… what’s for supper? I’m hongry!

   Got any tri-tip?

   New Castle Brown Ale would be good with that, don’cha’ reckon?