Paul means that from Christ's death, burial, and resurrection onward, believers no longer know Christ through His earthly, fleshly ministry, but as the risen Lord.
In 2 Corinthians 5:16, Paul says that although he and others had known Christ after the flesh, now they know Him no more in that way. Les Feldick explains that Paul lived at the same time as Jesus and knew about His earthly ministry, but the cross changed everything. The object of our faith is now the risen Christ and the work of the cross, not merely the miracles of His earthly life.
2 Corinthians 5:16 — This is the direct verse where Paul says we do not know Christ after the flesh any longer.
The Bible addresses this directly in 2 Corinthians 5:14-17. Paul writes: "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again." He then states in verse 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." The passage concludes in verse 17: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Les Feldick explains that Paul is talking about Jesus in His earthly ministry. Paul was about the same age as Christ, and although Saul and Jesus never crossed paths, Saul knew who Jesus was, what He was doing, and where He came from. He was a contemporary who knew about Jesus but did not center his message on that earthly ministry. After the cross, the believer's focus shifts. Les says the Christ before the cross was not the object of our salvation as He is after the cross, because it is the work of the cross that makes salvation possible. He repeatedly warns against preaching only the earthly ministry—the miracles, walking on water, and healing—because those things only prove who Jesus was; they do not get to the sinner's need. The message must go to the cross and the resurrection. Les also compares this to Israel eating manna in the wilderness. Manna was part of their elementary beginnings. Once they crossed the Jordan and entered the land, the manna stopped and they ate the old corn of Canaan. In the same way, Christ's earthly ministry belongs to an earlier stage; now believers know Him in His resurrection power.
Yes. Les Feldick notes that, according to the chronologists he studies, Paul was about the same age as Christ. When Jesus began His earthly ministry at age 30, Saul of Tarsus was a young up-and-comer in Judaism. Although Saul and Jesus never crossed paths, Saul knew who Jesus was, what He was doing, and where He came from—so Paul could rightly say, "yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh."
Not exactly. Les says the earthly ministry is "all well and good as far as it goes," but there is no salvation in simply understanding it. He says preaching Jesus' miracles, walking on water, and signs proves that Jesus was who He said He was, but it does not get down to the need of the sinner. The only way to salvation is through the work of the cross and the resurrection.
Les says we are not to look back and know Christ in His earthly ministry. The Christ before the cross was not the object of our salvation that He is after the cross, because the work of the cross makes salvation possible. From the cross onward, we are to take Christ after His death, burial, and resurrection—now ascended in glory.
Les uses Israel's wilderness experience as an illustration. Israel ate manna for 40 years while in the wilderness—an elementary, early stage. After crossing the Jordan, going through circumcision, and observing the Passover, the manna stopped and they ate the old corn of Canaan. In the same way, the earthly ministry of Christ belongs to an earlier stage; after the cross, we move into the new creation reality of 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Les Feldick points to Paul's desire in Philippians 3:10 to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. He says if you cannot believe the resurrection, you have no salvation and no power. The very heart of the Gospel is that Christ rose from the dead, and that is what makes true Christianity different from the religions of the world.
Israel's Manna to Old Corn: A Lesson in 2 Corinthians 5
Les uses Israel moving from manna to the grain of Canaan to illustrate leaving an earlier, elementary stage behind—the same way believers leave behind Christ's earthly ministry after the cross.
Paul's Contemporary Knowledge of Jesus
Les says Paul lived at the same time as Jesus and knew of His earthly ministry, but after the cross we no longer know Christ that way.
Preaching the Cross Over Earthly Miracles
Les says the earthly ministry only proves who Jesus was, but the sinner's need is met by the work of the cross.
New Creation After Knowing Christ No More
Les connects Paul's words about knowing Christ no more after the flesh to verse 17—if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.
Saul of Tarsus Knew About Jesus
Les says Paul had contemporary knowledge of Jesus' public ministry even though they likely never met.
Christ After the Work of the Cross
Les says we are not to follow any man in the flesh; we are to take Christ after His death, burial, and resurrection.
No Salvation in the Earthly Ministry Alone
Les emphasizes that understanding Jesus' earthly ministry does not save—we must go to the cross and resurrection.
Knowing Resurrection Power
Les points to Paul's desire to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, showing the risen Christ is the heart of salvation.
2 Corinthians 5:14: For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
This begins the passage where Paul explains that Christ died for all, which is the foundation for the rest of the argument.
2 Corinthians 5:15: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
This verse shows the purpose of Christ's death: believers are to live for the risen Christ, not themselves.
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.
This is the key verse directly answering the question about knowing Christ no more after the flesh.
2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
This immediately follows and describes the result of being in Christ after the old way of knowing Him has passed.
Philippians 3:10: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Les Feldick cites this to show Paul's focus on knowing the risen Christ and the power of His resurrection.
Les Feldick says that the chronologists he studies indicate Paul was about the same age as Christ, and Paul knew who Jesus was and what He was doing. He says he is quite sure Saul and Jesus never crossed paths, so while Paul had knowledge of Christ after the flesh, there is no record they met face to face.
No. Les is careful to say it is the same man and the same God. The phrase refers to Christ's earthly ministry before the cross—His miracles, signs, and life in Israel—not to a denial of His humanity.
Les says it is all well and good as far as it goes, but there is no salvation in simply understanding His earthly ministry. The miracles prove who He was; the cross and resurrection are where salvation comes to a head.
Les says when a person is in Christ, old things pass away and all things become new. This is part of the new birth and salvation—God has created within us a transformed mind.
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