Plainer Words since 1968
June 18, 2014
PLAINER WORDS ONLINE … “IN THE FLESH”
The words flesh, the flesh, after the flesh, and all flesh, when used of mankind, are a Figure of Speech—a Synecdoche of Genus (a class; kind; or sort). A Synecdoche is where a part of a thing (flesh) is put for the whole (man). Study of these occurrences has revealed that the meaning of “flesh,” as it refers to mankind, is the natural man.
THE FLESH
“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called” (1 Cor. 1:26).
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63)
“But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now” (Gal. 4:29).
Scripturally, “all flesh” is a reference to “all men,” as well as, “all living things,” so says the ISBE. Unger’s Bible Dictionary states that “all flesh” is a term for “all living men.”
IN THE FLESH
This phrase is found 31 times in the Bible. It appears in the Old Testament only twice, in Genesis 17:24-25.Twenty-nine times, “in the flesh” appears in the New Testament.
This study found that “in the flesh” means what we were by natural birth, the natural man, human nature, the old nature, the body, and the old man.
Some Bible teacher’s exegesis insists that the “Gentiles” who are mentioned in Ephesians Chapter Two is really “a perfect description of the dispersed ones of Israel.” These are the words of an outstanding Bible teacher. He, along with others, has said that no-one should attempt to interpret this portion of Scripture UNTIL he is familiar with the Biblical history of Israel …” This is very good advice. I have spent hours researching the Dispersion.
The Kingdom of Israel ( i.e., the Ten Northern tribes) was defeated and taken captive by Assyria in 740 B.C. After that, not very much information was found concerning them. There is very little history of these tribes. They have been referred to as the “Ten Lost Tribes of Israel.” There is no record of these Tribes ever returning to their Land.
Yahweh divorced the Ten Tribes because of their idolatry and used the Assyrian Army as the battering-ram to remove them from the Holy Land. They were idolatrous while they were living in the Promised Land. In all of the history of their kings, there was not one “good” king. They rebelled and split off from the Southern Kingdom and formed their own Kingdom—the Kingdom of Israel. By separating from the Southern Kingdom (Kingdom of Judah), they no longer had a God-appointed place of worship, the Temple in Jerusalem, nor a God ordained place to offer acceptable sacrifices to Him. By their rebellion against a son of Solomon, King Rehoboam, the Northern Ten Tribes displayed their official renunciation of all ties to Yahweh’s Nation.
In capsule form, here is a brief summation of the history of the split of the Kingdom of Israel: The Bible describes how the twelve tribes were enslaved in Egypt, escaped during the Exodus (around 1250 BC), settled in the land of Canaan, and each tribe occupying a separate territory (except the tribe of Levi.) Over the next two centuries, the strength of individual tribes waxed and waned. For example, early on, the tribe of Simeon had, clearly, lost its importance as an independent tribe and was, largely, swallowed up by Judah (see Joshua 19:1 and 1 Chronicles 4:24-43).
The Bible describes how the tribes were, then, united under King David (around 1000 BC) who set the capital in Jerusalem (an area under the control of the tribe of Judah). David's son, Solomon, built the first Temple.
In the north, the kingdom was dominated by the tribe of Ephraim with Shechem as its capital. Half a century later, during the reign of King Omri, the northern kingdom adopted the name of its new capital, Samaria, in the Bible. Following the death of Solomon, around 931 BC, the Ten Northern Tribes seceded. The book of I Kings 12 describes the split arising on account of taxes, but there were, also. Undoubtedly, deep-rooted tensions between the Northern and Southern tribes which had not been eradicated, even after nearly a century of a united kingdom. So, the Israelites were divided into two kingdoms.
In the south, the Kingdom of Judah, with Jerusalem as its capital, consisted of the territory of the tribes of Judah and (most of) Benjamin. Much of the priestly tribe of Levi, affiliated with the Temple, also, lived in the Southern Kingdom.
The Southern Kingdom is usually referred to as Israel. Traditionally, the Northern Kingdom was the Ten Tribes.
I have a pretty good working knowledge of the two Kingdoms and believe that my Plainer Words’ writings in 2004 and 2009 are germane to the subject; who were the “Gentiles” in Ephesians Chapter Two?
My conclusions on Ephesians 2:11-12 remain as they did in 2004 and 2009 when I wrote several studies that included these two verses.
See our website at www.Plainerwords.com for “One New Man,” March 10, 2004, and “The Creation of the One New Man,” September 10, 2009. The easy way to locate these two studies in our website is to look under the Years of 2004 and 2009.
We will follow my version of “The Golden Rules For Bible Study” as Ephesians 2:2 and 11 will be studied. Here are the Golden Rules, just to remind you who are familiar with them. Ask yourself these four questions: 1. WHO WAS the writer? 2. WHO WAS he writing to? 3. WHAT WAS the subject of the writing? 4. WHAT WAS the time period being written about?
“IN TIME PAST” - BEFORE “YE” WERE SAVED
“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience”( Eph. 2:2).
Paul was the writer. He was writing under divine inspiration to the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head, [Jewish] saints and the faithful [Gentiles] in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:1). Members of the Church which is His Body are not recognized as being Jews, Gentiles, Scythian, Barbarian, circumcision, nor uncircumcision, bond or free (Col. 3:11). But, the “ye” in Verse 2 refers to saved Jews and Gentiles as they were during “The Acts of the Apostles.” There was a distinction during the Pentecostal era. Notice, he wrote, in plainer words,“Wherein IN TIME PAST” (as being unsaved) “ye walked according to the course of this world” as it was directed by the prince of the power of the air.
Ephesians 2:2-3 was written about “in time past” when they were unsaved.
“IN THE FLESH” IN EPHESIANS 2:11-12
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
In Verse 11, “in time past” in the flesh is a reference to saved Gentiles during the Pentecostal Dispensation (Acts 2 through 28). This was a reference to “in times past” (V. 11), and “at that time” in V.12 refers to “in time past in V. 11.”
Here are twenty references to other versions of Ephesians 2:11-12. None of them indicated Paul meant that he was really writing to members of the House of Israel who had, over centuries, may have lived like a Gentile.
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past [Pentecostal Era] Gentiles in the flesh [Gentile by birth], who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (KJV).
Please note what Paul wrote. I placed it in plainer words; Wherefore remember, the fact that Ye who were Gentiles BY BIRTH, were CALLED UNCIRCUMCISION by those who were CALLED CIRCUMSION. He didn’t write YE WERE CALLED GENTILES; he wrote YE BEING GENTILES BY BIRTH.
11 Wherefore remember, that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands; 12 that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world (ASV)
11 Therefore, remember that at one time you were Gentiles (heathens) in the flesh, called Uncircumcision by those who called themselves Circumcision, [itself a mere mark] in the flesh made by human hands. 12 [Remember] that you were at that time separated (living apart) from Christ [excluded from all part in Him], utterly estranged and outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation, and strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the [Messianic] promise [with no knowledge of or right in God’s agreements, His covenants]. And you had no hope (no promise); you were in the world without God. (Amplified Version)
11 So remember that once you were Gentiles by physical descent, who were called “uncircumcised” by Jews who are physically circumcised. 12 At that time you were without Christ. You were aliens rather than citizens of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of God’s promise. In this world you had no hope and no God. (Common English Bible)
11 Therefore, remember your former state: you Gentiles by birth — called the Uncircumcised by those who, merely because of an operation on their flesh, are called the circumcised — 12 at that time had no Messiah. You were estranged from the national life of Israel. You were foreigners to the covenants embodying God’s promise. You were in this world without hope and without God. (Complete Jewish Bible)
You were gentiles: we were Jews. God has made us fellow-Christians
11-13 Do not lose sight of the fact that you were born “Gentiles”, known by those whose bodies were circumcised as “the uncircumcised”. You were without Christ, you were utter strangers to God’s chosen community, the Jews, and you had no knowledge of, or right to, the promised agreements. You had nothing to look forward to and no God to whom you could turn. But now, through the blood of Christ, you who were once outside the pale are with us inside the circle of God’s love and purpose. (J. B. Phillips New Testament)
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. (NIV)
11 Wherefore keep in remembrance—That [at one time] ye, the nations in the flesh, Who are called Uncircumcision by the so-called Circumcision in flesh, made by hand. 12 That ye were [in that season], Separate from Christ, Alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, Having no hope. And godless in this world; (Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible)
11 So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. 12 At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
11 Wherefore remember that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, and called uncircumcision of them, which are called circumcision in the flesh, made with hands, 12 That ye were, I say, at that time without Christ, and were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and were strangers from the covenants of promise, and had no hope, and were without God in the world. (1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
11. “Remember, that once you were called Goyim in the flesh ,,,” (Hebrew Names Version).
11 Therefore, have zikaron (remembrance) that formerly you, the Goyim in the flesh, who are called "arelim" (uncircumcised ones) by the ones being called "nimolim" (circumcised ones) which is a Bris Milah performed in the flesh by human hands 12 Have zikaron (remembrance) that you were at that time bazunder (unrelated and separate) from Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, having been alienated from the torat haEzrakhut (the citizenship) in the Am Brit, from Yisroel, being zarim (strangers) to the Beritot HaHavtacha, farloiren (lost) and having no tikvah (hope) and without G-d in the Olam Hazeh. [YESHAYAH 14:1; 65:1] (Orthodox Jewish Bible) (OJB)
11 Wherefore remember that *ye*, once nations in [the] flesh, who [are] called uncircumcision by that called circumcision in [the] flesh done with the hand; 12 that ye were at that time without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (Darby Translation (DARBY)
11 Wherefore, remember, that ye [were] once the nations in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that called Circumcision in the flesh made by hands, 12 that ye were at that time apart from Christ, having been alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope, and without God, in the world; (Young’s Literal Translation)
11. On this account be remembering at one time, you, the Gentiles in the flesh, the ones habitually called uncircumcision by that which is called circumcision in the flesh made by hand .. (K. S.Wuest New Testament)
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
11 You Gentiles by birth—called “the uncircumcised” by the Jews, who call themselves the circumcised (which refers to what men do to their bodies)—remember what you were in the past. 12 At that time you were apart from Christ. You were foreigners and did not belong to God's chosen people. You had no part in the covenants, which were based on God's promises to his people, and you lived in this world without hope and without God. (Good News Translation)
11 For which cause be mindful that you, being heretofore Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called circumcision in the flesh, made by hands; 12 That you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the conversation of Israel, and strangers to the testament, having no hope of the promise, and without God in this world. (Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition) (DRA)
11 Therefore remember, that times past gentiles in the flesh, who are called The Uncircumcision by those called the Brit-Milah in the flesh made by hands: 12 That at that time you were without Moshiach, being excluded, aliens from the Commonwealth of Yisrael, as gerim from the covenants of promise, having no tikvah, and without _____ in the olam hazeh:” (Ephsiyah – Ephesians To The Believing Remnant of Yisrael) This is the Translation of the Epistle to the Ephesians by The Restoration Scriptures, Messianic Christians, which is addressed to The Second House of Israel (the Diaspora). According to this Messiannic Organization many of the Second House of Israel did not know who they really were.
“The Restoration Scriptures” is a translation of the Bible by Messianic Christians. Their Rabbis teach that the people called, Gentiles in Ephesians Chapter Two, were really members of the Second House of Israel and not, truly, Gentiles. These Rabbis boast that if one were to follow their teaching of the Bible, they would deliver the believer from Dispensationalism. Their translation of Ephesians, which I possess, has a Footnote [3] on Ephesians 1:21 that reads, “Hebraic understanding of time is non-dispensational. One’s salvation is received in this world, in order to enter the next. Just two time- periods, without man-made dispensations.” Their Footnote [9] on Ephesians 2:15 states, “Messiah came to end the enmity, or hatred and enemy status between Yisrael’s two houses [Judah and Israel]. Nevertheless, some will still want to continue in that enmity despite Yahshua’s revealed will for all believers to be considered Yisrael.”
Another set of comments on dispensationalism as found in the “Restoration Scriptures Translation True Name Edition” are; (1) “By capturing YHWH’s mind we (Christian Rabbis) can by pass the bias in many other translation that subtly fuel—rather than eliminate these problems.” Next, the Rabbis brag that, “Dispensationalist Traps have been removed “from their version.” Their Bible, also, has 29 chapters in the Book of Acts, the 29th being called “the missing chapter.”
On Page 979 in a Footnote in “Restoration Scriptures 3rd Edition, it is stated, “Keeping the Torah is a requirement to Kingdom entry.”
On Ephesians 2:15, “for to make in Himself of twain One New Man,” according to their Footnote [11], they wrote, “From the multitudes of the two houses, He took those chosen, from the remnant of Judah and the remnant, Efrayim (members of the Ten Tribes). They leave out Gentiles. “Restoration Scriptures” finds no place for Gentiles in the flesh, i.e., Gentiles by birth.
For us, Gentiles, to be numbered in the Church of the “One New Man,” our ancestry would have to have stemmed from the Two Houses of Israel. I believe this to be a stretch of one’s imagination.
Conclusion: We went to a great deal of effort to show evidence that “Gentiles” (ethnos) in Ephesians 2:11 referred to “Gentiles.” Paul wasn’t calling apostate Israelites “Gentiles.” Had we all understood what “in the flesh” meant, we wouldn’t have had this needless exercise. That “being in time past Gentiles IN THE FLESH” meant being Gentiles BY BIRTH, which is to say, being BORN GENTILES.
~~THE END~~
Copyright© 2014 by Thomas L. Ballinger
Tom Ballinger
1031 Wilson Road
Lancaster, TX 75146
U.S.A.
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