# G4561 - sarx **Strong's:** [G4561](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4561/) · BLB lookup **Pronunciation:** sarx **Part of speech:** feminine noun **Hebrew equivalents (LXX):** בָּשָׂר (*basar*, H1320) primarily; שְׁאֵר (*she'er*, H7607) secondarily ## Semantic range (Thayer / BDAG) 1. **Physical flesh / body**, the literal substance of a living creature; the meat of an animal. 2. **The body itself**, by extension, the human body as physical organism. 3. **Natural / physical descent / kinship**, "according to the flesh"; biological lineage ([Romans 1:3](/codex/romans-1-3/), "born of the seed of David according to the flesh"). 4. **Human nature / humanity in its finitude**, "all flesh," meaning all humanity ([Genesis 6:3](/codex/genesis-6-3/) LXX; [Luke 3:6](/codex/luke-3-6/)). 5. **Human appetites / sensuality (morally neutral)**, "the flesh is weak" ([Matthew 26:41](/codex/matthew-26-41/)). 6. **Fallen human nature opposed to the Spirit (Pauline)**, the technical Pauline use, almost a hypostatized power: the locus of sin's reign in fallen humans ([Romans 7:18](/codex/romans-7-18/), [8](/codex/romans-7-8/):5-13; [Galatians 5:16-24](/codex/galatians-5-16-24/)). ## Theological force The word is **the same lexeme** across all six senses, but Pauline usage elevates it to a quasi-technical theological term distinct from earthier OT *basar*. The same word covers: - **Christ's full humanity**, *ho logos sarx egeneto* in [John 1.14](/codex/john-1-14/): the Word *became* flesh, taking on full human nature (against docetism, which denied real bodily incarnation). - **The fallen condition**, [Romans 7:18](/codex/romans-7-18/) "I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh." Christ takes on **sense (4), full human nature in its weakness and finitude, without taking on sense (6), fallen sinful nature**. This distinction (the *anhypostasia / enhypostasia* distinction in patristic Christology) is theologically critical: Christ's humanity is real and complete (against Apollinarianism, which denied He had a human soul) but sinless (against any view that He inherited a fallen nature). [Hebrews 4:15](/codex/hebrews-4-15/): "tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." [Hebrews 2:14](/codex/hebrews-2-14/): "He partook of the same." The Pauline contrast *sarx vs pneuma* (flesh vs Spirit) is not body-vs-soul (that's Greek dualism) but the **fallen orientation** of the unregenerate self (which can include intellectual or religious pride, not just bodily appetites) versus the **Spirit-empowered orientation** of the regenerate believer. ## Notable verses ### Christ's incarnation - **[John 1.14](/codex/john-1-14/)**, *ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο*, "the Word became flesh" - **[Romans 1:3](/codex/romans-1-3/)**, "His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh" - **[Romans 8:3](/codex/romans-8-3/)**, "God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh" - **[1 Timothy 3:16](/codex/1-timothy-3-16/)**, "He who was revealed in the flesh" - **[1 John 4:2](/codex/1-john-4-2/)**, "every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God" - **[2 John 7](/codex/2-john-7/)**, antichrists "do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh" - **[Philippians 2:7-8](/codex/philippians-2-7-8/)**, "found in appearance as a man" (paralleled to *en homoiōmati anthrōpōn*) ### Pauline "flesh" as fallen human power - **[Romans 7:18](/codex/romans-7-18/)**, "nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh" - **[Romans 8:5-9](/codex/romans-8-5-9/)**, "those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh" - **[Romans 8:13](/codex/romans-8-13/)**, "if you are living according to the flesh, you must die" - **[Galatians 5:16-17](/codex/galatians-5-16-17/)**, "walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh" - **[Galatians 5:19-21](/codex/galatians-5-19-21/)**, "the deeds of the flesh are evident" - **[Galatians 5:24](/codex/galatians-5-24/)**, "those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh" ### Physical / biological - **[Luke 24:39](/codex/luke-24-39/)**, "a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have" - **[Matthew 19:5-6](/codex/matthew-19-5-6/)**, "the two shall become one flesh" - **[John 6:51-58](/codex/john-6-51-58/)**, "the bread which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh" (Eucharistic, scandalon) - **[Genesis 6:3](/codex/genesis-6-3/)** (LXX), "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh" ### Human limitation / "all flesh" - **[Matthew 26:41](/codex/matthew-26-41/)**, "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" - **[Luke 3:6](/codex/luke-3-6/)**, "all flesh shall see the salvation of God" - **[John 17:2](/codex/john-17-2/)**, "you have given Him authority over all flesh" ## Patristic / scholarly note Tertullian (*On the Flesh of Christ*, c. AD 210) is the foundational early treatment, written specifically against Marcionite and Valentinian docetism. He insists Christ's *sarx* is real, fully human, biologically continuous with Mary. Athanasius (*On the Incarnation*, c. AD 318) makes Christ's assumption of flesh (the *enfleshing*) the engine of redemption: only by taking on what fell could He restore it. The Cappadocian formula, *ho gar mē proselēphthē, oude tetherapeutai* ("what was not assumed is not healed," Gregory of Nazianzus, *Epistle 101*, c. AD 382), defends Christ's full humanity (including a human mind / soul) against Apollinarianism. The Pauline body-of-divinity reading of *sarx* as fallen-power is consolidated in patristic anthropology by Augustine (*Confessions*, *On Marriage and Concupiscence*) and codified in Reformed scholasticism (Calvin, *Institutes* II.1-3) where the *sarx* / *pneuma* contrast becomes the framework for the *imago Dei*'s defacement and restoration. ## Verses in this codex _See Obsidian's backlinks pane for every verse page linking here._ ## See also - [G3056 - logos](/codex/g3056-logos/), paired in *logos sarx egeneto* - [G4151 - pneuma](/codex/g4151-pneuma/), "spirit," the Pauline contrast - [G4983 - soma](/codex/g4983-soma/), "body," near-synonym with different theological texture - [G4637 - skenoo](/codex/g4637-skenoo/), "to tabernacle," the verb following *sarx egeneto* in [John 1:14](/codex/john-1-14/) - [H1320 - basar](/codex/h1320-basar/), Hebrew "flesh"