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Romans 1:3-4 – Flesh and Spirit
Considering the dichotomy of flesh and spirit throughout the book of Romans, I find it interesting that at the very beginning Paul claims Jesus’ dual son-ship by flesh and Spirit. Flesh/sarx (4561) is an important word in Romans – 27 times. The NIV often translates it “sinful nature.” Theologically sarx is a technical term for “the seat and vehicle of sinful desires” (New Englishman’s Greek Concordance and Lexicon, p.778). Thayer quotes, “note that ‘flesh’ signifies the entire nature of man, sense and reason, without the Holy Spirit” (Melachthon) (Thayer, p.571). While it is obvious that the very ordinary meaning is applied in Romans 1:3 and in several other places within Romans, I again find it intriguing that this contrast between flesh and Spirit (and spirit) is set out at the very beginning.
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