ACC ~ Romans 8 v5

SETTING ONE’S MIND ON THE FLESH. CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: It is possible to think of those who have just recently been instructed in the faith and who are still little ones in Christ as carnal, for he calls those who have already believed by the Holy Spirit “spiritual” and those newly taught and not yet purified “carnal.” He speaks of these latter as carnal with good reason, for like the pagans they still mind the things of the flesh. CHRIST THE EDUCATOR 6.36.

LIVING ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT. ORIGEN: Those who live according to the flesh are the Jews, whom Paul says are Israel according to the flesh. They know what belongs to the law of the flesh because they interpret the law according to the flesh. Those who live according to the Spirit are the people whom Paul calls Jews in spirit, not in the letter. COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

PUTTING THE WORLD BEHIND THEM. AMBROSIASTER: Paul says this because whoever obeys the temptation which comes through the flesh knows what the things of the flesh are. … Those who live according to the Spirit are those who have stomped on the lusts of the flesh by attacking sin. They have put the world behind them and although they still walk in the flesh they do not struggle according to the flesh. Their glory is not from men but from God. Dwelling in these spiritual works, they know what the things of the Spirit of God are and walk in his commandments. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

NO DISPARAGEMENT OF THE FLESH. CHRYSOSTOM: This is not meant to be a disparagement of the flesh. For as long as it keeps its place nothing untoward will happen. But if we let it have its own way in everything and allow the flesh to get out of hand, it will rise up against the soul and then destroy and corrupt everything. This is not because of its own nature but because it is out of proportion, and disorder will ensue. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 13.

TWO SUBSTANCES. PELAGIUS: Man is composed of spirit and flesh. When a man performs carnal deeds he is called “flesh,” but when he performs spiritual deeds he is called “Spirit.” For when one of these substances brings the other under its control, the subordinate substance in effect loses both its power and its name. For each substance desires what is connected and related to it. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

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