Carnal

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

In two cases ( Romans 8:7,  Hebrews 9:10) the adj. ‘carnal,’ and in one ( Romans 8:6) the adv. ‘carnally,’ are used in Authorized Versionto render the gen. of σάρξ ‘flesh’; in  Romans 8:6-7 Revised Versionsubstitutes ‘of the flesh.’ The ‘carnal mind’ or ‘mind of the flesh’ ( Romans 8:6-7) denotes, according to St. Paul’s frequent usage, human nature as fallen, sinfully conditioned, and hostile to the influences of the Holy Spirit; ‘carnal ordinances’ ( Hebrews 9:10) are material ordinances as contrasted with those that are spiritual.

On the other occasions when ‘carnal’ is found in the Epistles it represents the adjectives σάρκινος and σαρκικός, which, according to their strict meanings, correspond respectively to the Lat. carneus and carnalis , and the Eng. ‘fleshy’ and ‘fleshly.’ Belonging to the general class of proparoxytone adjectives in -ινος which are used to denote the material of which a thing is made (cf. ξύλινος, wooden, λίθινος, made of stone, etc.), σάρκινος properly describes that which is composed of flesh. It is the more literal and grosser term, while σαρκικός has an abstract and ethical application as denoting the ‘fleshly’ or what pertains to the flesh.

With regard to the use of the two words in the Pauline Epp., a difficulty arises owing to the way in which they are interchanged in different Manuscripts. In the view of some scholars, σάρκινος, which was much the more familiar word of the two, has been substituted in some cases for σαρκικός, an adjective almost wholly unknown outside of biblical Greek (Winer, Gram. of Nt Gr. , translationMoulton, ed. 1882, p. 122). Others, conversely, are of opinion that σαρκικός as the more abstract term may have taken the place of the grosser σάρκινος, which might seem to a copyist less appropriate to the Apostle’s meaning (Cremer, Lexicon , s.v. ). There are cases, however ( e.g.  Romans 7:14), where according to the best readings σάρκινος stands when σαρκικός might have been expected. According to some commentators (Tholuck, Alford), St. Paul used the two adjectives indiscriminately. Meyer, on the other hand, who lays stress on the difference of meaning between the two words, thinks that the Apostle sometimes of set purpose employed σἀρκινος as the stronger expression in order to indicate more emphatically the presence of the unspiritual element. He calls the Corinthians σἀρκινοι ( 1 Corinthians 3:1) because the flesh appeared to constitute their very nature; he says of himself in  Romans 7:14 ‘I am carnal’ (σἀρκινος), to show by this vivid expression the preponderance in his own case of that unspiritual nature which serves as the instrument of sin.

The use of σἀρκινος in such cases, however, is not to be taken as lending any support to the view that St. Paul recognized in the body the source and principle of sin. The language he uses in  Galatians 5:19 ff.,  1 Corinthians 3:3 suggests rather that his contrast of ‘carnal’ and ‘spiritual’ ( Romans 8:5 ff.) is equivalent to the contrast he elsewhere makes of ‘natural’ and ‘spiritual’ ( 1 Corinthians 2:13 ff.). The ‘carnal mind’ or ‘mind of the flesh’ is the mind which is not subject to the law of God ( Romans 8:7) because it has not received the Spirit of God ( 1 Corinthians 2:12;  1 Corinthians 2:14). See, further, Flesh, Body.

Literature.-H. Cremer, Lex. of Nt Greek 3, Edinburgh, 1880, and R. C. Trench, Synonyms of the Nt 3, London, 1876, s. vv . σαρκικός, σάρκινος; Comm. of Alford and Meyer on passages referred to; J. Laidlaw, Bible Doct. of Man , new ed., Edinburgh, 1895, ch. vi.; Sanday-Headlam, Romans 5 ( International Critical Commentary , 1902), pp. 181, 412; H. B. Swete, The Holy Spirit in the Nt , 1909, pp. 190, 214.

J. C. Lambert.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Romans 7:14 Romans 8:1-11 Romans 15:27 1 Corinthians 9:11

Even church members can be carnal, being only babes in Christ, as Paul indicated in writing the Corinthians ( 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 ). Such Christians are jealous of one another and quarrel with one another. Christians should solve their problems with different “weapons” ( 2 Corinthians 10:4 ). Such weapons serve God's purposes, destroy human arguments and human divisions, and bring glory to Christ.

Hebrews teaches that Christ had a distinct kind of priesthood from that of Jewish priests. Priests had always served on the basis of commandments written to meet fleshly needs. Christ served on the basis of His indestructible, eternal life ( Hebrews 7:16 ). In  Hebrews 9:10 the writer of Hebrews made clear the fleshly nature of the law. It consisted of commandments for the old order dealing with external matters until Christ came to deal with the spiritual matters of eternal redemption, sanctification, cleansing, and eternal life.

Using the same Greek word ( sarkikos ), Peter issued a battle cry against “fleshly lusts” so that glory would go to God and people would be attracted to His way of life ( 1 Peter 2:11 ).

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Romans 7:14 (a) It refers to anything and everything that pertains to human flesh and the human mind.

 Romans 8:7 (a) This describes a mind which thinks only of temporal and physical things.

 1 Corinthians 3:1 (a) The Corinthians were still occupied with the things which they could see and handle. They had not yet learned to live in the atmosphere of God.

 2 Corinthians 10:4 (a) This refers to human weapons such as swords, spears, and other physical force.

King James Dictionary

Carnal, a.

1. Pertaining to flesh fleshly sensual opposed to spiritual as carnal pleasure. 2. Being in the natural state unregenerate.

The carnal mind is enmity against God.  Romans 8 .

3. Pertaining to the ceremonial law as carnal ordinances.  Hebrews 9:10 . 4. Lecherous lustful libidinous given to sensual indulgence.

Carnal-knowledge, sexual intercourse.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 1 Corinthians 3:3 Romans 8:6,7 Romans 15:27 1 Corinthians 9:11 Hebrews 7:16 9:10 2 Corinthians 10:4

Webster's Dictionary

(1): (a.) Flesh-devouring; cruel; ravenous; bloody.

(2): (a.) Of or pertaining to the body or its appetites; animal; fleshly; sensual; given to sensual indulgence; lustful; human or worldly as opposed to spiritual.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

See Fleshly.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kar´nal : In the Old Testament there is an expression which indicates sexual intercourse שׁכבת זרע , shikhebhath zera‛ , "lying of seed,"  Leviticus 18:20;  Leviticus 19:20;  Numbers 5:13 ). In the New Testament the words rendered "carnal" are derived from σάρξ , sárks , "flesh." This refers to the flesh as opposed to the pneúma , "spirit," and denotes, in an ethical sense, mere human nature, the lower side of man as apart from the Divine influence, and therefore estranged from God and prone to sin; whatever in the soul is weak and tends toward ungodliness (see Flesh ). Thus one may be carnal (σάρκινος , sárkinos ), sold under sin ( Romans 7:14 ). Christians may be carnal ( sarkinos ,  1 Corinthians 3:1; sarkikós ,  1 Corinthians 3:3 ); the lower side of their being is dominant and not the spirit, hence, they fall into sins of envy and strife. The weapons of the Christian warfare are not carnal, not merely human (of the flesh the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version), but spiritual ( 2 Corinthians 10:4 ); "not after the law of a carnal commandment" ( Hebrews 7:16 ); "The carnal mind is enmity against God" ("mind of the flesh" the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version,  Romans 8:7 ). So, "to be carnally minded is death" ("mind of the flesh" the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version,  Romans 8:6 ). There are "carnal ordinances," in contrast to the spiritual ones of the gospel ( Hebrews 9:10 ); "Minister unto them in carnal things," those that pertain to the body in contrast to spiritual things ( Romans 15:27;  1 Corinthians 9:11 ). The same expressions are elsewhere rendered "fleshly" ( 2 Corinthians 1:12;  2 Corinthians 3:3 the Revised Version (British and American) "hearts of flesh";   1 Peter 2:11 ).

Is there any difference between sarkinos and sarkikos ̌ ? The former more definitely denotes the material of which an object is made. It may express with emphasis the idea of sarkikos , the spiritual given up as it were to the flesh. See Man (The Natural ).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(σαρκικὸς ), fleshly, sensual. Wicked of unconverted men are represented as under the domination of a "carnal mind, which is enmity against God," and which must issue in death ( Romans 8:6-7). Worldly enjoyments are carnal, because they only minister to the wants and desires of the animal part of man ( Romans 15:27;  1 Corinthians 9:11). The ceremonial parts of the Mosaic dispensation were carnal; they related immediately to the bodies of men and beasts ( Hebrews 7:16;  Hebrews 9:10). The weapons of a Christian's warfare are not carnal; they are not of human origin, nor are they directed by human wisdom ( 2 Corinthians 10:4). (See Flesh).