Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
Wherefore - because of our settled judgment (2 Corinthians 5:14).
Henceforth - since our knowing Christ's constraining love (2 Corinthians 5:14).
Know we no man after the flesh - answering to "old things" (2 Corinthians 5:17); i:e., according to his mere worldly relations (2 Corinthians 11:18; John 8:15; Philippians 3:4): with a view to 'glorying in outward things' (2 Corinthians 5:12); distinguished from what he is according to the Spirit, as a "new creature" (2 Corinthians 5:17). For instance, the outward distinctions, Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, slave or free, learned or unlearned, are lost sight of in the higher life of those dead in Christ's death and alive with Him in the new life of His resurrection (Galatians 2:6; Galatians 3:28).
Yea, though. So C. But 'Aleph (') B G g, Vulgate, read 'if even,' omitting "yea" х de (G1161), but].
Known Christ after the flesh. Paul when a Jew had looked for a temporal reigning, not a spiritual Messiah. (He says "Christ," not Jesus: for he had not known Jesus in the days of His flesh, but had looked for Christ, the Messiah.) When once converted, he no longer "conferred with flesh and blood" (Galatians 1:16). He had this advantage over the Twelve, that as "one born out of due time" he had only known Christ in His heavenly life. To the Twelve it was 'expedient that Christ should go away' that the Comforter should come, and so they might know Christ in the higher spiritual aspect, in His new life-giving power, and not merely in the carnal aspect of Him (Romans 6:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:45; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 Peter 4:1-2). Judaizing Christians prided themselves on the fleshly (2 Corinthians 11:18) advantage of belonging to Israel, the nation of Christ, or on having seen Him in the flesh, and thence claimed superiority over others as having a nearer connection with Him (2 Corinthians 5:12; 2 Corinthians 10:7). Paul shows the true aim, to know Him spiritually as new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:15; 2 Corinthians 5:17); outward relations toward Him profit nothing (Luke 8:19-21; John 16:7; John 16:22; Philippians 3:3-10). This disproves both Romish Mariolatry and transubstantiation. The first verb х oidamen (G1492)] ("know we no man") means 'we know by the senses as an acquaintance;' the latter х egnookamen (G1097)] ("known Christ ... know ... no more") is to know mentally, to estimate. Paul's estimate of Christ, the expected Messiah, was carnal, but is so now no more.