Christ According to the Flesh
John Calvin
Over the years, I have pointed out numerous examples of bad hyper-preterist ‘exegesis’ and arguments, especially from Don Preston, and some of these points have been buried deep on blogs or FB threads. So, in light of the fact that this site exists to expose such things, I thought I’d ‘resurrect’ these observations over time as they come to mind.
Nothing deep. Nothing technical. Just short and sweet observations to reveal the shallowness of their material.
So, let’s start this collection off with one of my personal favorites:
“…Paul said, ‘though we have known Christ after the flesh, henceforth we know him thus no longer’ (2 Corinthians 5:16). Jerry demands to know Christ after the flesh at his parousia. Paul said Christ is no longer known after the flesh.”
Don Preston, in a debate with Jerry McDonald
Don has repeated this argument numerous times, including in his book, “We Shall Meet Him in The Air.” According to Don, to “know him thus [after the flesh] no longer” means that Jesus ditched his body.
I have never seen Don quote the entire verse. Because if he did, he would quickly see just how absurd his interpretation is. Here’s the whole verse:
“From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.”
Notice that whatever “no longer regard…according to the flesh” means, Paul does not limit it solely to Christ. He says, “we regard NO ONE” this way. Thus, if it means that Christ ditched His body, then it means that everyone had ditched their bodies.
lol. Need I say more?….
Interestingly, Calvin had people back in his own day who argued this, and he didn’t have anything nice to say about them: [emphasis mine]
“This passage is perverted by some fanatics, such as Servetus, for the purpose of proving, that Christ’s human nature is now absorbed by the Divinity. But how very far removed such a frenzy is from the Apostle’s intention, it is not difficult to perceive; for he speaks here, not of the substance of his body, but of external appearance, nor does he affirm that the flesh is no longer perceived by us in Christ, but says, that Christ is not judged of from that. Scripture proclaims throughout, that Christ does now as certainly lead a glorious life in our flesh, as he once suffered in it. Nay more, take away this foundation, and our whole faith falls to the ground; for whence comes the hope of immortality, except from this, that we have already a pattern of it in the person of Christ? For as righteousness is restored to us on this ground, that Christ, by fulfilling the law in our nature, has abolished Adam’s disobedience, so also life has been restored to us by this means, that he has opened up for our nature the kingdom of God, from which it had been banished, and has given it a place in the heavenly dwelling. Hence, if we do not now recognize Christ’s flesh, we lose the whole of that confidence and consolation that we ought to have in him. But we acknowledge Christ as man, and as our brother in his flesh — not in a fleshly manner; because we rest solely in the consideration of his spiritual gifts. Hence he is spiritual to us, not as if he laid aside the body, and became a spirit, but because he regenerates and governs his own people by the influence of his Spirit.” (1)
Amen, Calvin.
(1) https://biblehub.com/commentaries/calvin/2_corinthians/5.htm