2 Corinthians 5:16

Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.

Know no man after the flesh ... The new manner of life for Christians follows the principle laid down here. "They no longer measure men by human standards of race, natural gifts, social standing, or possessions."[26] No sooner had Paul written this than he remembered how, before his conversion, he had measured the Christ himself by those very standards. This he at once confessed and repudiated.

Even though we have known Christ after the flesh ... There are some things this does not mean. It does not mean that Paul associated with Christ during the Lord's ministry. It does not mean that Paul was drawing any distinction between the historical Christ and the risen Christ. It does not mean that Paul's apostleship was here taking some radical turn away from truth which he had believed and taught up to this time. This latter interpretation, of course, has been advocated by men like Baur and Stanley;[27] but such theories overlook the fact that this whole epistle was written by Paul to prove just the opposite of their speculation, namely that the totality of Paul's life and teaching since his acceptance of Christ was absolutely true and consistent.

Regarding the alleged meaning that Paul, as a disciple of Gamaliel, might have had some association with Jesus during his ministry; although this was by no means impossible, it is clear that Paul's meaning here is that:

Prior to his conversion, his knowledge of Christ had been after the flesh, formed in accordance with external and mistaken standards; but his conversion had meant the transformation of his knowledge of Christ.[28]

Yet now we know him so no more ... Paul no longer judged Christ after the false and artificial standards of the Pharisaical class to which he had once belonged.

[26] Raymond C. Kelcy, op. cit., p. 35.

[27] Philip E. Hughes, op. cit., p. 199.

[28] Ibid.