II Corinthians 5:16

A common misinterpretation is to read this as a rejection of personal relationships, physical needs, or humanitarian efforts, suggesting believers should ignore earthly contexts entirely, when Paul actually addresses superficial judgments rather than denying the flesh's role in Christian living; another error is to deny Christ's true incarnation by implying he was never 'known after the flesh,' whereas Paul acknowledges Jesus' earthly life while transcending it in resurrection glory.

Paul declares that in light of Christ's reconciling work and the new creation, believers must shift their perspective away from evaluating people—including Jesus—based on mere human, fleshly standards or outward appearances, instead viewing everyone spiritually through their relationship to Christ, recognizing the eternal reality of being in him over temporal, worldly identities.