Did Paul refer to the flesh as the old man?

[tonychanyt]

No, not exactly.

Ro 8:

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

The word flesh could refer to humanity's fallen, sinful nature, the part of us that is prone to selfishness, rebellion against God, and worldly desires. It does not simply mean the physical body but the fleshly mindset to sin.

BLB, Ro 6:

6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, so that the body of sin might be annulled, that we are no longer enslaved to sin.

The old man was dead but we still have the physical body of flesh. In the old days before our conversion, we had a fleshly mindset. The old man, or old self, was not the flesh but rather the fleshly mindset. The new man replaces this with a spiritual mindset.

Berean Standard Bible, Ep 4:

22 to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

The new man/self still has the body of flesh, but not the fleshly mindset. The old man is decisively dealt with at conversion. While the flesh remains as a lingering influence, the old man is no longer the believer's identity. Instead, the believer is called to embrace a new self characterized by righteousness and holiness.

Is the flesh the old man?

The old man refers to the pre-conversion self, the identity and lifestyle dominated by sin. It is decisively crucified with Christ when you are born again. The Paraclete/Spirit does not dwell in the old man.

The flesh refers to humanity's fallen, sinful nature, the ongoing tendency toward rebellion against God. It represents both the physical and spiritual effects of sin. The Paraclete dwells in the new man with the old flesh.

While the two concepts overlap, they are not identical. The old man is your former life, while the flesh remains an ongoing challenge.