You asked

how did paul's jewish background shape his understanding of the 'flesh' as more than just the physical body?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Romans 7:18

“For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it to do that which is good.”

The Apostle Paul, writing to the church in Rome around the mid-1st century CE, is exploring the human struggle with sin and the Law. In this section, he's describing an internal conflict that even he experiences.

What does it mean for 'no good thing' to dwell in the flesh, and how does this shape our view of human capacity for good?

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Read alongside it

Galatians 5:16-17
Describes the ongoing conflict between the 'flesh' and the 'Spirit' in believers' lives.
Romans 8:3-4
Explains how God addresses the problem of the 'flesh' through Jesus, freeing believers from its dominion.
Psalm 51:5
Expresses an ancient Israelite understanding of inherent human brokenness from birth.

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