Kata is a versatile Greek preposition appearing about 473 times in the NT. With the genitive case it means "down from," "against," or "throughout." With the accusative (most common) it means "according to," "in conformity with," "concerning," or "during."
Its directional sense ("downward, against") and its conformity sense ("according to the standard of") are its two poles. Context determines which is operative — but the core idea is alignment with or pressure from a standard or force.
Kata appears in some of Paul's most important theological formulas. "According to (kata) the flesh" vs. "according to (kata) the Spirit" is the fundamental opposition in Romans 8 and Galatians 5. These are not merely lifestyles but orientations of the whole self — conforming to the flesh's logic vs. conforming to the Spirit's life.
"According to the Scriptures" (kata tas graphas) appears in 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 as the standard against which the death and resurrection of Christ are to be measured. The gospel is not new — it conforms to the divine promise running through all Scripture.
Jesus was judged "according to (kata) our works" is never said of His people — instead they are justified not kata works but kata grace (2 Timothy 1:9). The kata-standard has shifted from human performance to divine mercy in Christ.