Hope B-P Church

Volume. XX, No. 30
Sunday, 22 January 2006

From the Pastor�s Heart: Word Study about 'Spiritual' - Part 2

Pneumatikos and pneumatikois are not totally different words. They come from the same root but in different forms in gender, case, and number. The purpose of studying these words separately is to know their use and any potential differences or significance of their meaning.

Pneumatikon(adjective accusative neuter singular): It occurs 7 times.

	Description	Function	Beneficiaries	Synonym/Antonym
Rom 1:11	Spiritual gift		Believers established
1 Cor 10:3	Same spiritual meat		The children of Israel ate
1 Cor 10:4	Same spiritual drink		The children of Israel drank
1 Cor 15:44	Spiritual body-raised			Natural body-sown
1 Cor 15:46 (2x)	Spiritual (thing)-second			Natural (thing)-first
Gal 6:1	Spiritual (people)	Restore the weak		Overtaken in fault (sin, wrongdoing)

Spiritual gifts are to establish the believers.
Spiritual food in 1 Corinthians 10:3 indicates the heavenly origin of manna.
The drink that the children of Israel drank was spiritual drink that was from the spiritual rock, which is Christ in 1 Corinthians 10:4
Those who ate and drank spiritual food and spiritual drink perished because they lusted after evil in 1 Corinthians 10:5-6.
The spiritual body is the resurrection body, while natural body is physical body in 1 Corinthians 15:44, 46.
Spiritual people are those who do not walk in sin or wrong doings, and who are able to restore those who have fallen into sin.
Summary

Spiritual things (gifts, food, drink, or resurrection body) have their heavenly origin.
Tasting heavenly things (spiritual food and spiritual drink) does not keep people from falling into sin.
Spiritual people are the ones who are mature enough to help the weak. It is possible that they get tempted.

Pneumatika (adjective accusative neuter plural): It occurs 4 times.

	Description	Function	Beneficiaries	Synonym/antonym
1 Cor 2:13	Spiritual things	Compared with/to spiritual word/men
1 Cor 9:11	Spiritual things	They are sown by apostles	Corinthian believers	They shall be reaped with carnal things
1 Cor 14:1	Spiritual gifts	They are desired		Prophecy is a part of spiritual gifts
Eph 6:12	Spiritual wickedness	It must be fought against		Power of darkness in high places

Spiritual things are the spiritual word (1 Cor. 2:13) and the Gospel (1 Cor. 9:11, 14).
Spiritual things are in contrast to carnal things, which are material things or financial support.
Spiritual things in 1 Cor. 14:1 are supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual evilness is a counterpart.

There are evil spiritual powers.
They must be fought against.

In summary,

The Word of God is spiritual.
The preaching of the Word is spiritual.
Supernatural manifestation of the Spirit of God is spiritual.
There is an enemy of spiritual goodness, which is spiritual wickedness. This enemy has power in the air. Thus, spiritual things need to be discerned.

Pneumatikes (adjective genitive feminine singular): It occurs once.

The spiritual rock in the wilderness was Christ in 1 Corinthians 10:4.

Pneumatikos (adverb): It occurs twice. It means spiritually.

	Description	Subject matter	Synonym/antonym
1 Cor 2:14	Spiritually discerned	The things of the Spirit of God	Foolishness to the natural man
Rev 11:8	Spiritually is called	The Great City	Sodom and Egypt

The things of the Spirit of God need to be spiritually discerned.
The spiritually discernable matters are only foolish things to the natural man.
“Spiritually” in Revelation 11:8 means “figuratively.”

Conclusion of the word study of “spiritual”

Every spiritual thing has a heavenly origin.
Thus, natural man cannot understand the spiritual things.
The law/word of God is spiritual.
The preaching of the Word is spiritual.
The followers of God’s Word are spiritual.
Spiritual people’s sacrifices are spiritual.
The manifestation of the Spirit of God is spiritual.
The mature people in the Lord are spiritual.
There is spiritual wickedness, which is an enemy of the believers.

Lovingly,

Your Pastor

More Lively Hope

Announcements

Shorter Catechism Question No. 29: How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ? We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.

Please pray for health & God’s healing: Pastor & Sis Myung Ki, Rev George & Sis Nan van Buuren, Rev Peter Clements, Rev Joon Ho Lee (Bro Tae-Yul’s father), Rev Edward Paauwe, Rev Timothy Tow, Dr S H Tow, Dn Yaw Chiew Tan; Bros Winston Selvanayagam, Thomas Tan, John Tann, & Kevin Tye; Sisters Kimmy Chong, Alice Lee’s father, Gillian Ong’s grandfather, Aranka Rejtoe, Susan Veradi, Giok Yeo’s sister-in-law, Auntie Oei, & Auntie Sheila George, and others afflicted with illness. "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 26:1a).

Please pray for – a) Cambodia Missions: Rev George van Buuren as he prepares for missions trip, leaving on Tue, 24 Jan, for about 5 weeks; Rev & Mrs David Koo & their ministry (Sihanaoukville); b) Laos Missions - Bro Surish Dharmalingam - for health & God’s provision; c) Journey mercies - Rev & Mrs Stephen Choi (S’pore/Phnom Penh), Dn Edwin D’Mello (S’pore/Adl), Bros Jason Tan (Adl) & Lincoln Law (Warrnambool/Tas), Sankey family (Adl), Mr. Tee & Sis Yee Min Tee (Melb) & others who are travelling; d) Sketch N’ Tell ministry of Bro Hai Seng Lim and for his next missions trip; e) Comfort & encouragement - Bro Tae-Yul Lee & family at this difficult time; f) God’s wisdom and guidance - Ps Ki as he ministers to pastors and faithfuls in Kerala, India; Deacon Law as he prepares the Lord’s Day message; g) The Lord’s guidance - Sis Amanda Fu to complete her uni study here or interstate (Syd); h) Relief from this heat wave, and keeping us all in good health.

Praise and Thank God for – a) Preaching of God’s Word by Rev James White last Lord’s Day; b) BSAG, Joy, Maranatha, YAF/Teens Bible Study & Prayer Meetings, & Ladies’ Prayer Group; c) Journey mercies - Rev & Mrs Stephen Choi (Adl & Syd), Dn David Yeo (Adl), Bro Richard Tee (Darwin), Bro Peter & Sis Mary Ting & family (Adl); Sisters Smrithi George (Bangalore) & Myung Ki(Adl), & others who travelled recently; d) Warm fellowship with Rev & Mrs Stephen Choi; e) Provision of a job for Bro Jonathan Liao (KL).

Special Item of Prayer: For the LORD to provide $20,000 for Pastor’s car by 31 Mar 06.

Special Thank You to Rev Kwong Shik Moon & Session of Korean Presbyterian Church, Adelaide, for allowing our brethren to have fellowship with Rev & Mrs Stephen Choi.

Adults Fellowship Group (AFG) - Anyone interested in coming & helping with the Steamboat dinner please notify Sisters Joyce Gong or Serene Wong.

Ladies’ Fellowship: AGM on Sat, 11 Feb, at 2.00pm for election of a new committee.