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Volume. XX, No. 29 From the Pastors Heart: Word Study about 'Spiritual' - Part 1In order to understand the phrase “spiritual gifts”, we begin with the word, “spiritual” in the New Testament. There are a few Greek words to study. Seven words will be studied, but all of them are from the same root word. Pneumatikos: It occurs four times in the New Testament.
2) A person may be spiritual, and he is able to judge all things. a) A spiritual man is in contrast to a natural man. b) A natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:14). c) A spiritual man has the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). 3) The believers are built up spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5a). a) The believers are living stones, which is non-physical. b) The spiritual house must refer to non-physical church-universal. c) It is the house that the Spirit of God dwells. 4) The believers offer spiritual sacrifices (1 Peter 2:5b). a) The believers are built up an holy priesthood. b) They are to offer spiritual sacrifices. c) The spiritual sacrifices are acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. d) The spiritual sacrifices are non-physical, and if it is understood in the light of verse 9, they must be praises of God (cf. Hebrews 13:15-16). e) However, there are other sacrifices we must consider. i. Romans 12:1, “ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” ii. Romans 15:16, “the offering up of the Gentiles” iii. Romans 15:27, “It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.” iv. Philippians 2:17, “if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.” v. Philippians 4:18, “an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.” vi. Revelation 6:9, “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held.” 5) In summary, a) Whatever is in line with the law of God is spiritual. b) Whoever is led and built by the Spirit of God is spiritual. c) Whoever offers spiritual sacrifices is spiritual. d) Thus, the believers of Christ are spiritual by following the Word of God, being led by the Holy Spirit, and offering spiritual sacrifices (e.g. praises and thanksgiving). Pneumatikois (adjective normal dative neuter plural): It occurs 3 times.
1) Spiritual things are blessings of the Gospel through the people of God. a) Spiritual things are in contrast to carnal things. b) Carnal things refer to financial contributions to the saints in c) Gentile believers are the recipients of the blessings from the Gospel. 2) 1 Corinthians 2:13 is difficult: “comparing spiritual things with spiritual” a) If the second “spiritual” (in Greek, it is the first spiritual) is neutral, then it means “spiritual things with spiritual things.” In this case, it may mean, spiritual things (spiritual thoughts by John McArthur; the words spoken by Leon Morris) with spiritual things (spiritual words by McArthur; the truth expressed by Leon Morris). b) If the second “spiritual” is masculine, it means “spiritual things” (words or thoughts) with spiritual men. c) Whatever interpretation is chosen, “spiritual” is related to the truth of God or the word of God one way or another. 3) 1 Corinthians 3:1 talks about spiritual people. a) The spiritual people are in contrast to carnal people. b) The carnal people are babies in Christ. c) Carnal people or babies in Christ are not able to bear the teachings of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:2. d) Carnal people show some characteristics such as envying, strife, and divisions. e) Therefore, spiritual people are the ones who are able to bear the teachings of the truth and to be mature enough not to show those carnal characteristics. 4) In summary, a) Being spiritual is related to our abiding in God’s Word. b) Being spiritual means to be mature in Christian character.
1) The word of God is spiritual. 2) The followers of the word of God are spiritual. 3) The mature Christians who are led by the Spirit of God and built up a good Christian character are spiritual. 4) The spiritual people’s sacrifices are spiritual. |
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