biblical definition of spirit

1. Where we had harbored selfishness, cruelty, rebelliousness, and spite, we now possess love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. TERMS OF USE PRIVACY POLICY, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/a/nwtstg/univ/wpub/nwtstg_univ_lg.jpg, Publication download options Copyright © 2020, Bible Study Tools. Proud member W. Dryness, Themes in Old Testament Theology; R. H. Gundry, Soma in Biblical Theology; R. Jewett, Paul's Anthropological Terms; A. R. Johnson, The Vitality of the Individual in the Thought of Ancient Israel; N. Snaith, The Distinctive Ideas of the Old Testament; H. W. Wolff, Anthropology of the Old Testament. May we not reach a still higher stage? Biblically it is sometimes used synonymously with soul ( Job. The terms seem to be one and the same ( Luke 1:46-47 ) and seem to be interchangeable. Breath is also a basic meaning of this term. Spirits return to God ().Eccl 9:5 says that the dead don’t know anything (of what is happening on Earth); several passages in Psalms echo that teaching. the spirit of God. For man is but a creature to whom life has been imparted by God's spirit--life being but a resultant of God's breath. Ahab was dispirited and sullen because of Naboth's unwillingness to sell his vineyard ( 1 Kings 21:4 ). The spirit may thus be "revived" (Genesis 45:27), or "overwhelmed" (Psalms 143:4), or "broken" (Proverbs 15:13). Those whose spirits God had stirred up went up to rebuild the temple ( Ezr 1:5 ). It is this human spiritual nature that enables continuing conversation with the divine Spirit ( Rom 8:9-17 ). All of them refer to that which is invisible to human sight and gives evidence of force in motion. Flesh and spirit are often juxtaposed. See CONSCIENCE; FLESH; HOLY SPIRIT; PSYCHOLOGY; SOUL. The psalmist prays for a steadfast spirit ( Psalm 51:10 ). It was Mary's spirit that rejoiced ( Luke 1:47 ). The Hebrew and Greek words are used with reference to (1) wind, (2) the active life-force in earthly creatures, (3) the impelling force that issues from a person’s figurative heart and causes him … Without corporeal grossness or sensuality; in a manner conformed to the spirit of true religion; with purity of spirit or heart. 17. There are a few passages that see the spirit as disembodied ( 2 Cor 5:1-5 ; Heb 12:23 ; 1 Peter 3:19 ). Article Images Copyright © 2020 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. 2:10-15). Thus life and death are realistically described as an imparting or a withdrawing of God's breath, as in Job 27:3; 33:4; 34:14, "spirit and breath" going together. Used primarily in the Old Testament and New Testament of the wind, as in Genesis 8:1; Numbers 11:31; Amos 4:13 ("createth the wind"); Hebrews 1:7 (angels, "spirits" or "winds" in margin); often used of the breath, as in Job 12:10; 15:30, and in 2 Thessalonians 2:8 (wicked consumed by "the breath of his mouth"). The Old Testament. "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". To convert to a spiritual meaning. While the letter kills, the Spirit gives life ( 2 Cor 3:6 ). Thus generally for all the manifestations of the spiritual part in man, as that which thinks, feels, wills; and also to denote certain qualities which characterize the man, e.g. May we not then rightly assume that more is meant than a mere influence emanating from a personal God? Spirit is also contrasted with letter. That which hath power or energy; the quality of any substance which manifest life, activity, or the power of strongly affecting other bodies; as the spirit of wine or of any liquor. The spirit is thus in man the principle of life--but of man as distinguished from the brute--so that in death this spirit is yielded to the Lord (Luke 23:46; Acts 7:59; 1 Corinthians 5:5, "that the spirit may be saved"). Wendt in his interesting monograph (Die Begriffe Fleisch und Geist), of which extracts are given in Dickson's Paul's Use of the Terms Flesh and Spirit, draws attention to the transcendental influence of the Divine ruach in the Old Testament as expressed in such phrases as `to put on' (Judges 6:34), `to fall upon' (14:6,19), `to settle' (Numbers 11:25). (1) The Human as Related with the Divine: We go a step higher when we find the human spirit brought into relationship with the Divine Spirit. Spirit A word employed in various senses in Scripture. It is also used of bad breath Job's breath was repulsive to his wife ( Job 19:17 ). The word “spirit” when used in the Scriptures has several meanings. Weakness of flesh can prove stronger than the spirit's will to pray ( Mark 14:38 ). spir'-it (ruach; pneuma; Latin, spiritus): (2) Operations of the Divine Spirit as Third Person of the Trinity. ruah; Gr. It appears 389 times in the Old Testament. There’s nothing in the Bible about the spirits of dead humans “staying behind” on Earth. She was overcome by astonishment. It is the part of the conscious person--that aspect of awareness that animates our bodies. While it occasionally means wind ( John 3:8 ) and breath ( Matt 27:50 ; 2 Thess 2:8 ), it is most generally translates "spirit" an incorporeal, feeling, and intelligent being. Are we not right in maintaining with Davidson that "there are indeed a considerable number of passages in the Old Testament which might very well express the idea that the Spirit is a distinct hypostasis or person."? Salem Media Group. In such instances as these the difference between "soul" and "spirit" appears. 7:11; Isa. It was an east wind that brought locusts ( Exod 10:13 ) and a strong east wind that divided the Red Sea and dried it up ( Exod 14:21 ). Would you like to read this article in %%? Hence, God's power is manifested in human life and character (Luke 4:14; Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 2:4; especially Luke 24:49). Whenever the word “Spirit” appears used with a capital letter, it has but one meaning. The trees of the forest sway before a wind ( Isa 7:2 ); a wind sweeps over the waters ( Gen 1:2 ); and the Lord walked in the garden at the breezy time of day ( Gen 3:8 ). Jesus pronounced a blessing on the "poor in spirit" ( Matt 5:3 ). of Given the distributed uses of ruah [;jWr] (standing twice as often for the wind/power of God as it does for the breath/feelings/will of the person), mortals cannot see themselves as independent of God.