Reference: Spirit
American
A word employed in various senses in Scripture.
1. For THE HOLY SPIRIT, the third person of the Holy Trinity, who inspired the prophets, animates good men, pours his unction into our hearts, imparts to us life and comfort; and in whose name we are baptized and blessed, as well as in that of the Father and the Son. When the adjective Holy is applied to the term Spirit, we should always understand it as here explained; but there are many places whether it must be taken in this sense, although the term Holy is omitted. See HOLY SPIRIT.
2. BREATH, respiration; or the principle of animal life, common to men and animal: this God has given, and this he recalls when he takes away life, Ec 3:21. See SOUL.
3. The RATIONAL SOUL which animates us, and preserves its being after the death of the body. That spiritual, reasoning, and choosing substance, which is capable of eternal happiness. See SOUL.
The "spirits in prison," 1Pe 3:19, it is generally thought, are the souls of antediluvian sinners now reserved unto the judgment-day, but unto whom the Spirit preached by the agency of Noah, etc., 2Pe 2:5, when they were in the flesh. Thus Christ "preached" to the Ephesians, whom he never visited in person, Eph 2:17.
4. An ANGEL, good or bad; a soul separate from the body, Mr 14:26. It is said, Ac 23:8, that the Sadducees denied the existence of angels and spirits. Christ, appearing to his disciples, said to them, Lu 24:39, "Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have."
5. The DISPOSITION of the mind or intellect. Thus we read of a spirit of jealously, a spirit of fornication, a spirit of prayer, a spirit of infirmity, a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of fear of the Lord, Ho 4:12; Zec 12:10; Lu 13:11; Isa 11:2.
6. The RENEWED NATURE of true believers, which is produced by the Holy Spirit, and conforms the soul to his likeness. Spirit is thus the opposite of flesh, Joh 3:6. This spirit is virally united with, an in some passages can hardly be distinguished from the "Spirit of Christ," which animates true Christians, the children of God, and distinguishes them from the children of darkness, who are animated by the spirit of the world, Ro 8:1-16. This indwelling Spirit is the gift of grace, of adoption-the Holy Spirit poured into our hearts-which emboldens us to call God "Abba, my Father." Those who are influenced by this Spirit "have crucified the flesh, with its affections and lusts," Ga 5:16-25.
Distinguishing or discerning of spirits consisted in discerning whether a man were really inspired by the Spirit of God, or was a false prophet, an impostor, who only followed the impulse of his own spirit or of Satan. Paul speaks, 1Co 12:10 of the discerning of spirits as being among the miraculous gifts granted by God to the faithful at the first settlement of Christianity.
To "quench the Spirit," 1Th 5:19, is a metaphorical expression easily understood. The Spirit may be quenched by forcing, as it were, that divine Agent to withdraw from us, by irregularity of life, frivolity, avarice, negligence, or other sins contrary to charity, truth, peace, and his other gifts and qualifications.
We "grieve" the Spirit of God by withstanding his holy inspirations, the impulses of his grace; or by living in a lukewarm and incautious manner; by despising his gifts, or neglecting them; by abusing his favors, either out of vanity, curiosity, or indifference. In a contrary sense, 2Ti 1:6, we "stir up" the Spirit of God which is in us, by the practice of virtue, by compliance with his inspirations, by fervor in his service, by renewing our gratitude, and by diligently serving Christ and doing the works of the Spirit.
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Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of men, whether it, ascendeth, above, - or the spirit of the beast, whether it, descendeth, below, to the earth?
My people, of their Wood, do ask, - Let, their Staff, then tell them, - for, the spirit of unchastity, hath led them astray, and they have unchastely departed from under their God.
But I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitant of Jerusalem, the spirit of favour, and of supplications, and they will look unto me, whom they have pierced, - and will wail over him, as one waileth over an only son, and will make bitter outcry over him, as one maketh bitter outcry over a firstborn.
And lo! a woman, having a spirit of weakness eighteen years, - and was bowed together, and unable to lift herself up, at all.
See my hands, and my feet, - that it is, I, myself: Handle me, and see! because, a spirit, hath not, flesh and bones, as ye perceive, I, have.
That which hath been born of the flesh, is, flesh, and, that which hath been born of the spirit, is, spirit.
For, Sadducees, say, there is no rising again, nor messenger, nor spirit, whereas, Pharisees, confess them both.
Hence there is now, no, condemnation unto them who are in Christ Jesus; For, the-law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath set thee free from the law of sin and of death; - read more. For, what was impossible by the law in that it was weak through the flesh, God, by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, condemned sin in the flesh, In order that, the righteous requirement of the law, might be fulfilled in us - who, not according to flesh, do walk, but according to spirit; For, they who according to flesh have their being, the things of the flesh do prefer, but, they according to the spirit, the things of the spirit; For, what is preferred by the flesh, is death, whereas, what is preferred by the spirit, is life and peace; - Inasmuch as, what is preferred by the flesh, is hostile towards God, for, unto the law of God, it doth not submit itself, neither in fact can it. - They, moreover, who in flesh have their being, cannot please, God. But, ye, have not your being in flesh, but in spirit, - if at least, God's Spirit, dwelleth in you; and, if anyone hath not Christ's Spirit, the same, is not his; - But, if Christ is in you, the body, indeed, is dead by reason of sin, whereas, the spirit, is life by reason of righteousness; If, moreover, the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from among the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised from among the dead Christ Jesus, shall make alive evenyour death-doomed bodies, through means of his indwelling Spirit within you. Hence, then, brethren - debtors, we are, not unto the flesh, that, according to flesh, we should live, - For, if according to flesh ye live, ye are about to die, whereas, if in spirit, the practices of the flesh, ye are putting to death, ye shall attain unto life; For, as many as by God's Spirit are being led, the same, are God's sons, - For ye have not received a spirit of servitude, leading back into fear, but ye have received a spirit of sonship, whereby we are exclaiming - Abba! Oh Father! The Spirit itself, beareth witness together with our spirit that we are children of God;
And, unto another, energies of mighty works, and, unto another, prophesying, and, unto another, discriminations of spirits, - unto a different one, kinds of tongues, and, unto another, translation of tongues; -
I say, moreover - by Spirit, be walking, and, fleshly coveting, ye will in nowise fulfil; For, the flesh, coveted against the Spirit, but, the Spirit, against the flesh, - for, these, unto one another, are opposed, lest, whatsoever things ye chance to desire, these, ye should be doing! read more. And, if, by Spirit, ye are being led, ye are not under law. Manifest, however, are the works of the flesh, which, indeed, are - fornication, impurity, wantonness, idolatry, enchantment, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of wrath, factions, divisions, parties, envyings, drunkenness, revellings; - and such things as these: as to which I forewarn you, even as I have forewarned you, - that, they who such things as these do practise, shall not inherit, God's kingdom. But, the fruit of the Spirit, is - love, joy, peace, long-suffering, graciousness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; - against such things as these, there is no law. And, they who are of Christ Jesus, have crucified, the flesh, with its susceptibilities and covetings. If we live by Spirit, by Spirit, let us also walk.
And, coming, he announced the glad-message - of peace, unto you, the far off, and peace, unto them that were nigh;
The Spirit, do not quench,
For which cause, I put thee in remembrance, to be stirring up God's gift of favour, which is in thee through means of the laying on of my hands;
In which, even unto the spirits in prison, he went and proclaimed, -
And, an ancient world, spared not, but, with seven others, preserved, Noah, a proclaimer, of righteousness, a flood, upon a world of ungodly persons, letting loose, -
Easton
(Heb ruah; Gr. pneuma), properly wind or breath. In 2Th 2:8 it means "breath," and in Ec 8:8 the vital principle in man. It also denotes the rational, immortal soul by which man is distinguished (Ac 7:59; 1Co 5:5; 6:20; 7:34), and the soul in its separate state (Heb 12:23), and hence also an apparition (Job 4:15; Lu 24:37,39), an angel (Heb 1:14), and a demon (Lu 4:36; 10:20). This word is used also metaphorically as denoting a tendency (Zec 12:10; Lu 13:11).
In Ro 1:4; 1Ti 3:16; 2Co 3:17; 1Pe 3:18, it designates the divine nature.
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Then, a spirit, over my face, floated along, The hair of my flesh bristled-up:
No man, hath power over the spirit, to retain the spirit, and, none, hath power over the day of death, and there is no furlough in war, - neither shall lawlessness deliver them who are given thereto.
But I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitant of Jerusalem, the spirit of favour, and of supplications, and they will look unto me, whom they have pierced, - and will wail over him, as one waileth over an only son, and will make bitter outcry over him, as one maketh bitter outcry over a firstborn.
And amazement came upon all, and they began to converse one with another, saying - What is this word, that, with authority and power, he giveth orders unto the impure spirits, and they go forth?
Notwithstanding, in this, be not rejoicing - that, the spirits, unto you submit themselves; but be rejoicing - that, your names, are inscribed in the heavens!
And lo! a woman, having a spirit of weakness eighteen years, - and was bowed together, and unable to lift herself up, at all.
But, being agitated and becoming, afraid, they began to imagine, that, upon a spirit, they were looking.
See my hands, and my feet, - that it is, I, myself: Handle me, and see! because, a spirit, hath not, flesh and bones, as ye perceive, I, have.
And they stoned Stephen, as he was invoking and saying - Lord Jesus! give welcome unto my spirit.
Who was distinguished as the Son of God - by power, according to a Holy Spirit, through means of a resurrection of the dead, - Jesus Christ our Lord;
And whatsoever ye may be doing, in word, or in work, all things, do in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks unto the Divine Father through him: -
And, then, shall be revealed the lawless one, - whom, the Lord Jesus, will slay with the Spirit of his mouth, and paralyse with the forthshining of his Presence: -
Are they not, all, spirits, doing public service, - for ministry, sent forth, for the sake of them who are about to inherit salvation?
in high festival, - and unto an assembly of firstborn ones, enrolled in the heavens, - and unto God, judge of all, - and unto the spirits of righteous ones made perfect, -
Fausets
Hebrew ruach, Greek pneuma. Man in his normal integrity ("whole," holokleeron, complete in all its parts, 1Th 5:23) consists of "spirit, soul, and body." The spirit links man with higher intelligences, and is that highest part receptive of the quickening Holy Spirit (1Co 15:47). The soul (Hebrew nephesh, Greek psuchee) is intermediate between body and spirit; it is the sphere of the will and affections.
In the unspiritual, the spirit is so sunk under the animal soul (which it ought to keep under) that such are "animal" ("seasonal," having merely the body of organized matter and the soul, the immaterial animating essence), "having not the spirit" (Jg 1:19; Jas 3:15; 1Co 2:14; 15:44-48; Joh 3:6). The unbeliever shall rise with an animal (soul-animated) body, but not, like the believer, with a spiritual (spirit-endued) body like Christ's (Ro 8:11).
The soul is the seat of the appetites, the desires, the will; hunger, thirst, sorrow, joy; love, hope, fear, etc.; so that nephesh is the man himself, and is used for person, self, creature, any: a virtual contradiction of materialism, implying that the unseen soul rather than the seen body is the man. "Man was made" not a living body but "a living soul." "The blood, the life," links together body and soul (Le 17:11).
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For as for the life of the flesh, in the blood, it is, therefore have, I, given it unto you upon the altar, to put a propitiatory-covering over your lives, - for the blood, it is, which, by virtue of the life, maketh propitiation.
And it same to pass that Yahweh was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, - but did not dispossess the inhabitants of the vale, because they had, chariots of iron.
That which hath been born of the flesh, is, flesh, and, that which hath been born of the spirit, is, spirit.
If, moreover, the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from among the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised from among the dead Christ Jesus, shall make alive evenyour death-doomed bodies, through means of his indwelling Spirit within you.
The first man, is of the ground, earthy, the second man, is, of heaven:
Having blotted out the handwriting against us by the decrees, which was hostile to us, - and hath taken away, the same, out of the midst, nailing it up to the cross:
But, the God of peace himself, hallow you completely, and, entire, might your spirit, and soul, and body, - so as to be unblameable in the Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, - be preserved!
This wisdom is not one, from above, coming down, but is earthly, born of the soul, demoniacal!
Hastings
The term is applied to God as defining His nature generally (Joh 4:24), and also as describing one element in that nature, His self-consciousness (1Co 2:11). It expresses not only God's immateriality, but also His transcendence of limitations of time and space. In the phrases 'Spirit of God,' the 'Spirit of the Lord,' the 'Spirit of Jesus Christ,' the 'Holy Spirit,' the 'Spirit of Truth,' the third Person in the Godhead is described (see Holy Spirit). The term is applied to personal powers of evil other than man (Mt 10:1; 12:45; Lu 4:33; 7:21; 1Ti 4:1; cf. Eph 6:12), as well as personal powers of good (Heb 1:14), and to human beings after death, either damned (1Pe 3:19) or blessed (Heb 12:23). It is used also as personifying an influence (1Jo 4:6; Eph 2:2; Ro 8:15). Its most distinctive use is in the psychology of the Christian life. The contrast between 'soul' and 'spirit,' and between 'flesh' and 'spirit,' has already been noted in the articles on these terms. While soul and spirit are not to be regarded as separate faculties, yet 'spirit' expresses the direct dependence of the life in man on God, first in creation (Ge 2:7), but especially, according to the Pauline doctrine, in regeneration. The life in man, isolating itself from, and opposing itself to, God, is soul; that life, cleansed and renewed by the Spirit of God, is spirit; intimate as is the relation of God and man in the new life, the Spirit of God is distinguished from the spirit of man (Ro 8:16), although it is not always possible to make the distinction. In Acts the phrase 'holy spirit' sometimes means the subjective human state produced ('holy enthusiasm'), and sometimes the objective Divine cause producing (see 'Acts' in the Century Bible, p. 386). As the Spirit is the source of this new life, whatever belongs to it is 'spiritual' (pneumatikon), as house, sacrifices (1Pe 2:5), understanding (Col 1:9), songs (Col 3:16), food, drink, rock (1Co 10:3-4); and the 'spiritual' and 'soulish' (rendered 'carnal' or 'natural') are contrasted (1Co 2:14; 15:44,46). Spirit as an ecstatic state is also distinguished from mind (1Co 14:14,16), as inwardness from letter (Ro 2:29; 7:6; 2Co 3:6). The old creation
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So then Yahweh God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed in his nostrils the breath of life - and man became a living soul.
So then Yahweh God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed in his nostrils the breath of life - and man became a living soul.
Thus, saith GOD himself - Yahweh, - Creator of the heavens that stretched them forth, Out-spreader of earth, and the products thereof, - Giver of breath to the people thereon, And of spirit to them who walk therein,
And, calling near his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over impure spirits, - so as to be casting them out, and curing every disease and every infirmity.
Then, it goeth, and taketh along with itself, seven diverse spirits, more wicked than itself, - and, entering, abideth there; and, the last state of that man, becometh, worse than the first. So, shall it be, with this, wicked, generation.
And, in the synagogue, was a man having a spirit of an impure demon; and he cried out with a loud voice -
In that very hour, he cured many from diseases, and plagues, and wicked spirits; and, unto many blind, gave he the favour to see.
God is, spirit; and, they that worship him, in spirit and truth, must needs worship.
But, he who is one in secret, is a Jew, - and, that is , circumcision, which is of the heart, in spirit, not in letter, - whose, praise, is not of men, but of God.
But, now, we have received full release from the law, by dying in that wherein we used to be held fast, so that we should be doing service - in newness of spirit and not in obsoleteness of letter.
Hence there is now, no, condemnation unto them who are in Christ Jesus; For, the-law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath set thee free from the law of sin and of death; - read more. For, what was impossible by the law in that it was weak through the flesh, God, by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, condemned sin in the flesh, In order that, the righteous requirement of the law, might be fulfilled in us - who, not according to flesh, do walk, but according to spirit; For, they who according to flesh have their being, the things of the flesh do prefer, but, they according to the spirit, the things of the spirit; For, what is preferred by the flesh, is death, whereas, what is preferred by the spirit, is life and peace; - Inasmuch as, what is preferred by the flesh, is hostile towards God, for, unto the law of God, it doth not submit itself, neither in fact can it. - They, moreover, who in flesh have their being, cannot please, God. But, ye, have not your being in flesh, but in spirit, - if at least, God's Spirit, dwelleth in you; and, if anyone hath not Christ's Spirit, the same, is not his; - But, if Christ is in you, the body, indeed, is dead by reason of sin, whereas, the spirit, is life by reason of righteousness; If, moreover, the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from among the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised from among the dead Christ Jesus, shall make alive evenyour death-doomed bodies, through means of his indwelling Spirit within you. Hence, then, brethren - debtors, we are, not unto the flesh, that, according to flesh, we should live, - For, if according to flesh ye live, ye are about to die, whereas, if in spirit, the practices of the flesh, ye are putting to death, ye shall attain unto life; For, as many as by God's Spirit are being led, the same, are God's sons, - For ye have not received a spirit of servitude, leading back into fear, but ye have received a spirit of sonship, whereby we are exclaiming - Abba! Oh Father!
For ye have not received a spirit of servitude, leading back into fear, but ye have received a spirit of sonship, whereby we are exclaiming - Abba! Oh Father! The Spirit itself, beareth witness together with our spirit that we are children of God;
The Spirit itself, beareth witness together with our spirit that we are children of God; And, if children, heirs also - heirs, indeed, of God, but co-heirs with Christ, - if, at least, we are suffering together, in order that we may also be glorified together.
For who of men knoweth the things of a man, - save the spirit of the man that is in him? thus, even the things of God, hath no one come to know, save the Spirit of God.
But, a man of the soul, doth not welcome the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, and he cannot get to know them, because, spiritually, are they examined;
And, all, did eat the samespiritual food, And, all, drank, the same spiritual drink, - for they continued to drink of the spiritual rock that followed them, and, the rock, was the Christ: -
For, if I am praying in a tongue, my spirit, is praying, but, my mind, is unfruitful.
Else, if thou be blessing in a spirit, he that filleth up the place of the ungifted person, how shall he say the Amen upon thy thanksgiving? since indeed, what thou art saying, he knoweth not;
It is sown a body of the soul, it is raised a body of the spirit; if there is a body of the soul, there is also of the spirit: -
Howbeit, not first, is the body of the spirit, but that, of the soul, - afterwards, that of the spirit.
In which at one time ye walked, according to the age of the world, according to the prince of the authority of the air, of the spirit that now energiseth in the sons of disobedience,
Because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but, against the principalities, against the authorities, against the world-holders, of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenlies.
For this cause, we also, from the day when we heard of you , cease not, in your behalf, praying and asking - that ye may be filled unto the personal knowledge of his will, in all spiritual wisdom and discernment,
In whom, ye have also been circumcised with a circumcision not done by hand, in the despoiling of the body of flesh, in the circumcision of the Christ, - Having been buried together with him in your immersion, wherein also ye have been raised together, through your faith in the energising of God - Who raised him from among the dead.
On account of which things cometh the anger of God, -
Let, the word of the Christ, dwell within you richly, - in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another, with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, with gratitude, raising song with your hearts unto God:
Are they not, all, spirits, doing public service, - for ministry, sent forth, for the sake of them who are about to inherit salvation?
in high festival, - and unto an assembly of firstborn ones, enrolled in the heavens, - and unto God, judge of all, - and unto the spirits of righteous ones made perfect, -
Yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices, well-pleasing unto God through Jesus Christ;
In which, even unto the spirits in prison, he went and proclaimed, -
We, are, of God: he that is getting to understand God, hearkeneth unto us, - whoso is not of God, hearkeneth not unto us: from this, perceive we - the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Morish
See SOUL.
Watsons
SPIRIT, in Hebrew, ??? in Greek, ??????, and in Latin, spiritus, is in the Scriptures sometimes taken for the Holy Ghost, the third person of the Holy Trinity. The word signifies also the reasonable soul which animates us, and continues in existence even after the death of the body; that spiritual, thinking and reasoning substance, which is capable of eternal happiness, Nu 16:22; Ac 7:59. The term spirit is also often used for an angel, a demon, and a ghost, or soul separate from the body. It is said, in Ac 23:8, that the Sadducees denied the existence of angels and spirits. Jesus Christ appearing to his disciples, said to them, Lu 24:39, "Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." And St. Paul calls the good angels "ministering spirits," Heb 1:14. In 1Sa 16:14; 18:10; 19:9, it is said that an evil spirit from the Lord troubled Saul: and we have also the expression unclean spirits. Add to this, spirit is sometimes put for the disposition of the heart or mind: see Nu 5:14; Zec 12:10; Lu 13:11; Isa 11:2. Discerning of spirits, or the secret character and thoughts of men, was a gift of God, and placed among the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost, 1Co 12:10; 1Jo 4:1.
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but there shall pass over him a spirit of jealousy, and he shall become jealous of his wife, she having committed uncleanness, - or there shall pass over him a spirit of jealousy, and he shall become jealous of his wife, she not, having committed uncleanness,
And they fell upon their faces and said, O GOD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, - shall, one man, sin, and against all the assembly, wilt thou he wroth.
And it came to pass, when all the nation had made an end of passing over the Jordan, that Yahweh slake unto Joshua, saying:
But, the spirit of Yahweh, departed from Saul, - and there terrified him a sad spirit, from Yahweh.
And, when it came to pass, on the morrow, that a superhuman spirit of sadness came suddenly upon Saul, and he was moved to raving in the midst of the house, - and, David, began playing with his hand, as he had done day by day, that a spear being in Saul's hand,
then came there a sad spirit of Yahweh unto Saul, he being in his house, seated, with his spear in his hand, - while, David, played with his hand,
The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and might, The spirit of knowledge and reverence of Yahweh;
But I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitant of Jerusalem, the spirit of favour, and of supplications, and they will look unto me, whom they have pierced, - and will wail over him, as one waileth over an only son, and will make bitter outcry over him, as one maketh bitter outcry over a firstborn.
And lo! a woman, having a spirit of weakness eighteen years, - and was bowed together, and unable to lift herself up, at all.
See my hands, and my feet, - that it is, I, myself: Handle me, and see! because, a spirit, hath not, flesh and bones, as ye perceive, I, have.
And they stoned Stephen, as he was invoking and saying - Lord Jesus! give welcome unto my spirit.
For, Sadducees, say, there is no rising again, nor messenger, nor spirit, whereas, Pharisees, confess them both.
And, unto another, energies of mighty works, and, unto another, prophesying, and, unto another, discriminations of spirits, - unto a different one, kinds of tongues, and, unto another, translation of tongues; -
Are they not, all, spirits, doing public service, - for ministry, sent forth, for the sake of them who are about to inherit salvation?