"SPIRIT, MAN, SPIRIT"

(Read 1 Corinthians 2:9-16)

   One of the most interesting passages on The Holy Spirit and one that is generally overlooked in theological discussions is in First Corinthians 2:9-16.

   It begins in verse nine with a quotation that is evidently from Isaiah 64:4, though not an exact quote. It reads, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him."

   This verse is generally applied to the unknown mysteries of heaven, but in the original source and in Paul's usage it applies to the revelation of the new covenant Scriptures which were unknown before the manifestation of God's Will by the Holy Spirit in the Christian dispensation.

   A knowledge of the truths concerning the future life in heaven is not in the discussion of the context. It refers to the present insight into divine realities. It is now our privilege to know these things through the operation of the Holy Spirit, though this knowledge has not been granted to man.

   Robertson and the Plummer point out in the "International Critical Commentary" that the word "prepared" in this verse, when used elsewhere in the New Testament in regard to God, refers to His future provisions for us. (Matthew 20:23; 25:34; Hebrews 11:16).

   The next verse, however, plainly indicates that the mysteries of salvation, once known only vaguely and in type and shadow, are now clearly revealed to us by the work of the Holy Spirit. 

   Though this revelation of God's eternal plan and purpose is a blessing for all Christians in any era, it comes to us through the work of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, which is generally called "inspiration."
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)

   Verses ten through thirteen will indicate to us that the process of the unfolding of God's Will to man through the writings of the apostles actually is composed of three definite steps.

   First is what we might call revelation, or the reception of truth by the apostles through the Holy Spirit (vs. 10). God by His Holy Spirit had revealed the hidden truth of His Will to inspired men.

   But one might receive a statement of truth and still not understand it. So the second step would be illumination, in which the apostles were given an understanding of truth (vs. 12).

Paul says that through the Spirit he freely "knows", that is, understands, has a clear mental insight into that given to him in the initial revelation of truth.

   However, one might understand a truth and not be able to express it or explain it to others, so the divine writers were given inspiration, or the expression of truth (vs. 13)-- the ability to teach and speak the truth to others that they also might discern spiritual matters.

   There are several difficulties as to the exact meaning of verse thirteen, especially the last clause, in the Authorized Version, "comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

   The word "compare" used here can mean "interpret" or "explain". The second occurrence of "spiritual" is in a word form that might represent any of several cases, grammatically, and so could be translated with any of several different prepositions: "with", "by", "to", "for", "in".

   It can be either masculine or neuter so can refer to men or things. Some manuscripts have it as an adverb so it could be translated "spiritually".

   Perhaps the best translation would be, "explaining spiritual truths to spiritual men."

   It is true that all Christians through the Holy Spirit have the privilege of the reception, the understanding and the expression of truth, all in accordance with their yielding to the Holy Spirit's guidance.

   But our abilities in this area are subject to and based on the original revelation to the apostles. The Holy Spirit will not give any revelation, illumination, inspiration contrary to the apostolic message nor in addition to that message as far as essential religious truth necessary to salvation is concerned.

   This is why Paul warns in Galatians 1:8-9 against acceptance of any other gospel.

   This passage also contains a factor very relevant to our most recent modern age. It is the contrast between two types of men, designated in the authorized translation "spiritual" and "natural".

   The spiritual man is one who possesses the Holy Spirit and yields his life to His guidance. (See Acts 5:32; 1 Thessalonians 5:19)

   The natural man is one who has never received the Spirit, never obeyed the gospel. He is still in the natural state of every man before spiritual rebirth.

   The word "natural" in this passage is simply the adjective form of the noun "soul". This could easily be translated into modern the vernacular as "soul man".

   The natural man is the man who has only his soul but no spirit. He has thinking, feeling, willing; but these are controlled by the natural desires and tendencies rather than by the Will of God directed through His Spirit. 

   This is interesting in light of modern usage by the "hip" generation of the word "soul" to mean that which is good, appealing, satisfying. They speak of soul music, and even of Jesus being the "soul man".

   Scripturally speaking, this is sacrilegious toward our Lord. Scripturally, soul music is that which appeals to the natural unregenerated man.

   Notice how Paul speaks in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 of spiritual songs. "Spiritual" here is an adjective form of the word "spirit"; therefore "spirit music".

   The Christian loves "spirit music" for this appeals to the higher spiritual nature regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the "spirit man" not the "soul man".