Words · Greek Words · Lesson 5, word 5 of 5
πνευματικόςpneumatikos
'Spiritual', belonging to, or actuated by, the Spirit.
Why this word is here. Dave's spec names this word: 'spiritual' is used in churches for everything from maturity to music style, and Paul uses it with a precise centre.
What it means
Abbott-Smith: of or caused by wind or breath (rare); spiritual, as opposed to bodily. Of created beings: the spiritual hosts (Ephesians 6:12); of that which relates to the human spirit, as against psychikos, 'natural' (1 Corinthians 15:44-46, the spiritual body). Above all, of that which belongs to or is actuated by the divine Spirit: of persons (1 Corinthians 2:15; 3:1; Galatians 6:1), and of things, spiritual gifts, songs, blessings, understanding (Romans 1:11; Ephesians 1:3; 5:19; Colossians 1:9).
Pneumatikos is an adjective of source and sphere: a thing is pneumatikos when the Holy Spirit is its origin and element, not when it is immaterial or intense.
Where you meet it
And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
1 Corinthians 2:13 (BSB)
Paul speaks of 'expressing spiritual (pneumatikos) truths in spiritual words'. The words themselves are Spirit-taught; the verse is about revelation, not eloquence.
The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment.
1 Corinthians 2:15 (BSB)
Anchor verse 'The spiritual (pneumatikos) man judges all things.' And within a page Paul tells the same church they are not spiritual but fleshly (3:1): the word describes a condition the Corinthians are failing, not a caste they belong to.
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15:44 (BSB)
'It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual (pneumatikos) body.' Spiritual describes the resurrection body, which is a body, animated wholly by the Spirit, not a ghost.
Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
Galatians 6:1 (BSB)
'You who are spiritual (pneumatikos) should restore such a person gently.' The word's practical test: the spiritual are recognised by how they handle a sinner.
Why it matters
Pneumatikos recalibrates the word 'spiritual' for the whole church: it is not a temperament, a worship style, or an elite tier, but the Spirit's ownership and activity. It also anchors the resurrection hope: the future body is 'spiritual' precisely because it is fully Spirit-animated, which makes it more solidly bodily, not less.
Watch out
Two over-claims. 'Spiritual means non-physical' dies on 1 Corinthians 15:44, where the spiritual thing is a body. 'Spiritual is a rank for advanced Christians' dies on 1 Corinthians 3:1, where Paul denies the label to quarrelling believers, and on Ephesians 6:12, where pneumatika can even name 'the spiritual forces of evil': the adjective marks sphere and source, and the source has to be identified, in Christian use, the Holy Spirit, by whose presence alone a person or gift is spiritual in the saving sense.
In this lesson
- kairos (καιρός): A definite, appointed, opportune time.
- zoe (ζωή): Life, natural life, and the life of the age to come.
- eirene (εἰρήνη): Peace, concord, security, and the shalom of God.
- doulos (δοῦλος): A slave, owned, and (in Christ) honoured by the title.
Sources
- Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon (1889)
- STEP Bible lexicon data (Abbott-Smith)
- SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)
Review status: in-theological-review. Every Contend page passes a human theological review against the Statement of Faith before it is published as approved teaching. This section is in that queue.