It appears 389 times in the Old Testament. the spirit of God. It is the Lord who gives breath to people ( Isa 42:5 ) and to lifeless bodies ( in 1:1 Ezek 37:9-10 in ; this chapter there is a wordplay on ruah [;jWr], allowing it to mean wind, breath, spirit a similar phenomenon is found in John 3:5 John 3:8 ; where pneuma [pneu'ma] means both wind and spirit ). Numbers 11:25; Isaiah 32:15. Hence, Paul speaks of God whom he serves "with his spirit" (Romans 1:9); and in 2 Timothy 1:3 he speaks of serving God "in a pure conscience.". 2:10-15). It is used more often of God (136 times) than of persons or animals (129 times). In a figurative sense it was used as indicating anger or fury, and as such applied even to God, who destroys by the "breath of his nostrils" (Job 4:9; Exodus 15:8; 2 Samuel 22:16; see 2 Thessalonians 2:8). 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."? In chemistry, to extract spirit from natural bodies. God Himself is Spirit (John 4:24). It is this Spirit which "beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God" (Romans 8:16)--the spirit which, as Auberlen has put it (PRE1, article "Geist des Menschen"), "appears in a double relationship to us, as the principle of natural life, which is ours by birth, and that of spiritual life, which we receive through the new birth (Wiedergeburt)." Apollos was characterized as speaking with "great fervor" ( Acts 18:25 ) and Paul "had no peace of mind" when Titus did not meet him at Troas ( 2 Cor 2:13 ). "Entry for 'SPIRIT'". Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit. Spirit A word employed in various senses in Scripture. Does the Bible support the existence of GHOSTS—dead souls lingering on Earth? Where man is deeply stirred by the Divine Spirit, as among the prophets, we have a somewhat similar use of the word, in such expressions as: "The Spirit of the Lord came .... upon him" (1 Samuel 10:10). A translation of the Hebrew word ruach and the Greek work pneuma which can be translated as “wind,” “breath,” or “spirit” depending upon the context. Orr, James, M.A., D.D. | It was a drink that caused the spirit (strength [sunistavw]) of Samson to return and revive him ( Jud 15:18-19 ) and the coming of the wagons from Egypt that revived Jacob's numb heart ( Gen 45:26-27 ). Where we had harbored selfishness, cruelty, rebelliousness, and spite, we now possess love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 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. From pneo; a current of air, i.e. Jesus "grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom" ( Luke 2:40 ). In 2 Thessalonians 2:8 it means "breath," and in Eccl 8:8 the vital principle in man. Weakness of flesh can prove stronger than the spirit's will to pray ( Mark 14:38 ). When taken back, the person returns to dust ( Psalm 104:29-30 ). She was overcome by astonishment. The sin of “Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” is referenced in Mark 3:22-30 and Matthew 12:22-32 just after Jesus had performed a miracle of casting a demon out of a man, healing the possessed man of blindness and muteness. a divine, inspiring, or animating being or influence. Breath is also a basic meaning of this term. In these verses, then, “spirit” refers to that which gives life to a body. SPIRITUALLY, adv. 18. ( initial capital letter) the divine influence as an agency working in the human heart. 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 presence of God as part of a person's religious experience. The terminology is very varied here: In the New Testament we read of the "Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19; Matthew 1:18,20; 1 Thessalonians 1:5,6); the "Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10; 3:16; Romans 8:9,11; Ephesians 3:16, etc. Pneuma [pneu'ma] is the New Testament counterpart to the Old Testament ruah [;jWr]. Paul speaks of being absent in body, but present in spirit ( Col 2:5 ), and James notes that the body without the spirit is dead ( James 2:26 ). "poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3); "spirit of gentleness" (Galatians 6:1); "of bondage" (Romans 8:15); "of jealousy" (Numbers 5:14); "of fear" (2 Timothy 1:7 the King James Version); "of slumber" (Romans 11:8 the King James Version). By extension when applied to a person ruah [;jWr] comes to mean vital powers or strength. Those whose spirits God had stirred up went up to rebuild the temple ( Ezr 1:5 ). ); the "Spirit of Christ" (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 4:6); or simply of "Spirit," with distinct reference to God (1 Corinthians 2:10; Romans 8:16,23, etc.). Rejecting the well-known passage in Genesis: "Let us make man after our own image," which some have interpreted in a trinitarian sense, we may point to such texts as Zechariah 4:6, "by my Spirit"; Isaiah 63:10,11, "They rebelled, and grieved his holy Spirit"; "Where is he that put his holy Spirit in the midst of them?" 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. Worship of God in the spirit is acceptable, contrasting with unacceptable worship in the flesh ( Php 3:3 ). It is also used of bad breath Job's breath was repulsive to his wife ( Job 19:17 ). The empowering perspective of human life and the Holy Spirit bringing God's presence and power to bear in the world. "Shortness" of spirit is impatience, whereas "longness" of spirit is patience ( Prov 14:29 ). (see SUBSTANCE). On the other hand, there are passages that distinguish between the two. Hence, we are called upon to "rule over our own spirit" (Proverbs 16:32; 25:28), and are warned against being overmastered by a wrong spirit (Luke 9:55 the King James Version, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of"). Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue.