06.05.2013 Views

Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

<strong>Word</strong> <strong>Pictures</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> NT [1 Cor<strong>in</strong>thians: Chapter 2].<br />

Paul does not employ modern psychological terms and he exercises<br />

variety <strong>in</strong> his use of all <strong>the</strong> terms here present as \pneuma\ and<br />

\pneumatikos, psuch•\ and \psuchikos, sarx\ and \sark<strong>in</strong>os\ and<br />

\sarkikos\. A helpful discussion of <strong>the</strong> various uses of <strong>the</strong>se<br />

words <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>New</strong> <strong>Testament</strong> is given by Burton <strong>in</strong> his _<strong>New</strong><br />

<strong>Testament</strong> <strong>Word</strong> Studies_, pp. 62-68, and <strong>in</strong> his {Spirit, Soul, and<br />

Flesh}. The papyri furnish so many examples of \sarx, pneuma\,<br />

and \psuch•\ that Moulton and Milligan make no attempt at an<br />

exhaustive treatment, but give a few miscellaneous examples to<br />

illustrate <strong>the</strong> varied uses that parallel <strong>the</strong> <strong>New</strong> <strong>Testament</strong>.<br />

\Psuchikos\ is a qualitative adjective from \psuch•\ (breath of<br />

life like \anima\, life, soul). Here <strong>the</strong> Vulgate renders it by<br />

_animalis_ and <strong>the</strong> German by _s<strong>in</strong>nlich_, <strong>the</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>al sense of<br />

animal life as <strong>in</strong> Jude 1:19; Jas 3:15. In 1Co 15:44,46 <strong>the</strong>re<br />

is <strong>the</strong> same contrast between \psuchikos\ and \pneumatikos\ as<br />

here. The \psuchikos\ man is <strong>the</strong> unregenerate man while <strong>the</strong><br />

\pneumatikos\ man is <strong>the</strong> renewed man, born aga<strong>in</strong> of <strong>the</strong> Spirit of<br />

God. {Receiveth not} (\ou dechetai\). Does not accept, rejects,<br />

refuses to accept. In Ro 8:7 Paul def<strong>in</strong>itely states <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>ability (\oude gar dunatai\) of <strong>the</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d of <strong>the</strong> flesh to<br />

receive <strong>the</strong> th<strong>in</strong>gs of <strong>the</strong> Spirit untouched by <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit.<br />

Certa<strong>in</strong>ly <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>itiative comes from God whose Holy Spirit makes<br />

it possible for us to accept <strong>the</strong> th<strong>in</strong>gs of <strong>the</strong> Spirit of God.<br />

They are no longer "foolishness" (\m•ria\) to us as was once <strong>the</strong><br />

case (1:23). Today one notes certa<strong>in</strong> of <strong>the</strong> _<strong>in</strong>telligentsia_<br />

who sneer at Christ and Christianity <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own bl<strong>in</strong>ded<br />

ignorance. {He cannot know <strong>the</strong>m} (\ou dunatai gn•nai\). He is not<br />

able to get a knowledge (<strong>in</strong>gressive second aorist active<br />

<strong>in</strong>f<strong>in</strong>itive of \g<strong>in</strong>•sk•\). His helpless condition calls for pity<br />

<strong>in</strong> place of impatience on our part, though such an one usually<br />

poses as a paragon of wisdom and commiserates <strong>the</strong> deluded<br />

followers of Christ. {They are spiritually judged} (\pneumatik•s<br />

anakr<strong>in</strong>etai\). Paul and Luke are fond of this verb, though<br />

nowhere else <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> N.T. Paul uses it only <strong>in</strong> I Cor<strong>in</strong>thians. The<br />

word means a sift<strong>in</strong>g process to get at <strong>the</strong> truth by <strong>in</strong>vestigation<br />

as of a judge. In Ac 17:11 <strong>the</strong> Beroeans scrut<strong>in</strong>ized <strong>the</strong><br />

Scriptures. These \psuchikoi\ men are <strong>in</strong>capable of render<strong>in</strong>g a<br />

decision for <strong>the</strong>y are unable to recognize <strong>the</strong> facts. They judge<br />

by <strong>the</strong> \psuch•\ (mere animal nature) ra<strong>the</strong>r than by <strong>the</strong> \pneuma\<br />

(<strong>the</strong> renewed spirit).<br />

2:15 {Judgeth all th<strong>in</strong>gs} (\anakr<strong>in</strong>ei panta\). The spiritual man<br />

(\ho pneumatikos\) is qualified to sift, to exam<strong>in</strong>e, to decide<br />

http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/1CO2.RWP.html (8 of 9) [28/08/2004 09:10:58 a.m.]

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!