UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: one who is spiritual, one who has received the Spirit

Semantic entry: 12.20

Semantic domains: Supernatural Beings and Powers

Subdomains: Supernatural Beings

Definition: (derivative of πνεῦμα[a] ‘Spirit,’ 12.18: πνεῦμα) one who has received God’s Spirit and presumably lives in accordance with this relationship

Notes: In a number of languages it is not possible to speak of ‘possessing the Spirit,’ but one can often say ‘to be possessed by the Spirit’ or ‘those whom the Spirit possesses’ or ‘… owns’ or ‘… controls.’

Forms: (οῦ m)

Sense 1: spiritual, from the Spirit (in reference to such matters as gifts, benefits, teachings, blessings, and religious songs)

Semantic entry: 12.21

Semantic domains: Supernatural Beings and Powers

Subdomains: Supernatural Beings

Definition: (derivative of πνεῦμα[a] ‘Spirit,’ 12.18: πνεῦμα) pertaining to being derived from or being about the Spirit

Notes: In RV CO1 2:13 · LV CO1 2:13 · Read together CO1 2:13 πνευματικά may perhaps be best rendered in some languages as ‘truths revealed by the Spirit’ or possibly ‘truths about the Spirit.’ Some persons would insist, however, that in RV CO1 2:13 · LV CO1 2:13 · Read together CO1 2:13 πνευματικά refers to teachings which are of particular benefit or relevance to peoples spirits.|The occurrence of πνευματικός in RV EPH 1:3 · LV EPH 1:3 · Read together EPH 1:3 and RV ROM 1:11 · LV ROM 1:11 · Read together ROM 1:11 could be understood as referring to the human spirit, but the contexts would seem to to point more clearly to the involvement of the Spirit of God. See 26.10: πνευματικός / 26.10: πνευματικῶς.|It is also possible that in RV EPH 5:19 · LV EPH 5:19 · Read together EPH 5:19 πνευματικαῖς means merely ‘spiritual,’ and as such pertains to what is ‘sacred’ or ‘religious.’ One can, therefore, translate ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς as ‘songs used in worship’ or ‘songs used in worship of God.’ For a discussion of certain related problems involving the rendering of πνευματικός, see 26.10: πνευματικός / 26.10: πνευματικῶς.

Sense 2: spiritual, of the spirit, on a spiritual basis, in a spiritual manner

Semantic entry: 26.10

Semantic domains: Psychological Faculties

Definition: pertaining to the spiritual nature or being of a person

Notes: It is also possible to interpret πνευματικός in RV EPH 1:3 · LV EPH 1:3 · Read together EPH 1:3 as referring to ‘the Holy Spirit,’ that is to say, these blessings would be those which come from the Spirit of God (see 12.21: πνευματικός / 12.21: πνευματικῶς).|In RV ROM 15:27 · LV ROM 15:27 · Read together ROM 15:27 (εἰ γὰρ τοῖς πνευματικοῖς αὐτῶν ἐκοινώνησαν τὰ ἔθνη, ὀφείλουσιν καὶ ἐν τοῖς σαρκικοῖς λειτουργῆσαι αὐτοῖς), πνευματικός stands in contrast to σαρκικός [source selector 000001][b] ‘material’ (79.1: σαρκικός) and may therefore focus upon non-material or spiritual aspects of human personality or life in contrast with the physical aspects. Accordingly, one may translate RV ROM 15:27 · LV ROM 15:27 · Read together ROM 15:27 as ‘if the Gentiles shared in their spiritual benefits, they ought to help them with material things.’ It is also possible, however, to understand πνευματικός in RV ROM 15:27 · LV ROM 15:27 · Read together ROM 15:27 as referring to those blessings which come from the Holy Spirit (see 12.21: πνευματικός / 12.21: πνευματικῶς) rather than those blessings which are for the human spirit. The terms πνευματικός, ψυχικός, σαρκικός, and σάρκινος reflect considerable overlapping in meaning; see also 26.8: σαρκικός / 26.8: σάρκινος and 79.1: σαρκικός-79.6: πνευματικός.

Sense 3: spiritual, of spiritual conduct, guided by the Spirit

Semantic entry: 41.40

Semantic domains: Behavior and Related States

Subdomains: Particular Patterns of Behavior

Definition: (derivative of πνεῦμα[a] ‘Spirit of God,’ 12.18: πνεῦμα) pertaining to a pattern of life controlled or directed by God’s Spirit

Sense 4: not physical, not material, spiritual

Semantic entry: 79.3

Semantic domains: Features of Objects

Subdomains: Physical [Material], Spiritual

Definition: pertaining to not being physical

Notes: In some languages the concept of ‘spiritual body’ can only be expressed negatively as ‘the body will not have flesh and bones’ or ‘the body will not be a regular body.’

Sense 5: spiritual, supernatural

Semantic entry: 79.6

Semantic domains: Features of Objects

Subdomains: Natural [Human], Spiritual

Definition: pertaining to being supernatural and having its ultimate source in God

Notes: In a number of languages this meaning of πνευματικός can only be reflected by a phrase such as ‘which comes from God’ or ‘provided by God.’

Sense 6: power, authority, lordship, ruler, wicked force

Semantic entry: 12.44

Semantic domains: Supernatural Beings and Powers

Subdomains: Supernatural Powers

Definition: (title for supernatural forces and powers) a supernatural power having some particular role in controlling the destiny and activities of human beings

Notes: Some scholars have believed that it is possible to reconstruct at least in part some of the hierarchy represented by these various supernatural forces and powers, on the basis of the neoplatonic system of nine such powers arranged in three orders of three each. NT terminology and usage does not, however, lend itself to such a classification, and it is difficult, if not impossible, to determine what are the significant differences between these supernatural powers and forces.|For the most part, translators have endeavored to render the various terms in somewhat different ways, for example, ἐξουσία as ‘authority’; δύναμις as ‘power’; κυριότης as ‘ruler’; and phrases such as τὰ πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις as ‘wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world.’ In a number of languages, however, there are simply not enough terms to designate various kinds of powers, authorities, and forces which could be employed in speaking of such supernatural impersonal powers. Accordingly, some translators have simply used a phrase such as ‘any and all kinds of supernatural powers.’ Where it is possible to make certain lexical distinctions between terms and phrases, this, of course, should be done, but in a number of contexts this may be impossible, and accordingly, some explanation in a marginal note may be required if the reader is to understand satisfactorily the intent of the passages in question.

Collocations: τὰ πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις