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Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

MAN*, Natural

Expression occurring in 1 Corinthians 2:14 (RV · LV · Read together) (rsv mg). The adjective translated there by “natural” is also found in 1 Corinthians 15:44 (RV · LV · Read together) (twice), 46; James 3:15 (RV · LV · Read together); and Jude 1:19 (RV · LV · Read together). This adjective is related to the Greek noun usually translated “soul.” Its meaning, however, is primarily determined by its various contexts, particularly in 1 Corinthians, where all four occurrences are contrasted pointedly with “spiritual,” an adjective occurring frequently in the NT, mostly in Paul’s writings. In almost every instance it refers to the work of the Holy Spirit. Applied to things, “spiritual” means derived from, or produced by, the Holy Spirit (the law—Rom 7:14 (RV · LV · Read together); gifts—1 Cor 12:1 (RV · LV · Read together); blessings—Eph 1:3 (RV · LV · Read together); sacrifices—1 Pt 2:5 (RV · LV · Read together)). When it is applied to persons, it means indwelt, motivated, and directed by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:15 (RV · LV · Read together); 14:37 (RV · LV · Read together); Gal 6:1 (RV · LV · Read together)). “Natural,” then, when contrasted with “spiritual,” generally describes what is devoid of or in opposition to the Holy Spirit and his work. In 1 Corinthians 2:14-15 (RV · LV · Read together) “natural man” is set over against “spiritual man” (see rsv). Within this context the natural man is one who does not accept the things that come from the spirit of God (1 Cor 2:14 (RV · LV · Read together)). Rather, these things are “foolishness” to him. He cannot understand them because they are “spiritually discerned.” This foolishness is the foolishness of unbelief (1:21 (RV · LV · Read together)), and the discernment lacking is insight produced only by the Holy Spirit. Plainly, Paul has in view someone utterly without and even opposed to the Holy Spirit and God’s revealed truth.

CO1 2:14: RV CO1 2:14 · LV CO1 2:14 · Read together CO1 2:14

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OET-RV CO1 2:14

14 Secular people don’t accept things about God’s spirit because they seem foolish to them, and they can’t understand them because it requires spiritual awareness,

OET-LV CO1 2:14

14 But the_soulish person, not is _receiving the things of _the spirit of_ the _god, because/for foolishness to _him it _is, and not he _is _able to _know them, because spiritually it _is _being _examined.

CO1 15:44: RV CO1 15:44 · LV CO1 15:44 · Read together CO1 15:44

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OET-RV CO1 15:44

44 It’s ‘sown’ a natural body but it’s raised as a spiritual body. (If there’s a natural body, there’s also a spiritual body.)

OET-LV CO1 15:44

44 it _is _being _sown a_body natural, it _is _being _raised a_body spiritual.
If there _is a_body natural, there _is also a_spiritual body.

JAM 3:15: RV JAM 3:15 · LV JAM 3:15 · Read together JAM 3:15

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OET-RV JAM 3:15

15 because none of that came down to you from heaven, but on the contrary it’s earthly and soulish and demonic.

OET-LV JAM 3:15

15 Not is this the wisdom from _above coming _down, but earthly, soulish, demonic.

JDE 1:19: RV JDE 1:19 · LV JDE 1:19 · Read together JDE 1:19

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OET-RV JDE 1:19

19 These people will cause division as they just demonstrate sensuality since they don’t know God’s spirit.

OET-LV JDE 1:19

19 These are the ones dividing, soulish, not having the_spirit.

ROM 7:14: RV ROM 7:14 · LV ROM 7:14 · Read together ROM 7:14

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OET-RV ROM 7:14

14 We know that God’s law is spiritual, but I am physical, having been born into sin.

OET-LV ROM 7:14

14 For/Because we _have _known that the the_law spiritual is, but I fleshy am, having _been _sold under the sin.

CO1 12:1: RV CO1 12:1 · LV CO1 12:1 · Read together CO1 12:1

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OET-RV CO1 12:1

12 ⇔Now brothers and sisters, I don’t want you all to be ignorant about spiritual matters.

OET-LV CO1 12:1

12 And concerning the spiritual matters, brothers, not I _am _wanting you _all to _be _not _knowing.

EPH 1:3: RV EPH 1:3 · LV EPH 1:3 · Read together EPH 1:3

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OET-RV EPH 1:3

3 We praise God, the father of our master Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) the messiah. He is the one who’s blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places—blessings that come from the messiah.

OET-LV EPH 1:3

3 Blessed be the god and father of _the master of _us, Yaʸsous chosen _one /messiah, the one having _blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in chosen _one /messiah,

PE1 2:5: RV PE1 2:5 · LV PE1 2:5 · Read together PE1 2:5

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OET-RV PE1 2:5

5 you’re being built into a temple and joining a holy group of priests to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) the messiah,

OET-LV PE1 2:5

5 also yourselves as living stones you _all _are _being _built, a_ spiritual _house, into a_ holy _priesthood to _offer _up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to_god through Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) chosen _one /messiah.

CO1 2:15: RV CO1 2:15 · LV CO1 2:15 · Read together CO1 2:15

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OET-RV CO1 2:15

15 but spiritual people can discern all these things, even though others can’t correctly discern about them.

OET-LV CO1 2:15

15 But the spiritual one is _examining the things all, but he by no _one is _being _examined.

CO1 14:37: RV CO1 14:37 · LV CO1 14:37 · Read together CO1 14:37

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OET-RV CO1 14:37

37 If anyone thinks they’re a prophet or a spiritual person, then they should readily acknowledge that what I’m writing to you all is Yahweh’s command,

OET-LV CO1 14:37

37 If anyone is _supposing a_prophet to _be or spiritual, him _let _be _recognizing what I _am _writing to _you _all that of_the_master it _is a_command.

GAL 6:1: RV GAL 6:1 · LV GAL 6:1 · Read together GAL 6:1

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OET-RV GAL 6:1

6 Brothers and sisters, if a person has been caught sinning, you spiritual people need to guide the person with a spirit of gentleness, at the same time looking at your own behaviour, in case you yourselves are also tempted.

OET-LV GAL 6:1

6 Brothers, if even a_person may _be _previously _caught in a_certain transgression, you _all, the spiritual ones, be _preparing the such man in a_spirit of _gentleness, looking _out yourself, lest you also may _be _tempted.

CO1 2:14–15: RV CO1 2:14–15 · LV CO1 2:14–15 · Read together CO1 2:14–15

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OET-RV CO1 2:14

14 Secular people don’t accept things about God’s spirit because they seem foolish to them, and they can’t understand them because it requires spiritual awareness,

OET-RV CO1 2:15

15 but spiritual people can discern all these things, even though others can’t correctly discern about them.

OET-LV CO1 2:14

OET-LV CO1 2:15

15 But the spiritual one is _examining the things all, but he by no _one is _being _examined.

CO1 1:21: RV CO1 1:21 · LV CO1 1:21 · Read together CO1 1:21

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OET-RV CO1 1:21

21 Because since the world, in God’s wisdom, didn’t know about God through their wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the ‘foolish’ message that was preached.

OET-LV CO1 1:21

21 For/Because since in the wisdom the of_god, not knew the world by its wisdom the god, took _pleasure the god through the foolishness of _the proclamation to _save the ones believing.

In 1 Corinthians 15:44-46 (RV · LV · Read together), the contrast between spiritual and natural occurs in a different context—that of the “body” in death as compared to the “body” in resurrection. The body of the believer laid in the grave (“sown”) is a natural body (v 44 (RV · LV · Read together)a). The body of the believer raised from the dead will be a spiritual body, that is, a body renewed and transformed by the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:11 (RV · LV · Read together)). In 1 Corinthians 15:44b (RV · LV · Read together) and 45a (RV · LV · Read together), however, the natural body is traced back by appeal to Genesis 2:7 (RV · LV · Read together) to Adam before the fall, at Creation. This shows that biblically what is natural refers to the Creation. Originally, as created by God, the “natural” was “very good” (Gn 1:31 (RV · LV · Read together)) but subsequently it has been subjected to corruption and death by the sin of man. Therefore, the sinful rebellion of the natural man, measured by the original creation, is thoroughly unnatural and abnormal. The opposing work of the Holy Spirit now, in Christ, not only removes this abnormality but brings the original purposes of Creation to their consummation (Rom 8:19-22 (RV · LV · Read together); 2 Cor 5:17 (RV · LV · Read together)).

CO1 15:44–46: RV CO1 15:44–46 · LV CO1 15:44–46 · Read together CO1 15:44–46

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OET-RV CO1 15:44

44 It’s ‘sown’ a natural body but it’s raised as a spiritual body. (If there’s a natural body, there’s also a spiritual body.)

OET-RV CO1 15:45

45 As it’s also written: ‘The first Adam became a living being.’ The last ‘Adam’ is a life-giving spirit,

OET-RV CO1 15:46

46 but the spiritual doesn’t come first—it’s first the natural and then the spiritual.

OET-LV CO1 15:44

44 it _is _being _sown a_body natural, it _is _being _raised a_body spiritual.
If there _is a_body natural, there _is also a_spiritual body.

OET-LV CO1 15:45

45 Thus also it _has _been _written:
Became the first man, Adam/(ʼĀdām):
into a_soul living.
The last Adam into a_spirit giving _life.

OET-LV CO1 15:46

46 But not first the spiritual, but the natural, then the spiritual.

ROM 8:11: RV ROM 8:11 · LV ROM 8:11 · Read together ROM 8:11

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OET-RV ROM 8:11

11 Yes, if the spirit of the one who brought Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) back to life is living in you, then the one who brought Messiah Yeshua back to life will also give life to your mortal bodies by means of his spirit living inside you.

OET-LV ROM 8:11

11 But if the spirit of _the one having _raised the Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) from the_dead is _indwelling in you _all, the one having _raised from the_dead chosen _one /messiah Yaʸsous will _be _giving _life also to _the mortal bodies of _you _all, through the indwelling of _him of_spirit in you _all.

CO1 15:45: RV CO1 15:45 · LV CO1 15:45 · Read together CO1 15:45

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OET-RV CO1 15:45

45 As it’s also written: ‘The first Adam became a living being.’ The last ‘Adam’ is a life-giving spirit,

OET-LV CO1 15:45

45 Thus also it _has _been _written:
Became the first man, Adam/(ʼĀdām):
into a_soul living.
The last Adam into a_spirit giving _life.

GEN 2:7: RV GEN 2:7 · LV GEN 2:7 · Read together GEN 2:7

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OET-RV GEN 2:7

7 Then Yahweh God formed the first man out of the dust on the ground and he breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living person.

OET-LV GEN 2:7

7 And_ YHWH god _he/it _formed DOM the_humankind dust from the_soil and_he/it _blew in_his/its_two _nostrils the_breath _of life and_ the_humankind _he/it _was to_living _creature living.

GEN 1:31: RV GEN 1:31 · LV GEN 1:31 · Read together GEN 1:31

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OET-RV GEN 1:31

31 and he saw everything that he’d made, and wow, it was very good. Then evening came, and later morning came, and that was the end of the sixth day.

OET-LV GEN 1:31

31 And_ god _he/it _saw DOM all _of that he _had _made and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE it_was_good very and_he/it _was evening and_he/it _was morning the_day _of the_sixth.

ROM 8:19–22: RV ROM 8:19–22 · LV ROM 8:19–22 · Read together ROM 8:19–22

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OET-RV ROM 8:19

19 because all of creation is eagerly expecting and waiting for God’s children to be revealed.

OET-RV ROM 8:20

20 Yes, all of creation has been subjected to lack of purpose, not willingly, but because it was decided by the one who subjected it, but it remains with the hope

OET-RV ROM 8:21

21 that it too will be freed from the slavery of corruption, and then released into the freedom of the splendour of God’s children,

OET-RV ROM 8:22

22 because we’re aware that all of creation is groaning and suffering along with us right through to the present time.

OET-LV ROM 8:19

19 For/Because the eager _expectation of _the creation, the revelation of _the sons of_ the _god is _eagerly _waiting.

OET-LV ROM 8:20

20 For/Because to _the uselessness, the creation was _subjected, not willingly, but because _of the one having _subjected it, in hope

OET-LV ROM 8:21

21 that also itself the creation will _be _being _freed from the slavery of_ the _corruption, into the freedom of _the glory of _the children of_ the _god.

OET-LV ROM 8:22

22 For/Because we _have _known that all the creation is _groaning _together and is _travailing _together until the time now.

CO2 5:17: RV CO2 5:17 · LV CO2 5:17 · Read together CO2 5:17

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OET-RV CO2 5:17

17 So then if anyone is in Messiah, they’re a new creation—the old has gone, and wow, it’s now become new!

OET-LV CO2 5:17

17 So _then if anyone is in chosen _one /messiah, a_new creation he _is, the ancient things passed _away, see, it _has _become new.