12.20 · ((οῦ m)) · Supernatural Beings and Powers · Supernatural Beings

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

1CO 2:13 · 1CO 2:15 · 1CO 14:37 · GAL 6:1

12.21 · Supernatural Beings and Powers · Supernatural Beings

spiritual, from the Spirit (in reference to such matters as gifts, benefits, teachings, blessings, and religious songs) (derivative of πνεῦμα[a] ‘Spirit,’ 12.18) pertaining to being derived from or being about the Spirit, in reference to such matters as gifts, benefits, teachings, blessings, and religious songs In 1CO 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 1CO 2:13 πνευματικά refers to teachings which are of particular benefit or relevance to peoples spirits.
The occurrence of πνευματικός in EPH 1:3 and 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.
It is also possible that in 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.

ROM 1:11 · ROM 15:27 · 1CO 2:13 · 1CO 12:1 · 1CO 14:1 · EPH 1:3 · EPH 5:19 · COL 1:9

26.10 · Psychological Faculties

spiritual, of the spirit, on a spiritual basis, in a spiritual manner pertaining to the spiritual nature or being of a person It is also possible to interpret πνευματικός in 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).
In ROM 15:27 (εἰ γὰρ τοῖς πνευματικοῖς αὐτῶν ἐκοινώνησαν τὰ ἔθνη, ὀφείλουσιν καὶ ἐν τοῖς σαρκικοῖς λειτουργῆσαι αὐτοῖς), πνευματικός stands in contrast to σαρκικός[b] ‘material’ (79.1) 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 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 ROM 15:27 as referring to those blessings which come from the Holy Spirit (see 12.21) 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 and 79.1-79.6.

ROM 15:27 · 1CO 9:11 · EPH 1:3 · EPH 5:19 · COL 3:16

41.40 · Behavior and Related States · Particular Patterns of Behavior

spiritual, of spiritual conduct, guided by the Spirit (derivative of πνεῦμα[a] ‘Spirit of God,’ 12.18) pertaining to a pattern of life controlled or directed by God’s Spirit

1CO 3:1

79.3 · Features of Objects · Physical [Material], Spiritual

not physical, not material, spiritual pertaining to not being physical 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.’

1CO 15:44 · 1CO 15:44 · 1CO 15:46 · 1CO 15:46 · 1PE 2:5 · 1PE 2:5

79.6 · Features of Objects · Natural [Human], Spiritual

spiritual, supernatural pertaining to being supernatural and having its ultimate source in God 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.’

ROM 7:14 · 1CO 10:3 · 1CO 10:4 · 1CO 10:4

12.44 · Supernatural Beings and Powers · Supernatural Powers

Collocation: τὰ πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις

power, authority, lordship, ruler, wicked force (title for supernatural forces and powers) a supernatural power having some particular role in controlling the destiny and activities of human beings 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.

EPH 6:12