You might appreciate the book 'Beloved Dust' a work of spiritual theology by Robert Davis Hughes III. From the back cover: 'Hughes makes the bold claim that there is no inherent human spiritual capacity, but rather only the materiality of human existence and the movements of the Holy Spirit within it.' I found this startling at first and am yet to get my head fully around it. I'm more used to the 'we are spiritual beings having a physical experience' line of thought. But I think the former is truer to scripture and I'm enjoying coming to grips with it, and its implications.
I think, in the biblical imagination, we can split the difference. We are animated by the "life force," the breath of God that God breathes into Adam. Possessing this life force, this breath, this soul, we are spiritual beings having a physical experience. It's just that, as we'll see in the next post, this breath is tied to biological existence. When we die we take "our last breath." Our breath/soul is not immune to death. The breath/soul "departs." Consequently, our breath/soul needs an infusion of Something that makes it more permanent and immune to death. That death-denying force in the Bible is pneuma.
That's sort of the point, that we moderns don't get the New Testament imagination.
One way, though, to get at that difference is this. We moderns tend to think that, because we have a "soul," that we are, innately and intrinsically, "spiritual." Spirituality is something we posses because of what we are made of.
Paul's imagination, however, seems to be that we don't innately or intrinsically possess spirituality. Spirit is extrinsic to our nature. Spirit is a gift. Spirit comes to us from "the outside." Thus the NT idea that the Holy Spirit has to be "poured out" upon flesh.
To be clear, this view of Paul's is jarring and not very politically correct, that there are spiritual and unspiritual people, pneumatic people and non-pneumatic people. I'd expect a lot of concern about this view. But my goal in this series isn't to judge Paul, just to bring his perspective into view. People can think of it what they will.
I feel like when we are young kids that we are more spiritually connected to god. When I was a kid I just knew there was a god. I still believe in god, but I do not feel spiritually connected.
This is a deep subject. I’m enjoying your work. You have given me lots to ponder. Thank you so very much.
You might appreciate the book 'Beloved Dust' a work of spiritual theology by Robert Davis Hughes III. From the back cover: 'Hughes makes the bold claim that there is no inherent human spiritual capacity, but rather only the materiality of human existence and the movements of the Holy Spirit within it.' I found this startling at first and am yet to get my head fully around it. I'm more used to the 'we are spiritual beings having a physical experience' line of thought. But I think the former is truer to scripture and I'm enjoying coming to grips with it, and its implications.
I think, in the biblical imagination, we can split the difference. We are animated by the "life force," the breath of God that God breathes into Adam. Possessing this life force, this breath, this soul, we are spiritual beings having a physical experience. It's just that, as we'll see in the next post, this breath is tied to biological existence. When we die we take "our last breath." Our breath/soul is not immune to death. The breath/soul "departs." Consequently, our breath/soul needs an infusion of Something that makes it more permanent and immune to death. That death-denying force in the Bible is pneuma.
Wow. I've been feeling skeptical about this soul/ spirt division lately. Guess I should have learned Greek.
Thank you. We really enjoy your writings.
Stacy Childs
I just don’t get it.
That's sort of the point, that we moderns don't get the New Testament imagination.
One way, though, to get at that difference is this. We moderns tend to think that, because we have a "soul," that we are, innately and intrinsically, "spiritual." Spirituality is something we posses because of what we are made of.
Paul's imagination, however, seems to be that we don't innately or intrinsically possess spirituality. Spirit is extrinsic to our nature. Spirit is a gift. Spirit comes to us from "the outside." Thus the NT idea that the Holy Spirit has to be "poured out" upon flesh.
To be clear, this view of Paul's is jarring and not very politically correct, that there are spiritual and unspiritual people, pneumatic people and non-pneumatic people. I'd expect a lot of concern about this view. But my goal in this series isn't to judge Paul, just to bring his perspective into view. People can think of it what they will.
I feel like when we are young kids that we are more spiritually connected to god. When I was a kid I just knew there was a god. I still believe in god, but I do not feel spiritually connected.
This is a deep subject. I’m enjoying your work. You have given me lots to ponder. Thank you so very much.