Spirit, nature of

The life-giving principle of human nature, to be distinguished from the purely physical aspects of life.

The human spirit as distinct from the body

Matthew 26:41 parallel Mark 14:381 Thessalonians 5:23 See also Romans 8:10; 1 Corinthians 5:3–5, 1 Corinthians 7:34; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Colossians 2:5; Hebrews 4:12 “spirit” and “soul” may be two names for the inner being penetrated by the word of God, or they may distinguish the inner person in relation to God (“spirit”) from their relation to the world (“soul”); James 2:26; Revelation 18:13

“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The human spirit vitalises the body

James 2:26 See also Genesis 2:7; Job 34:14; Luke 8:55; 1 Corinthians 15:45; Revelation 13:15 “breath” is the same word as “spirit” in Greek.

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

The human spirit as the seat of thought and feeling

The seat of perception

Ezekiel 13:3; Mark 2:8; Romans 8:16; 1 Corinthians 2:11

The seat of feeling

2 Samuel 13:39; Job 32:18; Isaiah 54:6, Isaiah 57:15, Isaiah 66:2; Ezekiel 3:14; Daniel 7:15; Matthew 5:3; Luke 1:47; John 11:33, John 13:21

The seat of volition

Matthew 26:41 parallel Mark 14:38; 2 Corinthians 12:18; Philippians 1:27

The human spirit survives physical death

2 Corinthians 5:1–5 See also 1 Samuel 28:13–14; Matthew 10:28; Acts 7:59; Romans 8:23; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Peter 3:19, 1 Peter 4:6

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life. And it is God who has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come.

Jesus Christ had a human spirit

John 13:21 See also Matthew 27:50 parallels Luke 23:46, John 19:30; John 12:27

After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”