The doctrine of The Trinity has the "godhead" painted as a three-in-one deity and the "spirit" is the other person in the "godhead". In this study, let us dissect the word "spirit" from its roots.
I had been avoiding writing about this subject many, many times. However, I am always reminded of it in anyway, in any form.
So, here I am, I am going to share to you what I have learned. There is really no secret buried in a mystery about the "spirit" that is taught in the Trinity doctrine but the Bible has revealed that "rightly dividing the word of truth" (1 Ti 2:15) or "properly dissect/expound correctly the word" would give understanding. So how do we properly "dissect or expound correctly" the "word" "spirit"? May I recommend reviewing "Learning How To Learn" and "How To Build Stable Data".
(2Ti 2:15 The Scriptures 1998+) Do your utmost to present yourself approved to Elohim, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of Truth.
Please note, the word "spirit" has many contraptions and normally one may be lead into believing a mystery of a "spirit". Well, rightly so, because the word "spirit" connotes a mystery already. As being used in today's language and speech and in various media.
Example of this mystery that has found its way into our Bible faith is the Trinity doctrine. One has to go into the mystery of the "godhead" by The use of the Triquetra symbol, the triangle, the cross, etc. And The use of metaphors such as the nature of water in various stages, and some petal formations in certain flowers and plants. And many more.
Without "dissecting or expounding correctly" the "word" "spirit" spoken of in the Bible one could really get lost, as I was, trusting on the "figures of speech" and "metaphors" to explain the mystery which is really not taught in the Bible.
The Bible is the Word of Elohim, and we should be able to find the answers there if we should "dissect or expound correctly" the "word" "spirit".
(Heb 4:12 The Scriptures 1998+) For the Word of Elohim is living, and working, and sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through even to the dividing of being and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
So let us do it the Bible way.
The word in Hebrew is "ruach"H7307 which is translated in most Bible versions as "spirit". So let us dissect the word "ruach"H7307 for what it means.
Please note here, the literal definition of "ruach" is "wind". Note the semi-colon after the word "wind;" in the definition below. And please note that after the semi-colon is a definition commentary to give us a handle of what it is, but that is not to suggest that it is it, remember that.
H7307
rûach
roo'-akh
From H7306; wind; by resemblance breath, that is, a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions): - air, anger, blast, breath, X cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit ([-ual]), tempest, X vain, ([whirl-]) wind (-y).
Sample verses:
Gen 1:2 - "spirit"H7307
Gen 6:17 - "breath"H7307
Gen 7:22 - references "breath"H5397 H7307
Job 27:3 - references "breath"H5397 "spirit"H7307
Psa 18:15 - "breath"H7307
Psa 33:6 - "breath"H7307
I did a quick search in esword and it yields 378 matches in 348 verses in the Old Testament. The New Testament Greek equivalent is "pneuma"G4151 translated as "spirit"G4151 and quick search yields 385 matches in 350 verses.
Sample verses:
John 4:24 - Elohim is "spirit"G4151
John 14:26 - the comforter which is the "Holy" "Ghost"G4151
Please note, the literal definition of the Greek "pneuma" is "a current of air, that is, breath (blast) or a breeze;". Again, please note the semi-colon after it, which means after it is the definition commentary, again to help us get a handle of what it is, but that is not to suggest that it is it. And note the phrase "by analogy or figuratively a spirit".
G4151
πνεῦμα
pneuma
pnyoo'-mah
From G4154; a current of air, that is, breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively a spirit, that is, (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, daemon, or (divine) God, Christ’s spirit, the Holy spirit: - ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind. Compare G5590.
Please note the phrase in Hebrew definition commentary "by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being", as "spirit of truth", "spirit of knowledge", "spirit of ...". And also in the Greek definition commentary "by analogy or figuratively a spirit", Meaning it is not to be use to mean independent being.
But here is where the confusion has started. In the Greek definition commentary we see these sample phrases, and please note "Holy spirit":
"or (superhuman) an angel, daemon, or (divine) God, Christ’s spirit, the Holy spirit: - ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind."
Note The phrase "Holy spirit" -- What is it to you? Well, it brings up the concept of the Trinity doctrine, doesn't it? That is because the proponent of the Trinity doctrine has infiltrated most of Christendom already with this doctrine and can capitalized on this Greek definition commentary.
Compare that with the Hebrew definition commentary. The Hebrew definition commentary does not even suggest the Trinity remotely. What this means is that the Hebrew mindset and the Greek mindset is very different. They are worlds apart as can be seen in this two definition commentaries.
However, if we just take the literal definitions from both the Hebrew ("wind") and the Greek ("a current of air, breath, breeze"), both definitions agree. Selah (Pause and think about it)!
Fortunately also, our Father, YHWH, our Elohim, has told us to "ask for the old paths" (Jer 6:16) and our old paths in this case is the Hebrew mindset. If you have come to this article, I believe the Father has lead you, maybe because you have been praying earnestly to lead you to the truth.
Jer 6:16 Thus said יהוה, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and find rest for yourselves. But they said, ‘We do not walk in it.’
Another translation of "ruach" in our Bibles is "breath" (Gen 2:7) and in some instances "ruach" shares with "neshama" both are translated as "breath" (Gen 7:22).
Sample verses:
Gen 6:17 - "breath"H7307
Gen 7:22 - references "breath"H5397 H7307
Job 27:3 - references "breath"H5397 "spirit"H7307
Psa 18:15 - "breath"H7307
Psa 33:6 - "breath"H7307
Let us examine briefly the word "neshama"H5397 in the same way, we dissect or expound correctly the word "ruach" (Hebrew) and "pneuma" (Greek) by just using the Strong's Bible dictionary.
H5397
neshâmâh
nesh-aw-maw'
From H5395; a puff, that is, wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect or (concretely) an animal: - blast, (that) breath (-eth), inspiration, soul, spirit.
Please note, in this definition there is no commentary like what we found in "ruach" and "pneuma" above. They both seem to mean the same thing, depending on how it is used in a sentence.
The Hebrew word "neshâmâh" literally means a puff of wind, divine inspiration, intellect, soul, spirit.
The Greek equivalents in the New Testament:
NT Acts 17:25, Acts 2:2
G4157
πνοή
pnoē
pno-ay'
From G4154; respiration, a breeze: - breath, wind.
G4154
πνέω
pneōpneh'-o
A primary word; to breathe hard, that is, breeze: - blow. Compare G5594.
John 20:22 "breathed on"
G1720
ἐμφυσάω
emphusaō
em-foo-sah'-o
From G1722 and φυσάω phusaō (to puff; compare G5453); to blow at or on: - breathe on.
Please note "puff" means emission of air, and emission means discharge or release. And note also that this wind, breath that is released from Elohim is also defined as "divine inspiration, intellect, soul and spirit".
Now, in comparison "ruach" and "neshama" shares the definition of "breath" / "wind". They are both the same in this sense. But they also differ.
And Now, notice the difference, notice how they differ:
In "neshâmâh" is the wind with the stuff of divine inspiration, intellect, soul and spirit that is part of its main definition. Which also means this is its limits or delimiter. And "neshâmâh" is a puffed of wind which is complete in itself but delimited. A wind that is emitted or released from its source which is Elohim.
Whereas "rûach" is "wind" without delimitters, that is still with the source, it is not puffed, it is not emitted or released from its source which is Elohim.
Conclusion
PLEASE NOTE: That the use of "spirit" is a FIGURATIVE Speech only, according to the Bible dictionary definition, as we have just seen. And for lack of a better word in English or in any other language, "spirit" is used in most of our Bibles.
It does not conjure a separate being. It is literally "wind", "breath" which is always a part of YHWH, Elohim. But Elohim can command a separate "wind" for a certain purpose, such as the 'spirit/wind of Truth', 'wind/spirit of Knowledge', 'Helper', etc. But then again, this is not a separate entity as is taught in the Trinity, Oneness and other 'godhead' doctrines. If it is, then the 'godhead' would not be limited to three heads, because there can be many spirits that Elohim can command. And besides, Elohim is also a "wind/spirit" (Jn 4:24).
So the Spirit that is referred to in the Bible is actually of the Father, the wind/spirit of YHWH, or the Father.
Elohim can also command a completely separate entity as is the case with the breath of man. The Hebrew word is "neshema". The breath with which we breath, is a "wind/spirit of YHWH". But this wind/breath is released, or emitted from the source, from Elohim, and is delimited. Whereas 'ruach' is not released, not emitted, it is not delimited, it stays with the source, it stays with Elohim. It can also be dedicated or set-apart as the case of a "Helper" or "Comforter", but remember it is not emitted, released or puffed from the source.
Has any one seen the wind? Not one. Has any one seen a spirit? Yes, many have. So, "spirit" is really not an accurate translation. But use ONLY as a FIGURE OF SPEECH, for lack of a better word in any other language, to help us understand, but not to conjure that it is it.
What Yahushua said about the Helper, also called as "the spirit of truth" to guide us. If you allow me to use an analogy this would be like the hand of a father holding the little hand of his child.
The Helper, the Spirit of Truth, is the hand of our heavenly Father holding our hand, guiding us, teaching us the truths, figuratively speaking accurately. As opposed to an independent entity as can be conjured by the word "spirit" in any languages.
And perhaps, to avoid confusion, we must probably use the Hebrew word "ruach" in some circles because there really is no word in any language that can translate the definition. And avoid further proliferating the untruth.
And lastly, Please note the "spirit" is always referred to as "it" or "the" in the Bible. Is this how a proper person is treated? Selah! And proper person has a proper name, the "spirit" in the Bible has no proper name. But the Father and the Son has proper names. Selah!
But remember, what is required of us -- proper worship, that is the most important thing. Worship the Father in "Ruach" and in Truth. Yahushua only brought forth the discussion of the 'godhead' to the people who do not believe in Him. That is why, they wanted to stone Him and kill Him. But He escaped because it was not yet time.
That the blind may see, and those seeing may become blind.
Shalom! Shalom!
No comments :
Post a Comment