CHAPTER ONE

THE MEANING OF THE WORD SPIRIT
IN THE BIBLE AND
THE BASIC REVELATION
CONCERNING GOD AND MAN
IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

Scripture Reading: Ezek. 37:1, 5, 9; John 3:5-6; Rev. 11:11; John 3:8; 4:24; Gen. 1:2b; Matt. 28:19b; John 14:10-11, 26; 15:26; 10:30; 8:29, 16b; 16:32b; Acts 10:38; Luke 4:1a, 18a; Gen. 2:7; Prov. 20:27; Zech. 12:1; Isa. 42:5; Job 32:8; Heb. 4:12; 1 Thes. 5:23a; John 4:24; 1 John 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:22a; 1 Cor. 6:17

OUTLINE

Note: The general subject is not "The Spirit and Our Spirit" but "The Spirit with Our Spirit."

1. The meaning of the word spirit in the Bible:
1. The Hebrew equivalent of the word spirit is RUACH, denoting:
1. Spirit—Ezek. 37:1.
2. Breath—Ezek. 37:5.
3. Wind—Ezek. 37:9.
2. The Greek equivalent of the word spirit is PNEUMA, denoting:
1. Spirit—John 3:5-6.
2. Breath—Rev. 11:11.
3. Wind—John 3:8.
2. The basic revelation concerning God and man in the Holy Scriptures:
1. Concerning God:
1. "God is Spirit," denoting God's essence, substance—John 4:24.
2. "The Spirit of God," denoting that the Spirit is God— Gen. 1:2b.
3. "The name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," denoting the Divine Trinity and indicating that God is triune—Matt. 28:19b:
1. The three of the Divine Trinity coexist and coinhere as one God—John 14:10-11, 26; 15:26; 10:30.
2. They are distinct but not separate—John 8:29, 16b; 16:32b; Acts 10:38; Luke 4:1a, 18a.
2. Concerning man:
1. Created by God as a tripartite man—Gen. 2:7:
1. With a body formed with the dust of the ground, as man's outer frame.
2. With a spirit produced of the breath of God (the same Hebrew word for "breath" in Genesis 2:7 is translated into "spirit" in Proverbs 20:27), as man's inmost organ.
3. With a soul, the issue of God's breath breathed into the nostrils of the body formed of dust, as man's inner being (person).
2. The spirit of man was created by God, in a particular sense, to complete God's purpose in the creation of the heavens and the earth—Zech. 12:1; Isa. 42:5; Job 32:8.
3. Man's spirit is distinct from his soul— Heb. 4:12; 1 Thes. 5:23a.
3. God is Spirit for man to contact Him and receive Him into man, and man has a spirit for man to contact God and contain God that God and man may have an organic union—John 4:24; 1 John 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:22a; 1 Cor. 6:17.