Re: PNEUMA

Ben Crick (ben.crick@argonet.co.uk)
Wed, 27 May 98 11:03:26

On Tue 26 May 98 (20:11:20), jclar100@worldnet.att.net wrote:
> I'm struggling with ROMANS 8:15-16...
>
> PNEUMA is used in 15 twice as PNUEMA DOULEIAS and PNEUMA
> hUIOQESIAS.
> It is used in verse 16 as TO PNEUMA SUMMARTUREI TWi PNEUMATI
> hHMWN.
>
> In verse 15 it's usually translated as something like "spirit
> of bondage" and "spirit of adoption" and in verse 16 as "the
> spirit bears witness with our spirit."
>
> In verse 16 this is usually taken to mean in order, the "Holy
> Spirit" and the "human spirit" (or some take it as "conscience.")
>
> MY QUESTIONS:
>
> First, is it possible to understand "our spirit"="the Holy Spirit in
> the possession of humans" or "possessed by humans" as opposed to
> understanding "our spirit" as the human spirit?

Dear Jim,

PNEUMA on its own can mean a variety of things. In the context of Romans 8,
it seems to refer EITHER to the Holy Spirit, PNEUMATI QEOU (verse 14),
PNEUMA CRISTOU (verse 9);
OR to the human spirit, TWi PNEUMATI hHMWN (verse 16);
OR even to unclean or evil or "elemental" spirits, PNEUMA DOULEIAS... EIS
FOBON; compare TA ASQENH KAI PTWXA STOICEIA *hOIS PALIN ANWQEN DOULEUEIN
QELETE*, Galatians 4:9. Compare too Jesus' own phrase TO PNEUMA TO AKAQARTON,
Mark 5:8.

The Holy Spirit or Spirit of God or Spirit of Christ is one Party in verse
16, AUTO TO PNEUMA; our human spirit is the other party, TWi PNEUMATI hHMWN.
Since the One is talking to the other, they are two PNEUMATA, not one PNEUMA.

> Secondly, can the PNEUMA hUIOQESIAS in verse 15 in any way be the "PNEUMA
> hMWN" of verse 16?

The phrase PNEUMA hUIOQESIAS in verse 15 is a Hebraism; "Spirit of adoption"
signifying "the Holy Spirit who adopts you as a Child of God". Delitzsch
translates into Hebrew KiY 'iM-QiBBaLTeM *RUWaCh MiShPaT BaNiYM*. This
indicates a legal process (MiShPaT) of adoption as sons (BaNiYM). hUIOQESIA
is a legal term for Adoption.

The PNEUMA hHMWN of verse 16 is not "the Holy Spirit whom we have received",
but "our human spirit who has done the receiving". IMHO that is.

HTH
Ben

-- 
 Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
 <ben.crick@argonet.co.uk>
 232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
 http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm