God is a Spirit
God is a spirit, but what is a spirit?
John 4:24
“God is a Spirit: πνευμα <4151> ο <3588> θεος <2316> and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
This verse is often presumed to teach that “God the Holy Spirit is a spirit,” but the verse does not state that the trinity – or that one of the persons of the three persons of the Godhead - is a spirit.
The Greek script which is translated 'God is a Spirit' is: πνευμα ο θεος
The Strong's Greek Concordance numbers and definitions for this passage are:
(πνευμα) #4151 - Spirit
(ο) #3588 - the, this, that (the definite article which is sometimes supplied/omitted in English translation)
(θεος) #2316 - God
Reference to the Greek language casts light on this phrase:
The Analytical-Literal Translation of the Bible renders the Greek text:
“God [is] Spirit [or, [is] as to His essence Spirit]
In harmony with this literal translation, that God is a spiritual being, the following versions agree:
• Revised King James Testament;
• Restored Name King James Version;
• The American Standard Version, 1901;
• Twentieth Century New Testament;
• The Living Oracles Bible;
• Word English Bible;
• Conservative Version Bible;
• Bible in Basic English (1949-1964);
• The Emphasized Bible by JB Rotherham;
• International Standard Version;
• Hebrew Name Version of the World English Bible;
What is a spiritual being?
A spiritual being, whether divine, angelic or human is an intelligent, thinking being.
A spirit is not an independent entity, separate from a physical bodily form.
A spirit is not a ghost which is a fictitious being which is a mind separated from its physical form.
As an introduction to this text, it might help to review what constitutes a spirit.
Strong’s Greek Concordance #4151: spirit – (air, breath, breeze, mind)
#4151 pneuma pnyoo'-mah from 4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit:--ghost, life, spirit(-ual, -ually), mind.
From the Greek used in John 1:1 makes clear that the Son of God is the “Logos” the “Spoken Word” – the Father’s thoughts made audible. So the holy spirit of God is the mind of the Father; the thoughts of the Father expressed through the Word, Christ. The spirit of Christ is the mind of Christ, which is in perfect harmony with His Father’s mind. The Hebrew language also demonstrates this fact.
The word “spirit” is taken from the Hebrew word, “ruwach” which literally means “breath, wind, mind or blast (of air).”
Strong’s Hebrew Concordance #7307: spirit - (air, breath, breeze, mind)
#7307 ruwach roo'-akh from 7306; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. 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). see HEBREW for 07306
God Created - The Spirit Created, The Word of God Created
The Father created the heavens and the earth through His Son who spoke the creative thoughts of the Father's mind (Genesis 1:1, 2; John 1:3).
Psalm 33:6, 9
“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth…For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.”
Genesis 1:2
“And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
And the Spirit <07307> of God <0430> moved <07363> (8764) upon <05921> the face <06440> of the waters <04325>.
Strong’s Concordance #07363 rkhp rachaph raw-khaf' a primitive root; ;
AV-shake 1, move 1, flutter 1; 3
1) (Qal) to grow soft, relax
2) (Piel) to hover
Psalm 139:7 (Daivd speaking to the Father)
“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence.”
Jonah 1:9,10
“And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land. Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.”
Psalm 68:8
“The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.”
Hebrews 9:24
“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”
Divine beings possess the ability to observe all things simultaneously at all times. They are also able to communicate to all beings in the entire universe at all times. Their divine thoughts are sent via angels to human minds. The pioneers classified God's ability to do this as being “everywhere present by His spirit.” The SDA pioneers taught this in Principles of Faith, #1.
When referring to the presence of the Divine Mind/thoughts, the Bible consistently uses the expressions “the Holy Spirit,” “the spirit of God,” “the spirit of the Lord,” the spirit of the Lord God,” “the spirit of the Father,” “the spirit of Christ.” Both the Father and Son share the same Divine Mind and Divine Thoughts, but there is no “spirit of the Holy Spirit,” any more than there can be a “breath of a breath” or a “mind of a mind.”
Compare the following Scriptures in regard to the presence and spirit of God, (Yahweh) and Christ.
Psalm 51: 10, 11
10Create<01254>(8798) in me a clean<02889> heart<03820>, O God<0430>; and renew<02318>(8761) a
right<03559>(8737) spirit<07307> within<07130> me. (right: or, constant)
11Cast me not away<07993>(8686) from thy presence<06440>; and take<03947>(8799) not thy holy<06944> spirit<07307> from me.
Romans 8:9
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
Christ’s disciples are admonished to be partakers of that Divine Mind.
Philippians 2:5
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”
Colossians 3:16
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…”
Thus believers have the presence of the Lord dwelling in them.
Colossians 1:27
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
With the same Divine Mind instructing them, all believers will be united in truth.
Philippians 1:27
“…that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving.”
Romans 8:9-11
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
1 Peter 1:10, 11
“Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”
Christ dwells in us by his Divine Mind – spiritually, not bodily.
“God is a Spirit: πνευμα <4151> ο <3588> θεος <2316> and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
This verse is often presumed to teach that “God the Holy Spirit is a spirit,” but the verse does not state that the trinity – or that one of the persons of the three persons of the Godhead - is a spirit.
The Greek script which is translated 'God is a Spirit' is: πνευμα ο θεος
The Strong's Greek Concordance numbers and definitions for this passage are:
(πνευμα) #4151 - Spirit
(ο) #3588 - the, this, that (the definite article which is sometimes supplied/omitted in English translation)
(θεος) #2316 - God
Reference to the Greek language casts light on this phrase:
The Analytical-Literal Translation of the Bible renders the Greek text:
“God [is] Spirit [or, [is] as to His essence Spirit]
In harmony with this literal translation, that God is a spiritual being, the following versions agree:
• Revised King James Testament;
• Restored Name King James Version;
• The American Standard Version, 1901;
• Twentieth Century New Testament;
• The Living Oracles Bible;
• Word English Bible;
• Conservative Version Bible;
• Bible in Basic English (1949-1964);
• The Emphasized Bible by JB Rotherham;
• International Standard Version;
• Hebrew Name Version of the World English Bible;
What is a spiritual being?
A spiritual being, whether divine, angelic or human is an intelligent, thinking being.
A spirit is not an independent entity, separate from a physical bodily form.
A spirit is not a ghost which is a fictitious being which is a mind separated from its physical form.
As an introduction to this text, it might help to review what constitutes a spirit.
Strong’s Greek Concordance #4151: spirit – (air, breath, breeze, mind)
#4151 pneuma pnyoo'-mah from 4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit:--ghost, life, spirit(-ual, -ually), mind.
From the Greek used in John 1:1 makes clear that the Son of God is the “Logos” the “Spoken Word” – the Father’s thoughts made audible. So the holy spirit of God is the mind of the Father; the thoughts of the Father expressed through the Word, Christ. The spirit of Christ is the mind of Christ, which is in perfect harmony with His Father’s mind. The Hebrew language also demonstrates this fact.
The word “spirit” is taken from the Hebrew word, “ruwach” which literally means “breath, wind, mind or blast (of air).”
Strong’s Hebrew Concordance #7307: spirit - (air, breath, breeze, mind)
#7307 ruwach roo'-akh from 7306; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. 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). see HEBREW for 07306
God Created - The Spirit Created, The Word of God Created
The Father created the heavens and the earth through His Son who spoke the creative thoughts of the Father's mind (Genesis 1:1, 2; John 1:3).
Psalm 33:6, 9
“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth…For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.”
Genesis 1:2
“And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
And the Spirit <07307> of God <0430> moved <07363> (8764) upon <05921> the face <06440> of the waters <04325>.
Strong’s Concordance #07363 rkhp rachaph raw-khaf' a primitive root; ;
AV-shake 1, move 1, flutter 1; 3
1) (Qal) to grow soft, relax
2) (Piel) to hover
Psalm 139:7 (Daivd speaking to the Father)
“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence.”
Jonah 1:9,10
“And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land. Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.”
Psalm 68:8
“The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.”
Hebrews 9:24
“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”
Divine beings possess the ability to observe all things simultaneously at all times. They are also able to communicate to all beings in the entire universe at all times. Their divine thoughts are sent via angels to human minds. The pioneers classified God's ability to do this as being “everywhere present by His spirit.” The SDA pioneers taught this in Principles of Faith, #1.
When referring to the presence of the Divine Mind/thoughts, the Bible consistently uses the expressions “the Holy Spirit,” “the spirit of God,” “the spirit of the Lord,” the spirit of the Lord God,” “the spirit of the Father,” “the spirit of Christ.” Both the Father and Son share the same Divine Mind and Divine Thoughts, but there is no “spirit of the Holy Spirit,” any more than there can be a “breath of a breath” or a “mind of a mind.”
Compare the following Scriptures in regard to the presence and spirit of God, (Yahweh) and Christ.
Psalm 51: 10, 11
10Create<01254>(8798) in me a clean<02889> heart<03820>, O God<0430>; and renew<02318>(8761) a
right<03559>(8737) spirit<07307> within<07130> me. (right: or, constant)
11Cast me not away<07993>(8686) from thy presence<06440>; and take<03947>(8799) not thy holy<06944> spirit<07307> from me.
Romans 8:9
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
Christ’s disciples are admonished to be partakers of that Divine Mind.
Philippians 2:5
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”
Colossians 3:16
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…”
Thus believers have the presence of the Lord dwelling in them.
Colossians 1:27
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
With the same Divine Mind instructing them, all believers will be united in truth.
Philippians 1:27
“…that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving.”
Romans 8:9-11
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
1 Peter 1:10, 11
“Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”
Christ dwells in us by his Divine Mind – spiritually, not bodily.