Vincent's Word Studies in the NT

Romans 8:4

Righteousness [δ ι κ α ι ω μ α]. Rev., ordinance. Primarily that which is deemed right, so as to have the force of law; hence an ordinance. Here collectively, of the moral precepts of the law : its righteous requirement. Compare Luke 1:6; Romans 2:26; Hebrews 9:1. See on ch. Romans 5:16.

The Spirit [π ν ε υ μ α]. From pnew to breathe or blow. The primary conception is wind or breath. Breath being the sign and condition of life in man, it comes to signify life. In this sense, physiologically considered, it is frequent in the classics. In the psychological sense, never. In the Old Testament it is ordinarily the translation of ruach. It is also used to translate chai life, Isaiah 38:12; n'shamah breath, 1 Kings 17:17. In the New Testament it occurs in the sense of wind or breath, John 3:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Hebrews 1:7. Closely related to the physiological sense are such passages as Luke 8:55; James 2:26; Revelation 13:15.

PAULINE USAGE :

1. Breath, 2 Thessalonians 2:8.

2. The spirit or mind of man; the inward, self - conscious principle which feels and thinks and wills (1 Corinthians 2:11; 1 Corinthians 5:3; 1 Corinthians 7:34; Colossians 2:5).

In this sense it is distinguished from swma body, or accompanied with a personal pronoun in the genitive, as my, our, his spirit (Romans 1:9; Romans 8:16; 1 Corinthians 5:4; 1 Corinthians 16:18, etc.). It is used as parallel with yuch soul, and kardia heart. See 1 Corinthians 5:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:17; and compare John 13:21 and John 12:27; Matthew 26:38 and Luke 1:46; Luke 1:47. But while yuch soul, is represented as the subject of life, pneuma spirit, represents the principle of life, having independent activity in all circumstances of the perceptive and emotional life, and never as the subject.

Generally, pneuma spirit, may be described as the principle, yuch soul, as the subject, and kardia heart, as the organ of life. Romans 8

:3The spiritual nature of Christ. Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 14:45; 1 Timothy 3:16.

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