Hi Brother Mike,

I understand your reasoning in arguing against the prevailing notion within Christian circles of an immortal soul. Howbeit, there is a peculiar Scripture verse that appears to be problematic, namely 1Co 2:11, which reads thus: “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (NIV). If we render the Greek term ‘pneuma’ in this context as ‘breath’, ‘life- breath’ or ‘wind’, then how can it be said to know the thoughts of a man within him? Could you please clarify this apparent incongruity as best you can. It would be greatly appreciated.
Thanking you in advance. Love in Christ Jesus always,

S____

Hi S____,
Thank you for your question. You ask:

“There is a peculiar Scripture verse that appears to be problematic, namely 1Co 2:11, which reads thus: “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (NIV). If we render the Greek term ‘pneuma’ in this context as ‘breath’, ‘life- breath’ or ‘wind’, then how can it be said to know the thoughts of a man within him? Could you please clarify this apparent incongruity as best you can. It would be greatly appreciated.”

The chapters which best expresses what is “the spirit in man,” is Psa 104. Here is what we see in this chapter:

Psa 104:24  O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
Psa 104:25  So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
Psa 104:26  There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
Psa 104:27  These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
Psa 104:28  That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
Psa 104:29  Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
Psa 104:30  Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

The word ‘breath’ in verse 29, and the word ‘spirit’ in verse 30, are both the Hebrew word ‘ruach.’ While this word means ‘wind’ or ‘breath,’ it is used as a type of God’s invisible spirit. God’s spirit in nor really physical air, but God has to use the physical realm to communicate to us spiritual truths.

Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

We “clearly see… invisible things… by the things that are made.” We don’t actually see the spirit but we do undertand spiritual matters, “by the things that are made.
These verses in Psa 104 explain it all. Our flesh is “the waters on which the woman sits” in Rev 17. The beast of Rev 13 “comes up out of the sea.” Here in Psa 104 we are told that “this great sea” is part of “the manifold works of thy hand.” We are plainly told that God made “leviathan… to play therein.” We are told that leviathan, a type of the dragon, “waits upon the Lord,” and does God’s bidding just as He did with Job, with Joseph’s ten brothers, with Pharaoh, and with King Saul.

1Sa 16:14  But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

It is “an evil spirit from the Lord” which incites and rules over “the spirit of man within him,” and makes us all, at our appointed time, “of our father the devil.”

Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

None of us can “hear Christ’s Words” until we are all healed of the spiritual blindness with which we are all born from our mother’s womb. We all are “by nature… children of disobeience… children of wrath, even as others.”

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

What becomes of “the spirit in man” when He dies? We need not speculate. Just like the spirit in a beast, it “returns to God who gave it.” Not as a concious individual, but as God’s knowledge of who we are. We know this is so because of these verses in Ecc.

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
Ecc 3:19  For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all [ is] vanity.
Ecc 3:20  All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

All New Testament doctrine agrees with this assessment of “what befalls the sons of men.” When the apostle Paul tells us that if there is no resurrection from the death “then those who are asleep in Christ are perished” he  is agreeing with Ecclessiastes. There would be no need for a resurrection if mankind were either and immortal soul or an immortal spirit. But such is not the case for mankind, except by resurrection from among the dead.

Act 2:34  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
1Co 15:16  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
1Co 15:17  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1Co 15:18  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

In our study last week I demonstrated how the word ‘man,’ or ‘men’ is used in scripture as a contrast with the Word and spirit of God. Here is that part of that study:

What does “I neither received it of man” mean?

When Paul says, “I neither received it of man,” is Paul telling us that he had no need for Ananias to come and tell him what God had in store for Him?

Act 9:10  And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
Act 9:11  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for [ one] called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
Act 9:12  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting [ his] hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

Is Paul saying that he had no need to hear from others what Christ had taught? Is that what “I neither received it of man” means? What an absurd conclusion. It was Paul himself who tells Timothy that he was “appointed a teacher of the Gentiles.”

2Ti 1:11  Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

It is this same apostle Paul who penned these inspired words of scripture:

1Co 12:28  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1Co 12:29  Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

… and this:

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

It was the apostle Paul who said:

1Co 11:1  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

So what does “I neither received it of man” mean? It means the same thing that Christ meant when He told Peter that it was not flesh and blood, but His heavenly Father, who had revealed to Peter that Christ was the Son of God.

Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [ it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Is Christ telling Peter that Christ Himself had never taught Peter a thing? What utter foolishness! How many times are we told that Christ “taught them?”

Mat 7:29  For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Mat 13:54  And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
Mar 2:13  And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.

Mar 4:2  And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

Christ’s doctrine is taught “by parables.” And He has set in the the church teachers, who expound on those parables and types and shadows, and patterns and signs and symbols, and those who do so in Truth will never be found guilty of “thinking above what is written,” but will use only the words already written to be the foundation of every word they speak and teach.

1Co 4:6  And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and [ to] Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think [ of men] above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

What then does “I neither received it of man” mean, if men are indeed set in the church to teach? Here is what the scriptures mean when you see in them phrases like ‘of men… as men… [ or] as a man.’ Look at how Christ and His apostles us these phrases:

Mat 10:17  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 9:7  Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
1Co 9:8  Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

So when we see the phrases ‘of men… as men… as a man… [ or] any man’ and it is used in conjunction with teaching or understanding God’s Word, we can now rest assured that these phrases are speaking of men who “think above what is written” and they never refer to those who base every word of their doctrine on the the written scriptures which are profitable for instruction in righteousness.

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and [ is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

So when John says:

1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Christ’s Words are the “Truth” John speaks of in this verse. Here is what Christ said of men who teach His truth:

Mat 5:19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

It is obvious from the sum of God’s Word that those who thinks 1Jn 2:27 negates any need for those who “do and teach… these commandments” is actually guilty of breaking Christ commandment to “do and teach these commandments,” is “thinking above what is written,” and will “be called least in the kingdom of heaven.” The revelation of Jesus Christ is given us by the symbolic “seven angels” or seven messengers of the seven churches of God. Those messengers and all who support them, are those who “do and teach the commandments” of Christ and His Father.

I hope this has helped to to see that “the spirit in man,” is that spirit which is opposed to the law of God, and that what becomes of this “spirit in man” when he dies is that it returns to God from whence it came. It returns not as an individual, but as the invisible source of life, not to be embodied again until after it is resurrected from among the dead.

1Co 15:42  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
1Co 15:43  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
1Co 15:44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [ was made] a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

” Afterward [ after the resurrection] that which is spiritual.”
We are resurrected now in downpayment form only. We have not yet received “the redemption of the purchased possession.”

Eph 1:13 In whom [ the risen Christ] ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest [ Greek, downpayment] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, [ resurrection] unto the praise of his glory.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike