"spiritual, pertaining to the soul, as distinguished from what concerns the body, Rom. 15:27; 1 Cor. 9:11; spiritual, pertaining to the nature of spirits, 1 Cor. 15:44; τὰ πνευματικά; τῆς πονηρίας, i.q. τὰ πνεύματα τὰ πονηρά, evil spirits, Eph. 6:12; spiritual, pertaining or relat..."
Definition and meaning
spiritual, pertaining to the soul, as distinguished from what concerns the body, Rom. 15:27; 1 Cor. 9:11; spiritual, pertaining to the nature of spirits, 1 Cor. 15:44; τὰ πνευματικά; τῆς πονηρίας, i.q. τὰ πνεύματα τὰ πονηρά, evil spirits, Eph. 6:12; spiritual, pertaining or relating to the influences of the Holy Spirit, of things, Rom. 1:11; 7:14; τὰ πνευματικά, spiritual gifts, 1 Cor. 12:1; 14:1; superior in process to the natural course of things, miraculous, 1 Cor. 10:3; of persons, gifted with a spiritual frame of mind, spiritually affected, 1 Cor. 2:13, 15; endowed with spiritual gifts, inspired, 1 Cor. 14:37
In the original Greek the word is written: πνευματικός
Historical context
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, one of the most important commercial cities in the empire. Rome had a Jewish population of around 50,000. The letter addresses real tensions between Jewish believers with centuries of Torah tradition and Gentile believers with no such background. Emperor Nero was on the throne. Within ten years he would execute both Paul and Peter.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of pneumatikos (G4152) across the King James Bible.
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
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Common questions
Strong's G4152 (pneumatikos) is a Greek word that means: spiritual, pertaining to the soul, as distinguished from what concerns the body, Rom. 15:27; 1 Cor. 9:11; spiritual, pertaining to the nature of spirits, 1 Cor. 15:44; τὰ πνευματικά; τῆς πονηρίας, i.q... It appears 21 times in the King James Bible.
The word pneumatikos (G4152) appears 21 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4152 is pneumatikos, a Greek word defined as: spiritual, pertaining to the soul, as distinguished from what concerns the body, Rom. 15:27; 1 Cor. 9:11; spiritual, pertaining to the nature of spiri. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
pneumatikos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.