φυσικός

natural, according to nature

Definition

The Greek adjective φυσικός (physikos) means 'natural' or 'according to nature.' In the New Testament, it primarily describes that which is inherent to the created order or the innate character of something. In Romans 1:26-27, it refers to natural sexual relations, contrasted with those that are 'contrary to nature.' In 2 Peter 2:12, it describes irrational animals, emphasizing their instinctive, physical nature, devoid of higher spiritual understanding.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only three times in the New Testament, all in contexts contrasting the natural with the spiritual or the unnatural. In Romans 1:26-27, Paul uses it to describe heterosexual relations as the 'natural' function, a key part of his argument about human rebellion. In 2 Peter 2:12, it describes false teachers as being like 'natural' (or irrational) animals, born merely for capture and destruction, highlighting their lack of spiritual discernment.

Etymology

Derived from φύσις (physis, G5449), meaning 'nature,' 'origin,' or 'natural condition.' The adjective φυσικός directly pertains to what is inherent, innate, or produced by nature. It is the root of the English word 'physical.' In Greek philosophy, it often described the natural world and its laws.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it helps define the biblical concept of 'natural law' or the created order. In Romans 1, understanding 'natural' relations is central to Paul's argument about humanity's suppression of the truth and descent into sin. It establishes a creational norm. In 2 Peter, it underscores the stark, spiritual deficiency of those who reject truth, reducing them to a merely animalistic existence. It enriches reading by highlighting the biblical contrast between the natural person and the spiritual life in Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:14).

In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of 'nature' (physis) was a major topic in philosophy, often discussing what was 'according to nature' versus 'against nature.' Paul's use in Romans engages this cultural conversation, asserting a Jewish-creational understanding of natural sexual morality against broader Hellenistic practices that sometimes accepted homosexual relations. The term carried strong ethical weight.

ψυχικός (psychikos, G5591) — pertaining to the soul or natural life, but often with a nuance of being unspiritual; σαρκικός (sarkikos, G4559) — pertaining to the flesh, often with a negative moral connotation of being worldly or sinful.

Word Details

Scripture References