Motion
Biblical Concept of Inner Motions
The biblical understanding of 'motion' centers on internal spiritual and psychological dynamics rather than physical movement. In Scripture, these motions represent the stirrings of human nature—the impulses, passions, and inclinations that precede and motivate action. The concept appears most prominently in Paul's letters, where he analyzes the human condition in light of God's law and grace.
Pauline Analysis of Sinful Motions
Paul provides the most detailed examination of sinful motions in Romans 7:5, where he writes about "the passions of sins which were through the law" (using the Greek word pathēmata). Here, Paul describes how God's law, rather than suppressing sinful impulses, actually stimulates them into greater activity. The prohibition creates desire, revealing the depth of human rebellion. This paradoxical relationship between law and sin demonstrates humanity's fundamental spiritual problem: even when we know what is right, our inner motions pull us toward what is wrong (Romans 7:15-20).
Paul further develops this theme in Galatians 5:24, where he declares that those who belong to Christ have "crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." The Greek term pathēmata appears again, indicating that salvation involves not merely behavioral modification but transformation at the level of our fundamental impulses. The Holy Spirit's work produces new motions within believers—"the fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23)—that replace the old sinful patterns.
Wisdom Literature Perspectives
The Wisdom of Solomon offers additional insight into human motions from a different theological perspective. In Wisdom 5:11, the text describes how human plans and desires (translated as "motions" in some versions) prove fleeting and insubstantial when viewed from eternity's perspective. Wisdom 7:24 presents divine wisdom as "more mobile than any motion" (NRSV), suggesting that God's wisdom actively penetrates and influences all creation, including human hearts. This contrasts with human motions that are often self-directed and limited.
The Role of God's Law
A key biblical insight about motions concerns their relationship to God's commandments. As Paul observes in Romans 7, the law functions as a mirror that reveals our sinful impulses rather than as a cure for them. The Tenth Commandment's prohibition against coveting (Exodus 20:17) explicitly addresses inner motions rather than external actions, showing that God's standards reach to the heart level. Jesus amplifies this principle in the Sermon on the Mount, teaching that anger and lust in the heart constitute violations of God's law just as murder and adultery do (Matthew 5:21-28).
Transformation Through Christ
The biblical narrative presents Christ as the solution to humanity's disordered motions. Through union with Christ in his death and resurrection, believers receive not only forgiveness for sinful actions but liberation from the power of sinful impulses (Romans 6:6-7). The indwelling Holy Spirit creates new desires and empowers believers to "walk by the Spirit" rather than gratify fleshly passions (Galatians 5:16). This transformation is progressive, requiring ongoing renewal of the mind (Romans 12:2) and active resistance to sinful impulses (James 4:7).
Practical Implications for Christian Living
Understanding biblical teaching about motions has significant implications for spiritual life. First, it encourages humility by revealing that sin operates at a deeper level than mere behavior. Second, it directs believers to depend on God's grace rather than willpower alone for transformation. Third, it highlights the importance of cultivating godly desires through spiritual disciplines, community accountability, and meditation on Scripture (Psalm 1:2, Philippians 4:8). Finally, it offers hope that God's work in believers will ultimately result in complete transformation, when we will be like Christ in our deepest motivations (1 John 3:2).
Biblical Context
The concept of 'motion' appears primarily in the New Testament epistles, especially Romans 7:5 and Galatians 5:24, where Paul discusses the inner workings of sin and redemption. The Greek term pathēmata (passions, affections, impulses) carries this meaning. The concept also appears in the Apocryphal Wisdom of Solomon 5:11 and 7:24, though with slightly different nuances. While the specific term appears infrequently, the underlying reality—humanity's inner spiritual dynamics—permeates Scripture from the Garden of Eden narrative (Genesis 3:6) to Jesus' teaching about the heart (Matthew 15:19) to James' analysis of temptation (James 1:14-15).
Theological Significance
The theology of motions reveals fundamental truths about human nature, sin, and salvation. First, it demonstrates that sin is not merely external disobedience but an internal orientation—a disordered set of desires and impulses. Second, it shows that God's law, while holy and good, cannot transform these motions but only reveals them. Third, it highlights the comprehensive nature of Christ's redemption, which addresses not just our legal standing but our very inclinations. Fourth, it underscores the Holy Spirit's role in creating new, godly desires within believers. Ultimately, the transformation of our motions reflects God's commitment to renewing the whole person, preparing us for eternal fellowship with him.
Historical Background
In first-century Jewish and Greco-Roman thought, discussions about passions and impulses were common. Stoic philosophers advocated for apatheia—freedom from passions—while other schools debated how to manage human desires. Jewish thinkers, influenced by wisdom traditions, reflected on the yetzer ha-ra (evil inclination) and yetzer ha-tov (good inclination). Paul's treatment of pathēmata engages these contemporary discussions while transforming them through Christ-centered revelation. The Latin translation of 2 Esdras 6:14 as 'commotio' (commotion, disturbance) reflects how ancient translators understood these inner dynamics. Early Christian writers like Augustine would later develop these concepts in discussing original sin and grace.