Spiritual Things
The Meaning of Spiritual Things
In the New Testament, "spiritual things" translates the Greek phrase ta pneumatika, referring to everything that proceeds from the Holy Spirit and pertains to the believer's spiritual life, worship, and service. This term encompasses the full range of blessings that come through salvation: faith, hope, love, justification, sanctification, peace, and the various gifts of the Spirit. Paul uses this concept to draw a fundamental distinction between the realm of the Spirit and the realm of the flesh.
Spiritual Things and Material Support
Paul's most explicit teaching about spiritual things appears in two key passages where he argues that those who provide spiritual ministry deserve material support. In 1 Corinthians 9:11, he writes: "If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?" Similarly, in Romans 15:27, Paul explains that the Gentile churches owe a debt to Jerusalem: "For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings." In both passages, the contrast between spiritual and material things establishes a principle of reciprocity.
The Gifts of the Spirit
Paul's extensive discussion in 1 Corinthians 12-14 provides the most detailed treatment of spiritual things in the New Testament. He begins by stating, "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed" (1 Corinthians 12:1). The spiritual gifts he lists—wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation of tongues—are all manifestations of the one Spirit distributed to individual believers as God determines (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). These gifts are given not for personal prestige but for the common good of the church.
Spiritual Things Versus Fleshly Things
The contrast between spiritual and fleshly things runs throughout Paul's letters. In Romans 8:5-6, he distinguishes between those who set their minds on "the things of the flesh" and those who focus on "the things of the Spirit." The flesh produces death, while the Spirit produces life and peace. Galatians 5:16-25 expands this contrast into two lists: the works of the flesh (sexual immorality, idolatry, jealousy, anger) and the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control). Spiritual things, in this broader sense, include everything that flows from living under the Spirit's direction.
Discerning Spiritual Things
Paul teaches that spiritual things can only be properly understood by those who have received the Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 2:13-14, he explains that "the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." This principle establishes that spiritual perception is itself a gift, not merely an intellectual achievement. The Spirit enables believers to grasp truths that remain hidden from those who rely solely on human wisdom.
Living in Light of Spiritual Things
The New Testament's teaching on spiritual things calls believers to prioritize the eternal over the temporal. Paul urges the Colossians to "set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2). This is not a rejection of material reality but a reordering of values, recognizing that the spiritual blessings received through Christ are of surpassing worth. The practical outworking includes generous material support for those who minister spiritual blessings, the faithful exercise of spiritual gifts for the church's benefit, and a life guided by the Spirit rather than the flesh.
Biblical Context
The concept of spiritual things appears most directly in 1 Corinthians 9:11 and Romans 15:27, where Paul contrasts spiritual blessings with material support. First Corinthians 12-14 provides extensive teaching on spiritual gifts. Romans 8:5-6 and Galatians 5:16-25 develop the broader contrast between spiritual and fleshly things. First Corinthians 2:13-14 addresses the discernment of spiritual realities.
Theological Significance
The concept of spiritual things teaches that the most valuable blessings believers receive are not material but spiritual: salvation, the indwelling Spirit, spiritual gifts, and the fruit of transformed character. This understanding establishes proper priorities for Christian living and supports the principle that those who minister spiritual blessings deserve material provision. It also affirms that spiritual perception requires the Spirit's work, not merely human effort.
Historical Background
Paul's contrast between spiritual and material things reflects the broader Hellenistic philosophical environment in which spirit and matter were often distinguished. However, Paul's understanding differs from Greek dualism in that he does not view material creation as inherently evil. Instead, his contrast is between life directed by God's Spirit and life directed by sinful human nature. The early church's practice of supporting apostles and ministers materially (as in Philippians 4:15-18) reflects the practical application of Paul's teaching.