I am a PhD student in biblical theology and a web developer. My interests include PHP and ecclesiology. My dissertation topic is the purpose of the gathering of the church in the New Testament. By God’s grace, I try to live what I am learning about the church.
You can email me at aknox [at] sebts [dot] edu.
Hey there Bro ~ My friend Doug Weaver told me to email you. I was just as his house and we were trying to figure out something in the Greek. We didn’t get very far. I need some insight on Galatians 6:8
ὅτι ὁ σπείρων εἰς τὴν σάρκα ἑαυτοῦ ἐκ τῆς σαρκὸς θερίσει φθοράν, ὁ δὲ σπείρων εἰς τὸ πνεῦμα ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος θερίσει ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
OR
oti o speirwn eiV thn sarka eautou ek thV sarkoV qerisei fqoran o de speirwn eiV to pneuma ek tou pneumatoV qerisei zwhn aiwnion. Please notice that in most translations the letter “S” in spirit in usually capitalized. But I’m wondering if this is making reference to the Holy Spirit (I personally don’t think so) or if it’s referencing our own spirits? I know that it says “HIS flesh” {emphasis mine} but it doesn’t negate the fact that “THE Spirit” {emphasis mine} could be referencing our own human spirit. I know that most translators do capitalize this letter “S” ~ but in my Nestle-Aland 27th Addition, I noticed that Bruce did NOT capitalize this letter. Most considered him to be the leading greek scholar in the world. The flow of the verse and the context of the preceding and following verses lead me to understand that it is really talking about our own spirit. Do you have any insight on this? I can’t call Bruce as he passed away 2 years ago. Thank you brother & be blessed.
Walking with you on the road to Emmaus ~ Robert 316.619.4000
Robert,
You’ve asked a good question. Your question deals with the referent for the term τὸ πνεῦμα (to pneuma) in Galatians 6:8. However, the terms sarkos and pneuma are contrasted throughout the letter, and identifying the referent in one place requires identifying it in the other instances. So, without studying the letter of Galatians in more detail, I can’t answer your question in detail. From glancing through the other usages in the letter, it seems that the referent is the Holy Spirit.
-Alan