1Cor2:14
@Cameron143 was recently loading logic about the natural man, creating his own Premise which forced a Conclusion and challenging another re: the logic.
@HeIsHere called him on it. It's easy to create a Premise that forces a Conclusion. The answer to that challenge was simply to replace the Premise with another one that we see FROM the Bible.
In 1Cor2:14 the word being translated as "natural man" is "psuchikos". Here's the basic definition from the BDAG Lexicon:
pertains to the life of the natural world and whatever belongs to it, in contrast to the realm of experience whose central characteristic is pneuma (spirit), natural, unspiritual, worldly
Honestly, I think this whole category of words could use more work. A more typical translation might be "soulish" but even then, this is only somewhat correct.
If we look at references like this, we can see that the word is more pointedly speaking of "breath". If you've never done the study, it's very difficult IMO to fully understand what constitutes a man and there is extensive overlap between spirit and soul for example.
In physics there is much talk about "entanglement". There seems to be more and more theoretical discussion about the concept of man being an entanglement between the physical and non-physical - the brain and the soul - the brain and the spirit and the body.
When it comes to psuchikos from psuchē, in my experience it's best just to see if and how God may define or explain the word in Scripture. I think He does the most with it in Jude. Under the beginning assumption that Jude and Paul may think similarly about the word, I'm starting where we seem to get the most information. Then I'll track the word and see what else we're told about it elsewhere. In the end I'd like to know more precisely what we're dealing with in 1Cor2:14 re: the psuchikos man - for now the soulish man:
Jude’s Description of the ψυχικοί (psuchikoi - plural of psuchikos - soulish men – v.19)
- Ungodly people (asebeis) – v. 4, 15, 18
- Irreverent toward God, lacking devotion.
- Pervert the grace of God into sensuality – v. 4
- Twist grace into a license for immorality.
- Deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ – v. 4
- Refuse Christ’s authority.
- Cause divisions (apodiorizontes) – v. 19
- Set up boundaries, fragment the community.
- Do not have the Spirit – v. 19
- Clear statement: Spirit-less.
- Grumblers (goggustai) – v. 16
- Habitual complainers against God or others.
- Fault-finders / malcontents (mempsimoiroi) – v. 16
- Dissatisfied, blaming their lot.
- Walk according to their lusts – v. 16, 18
- Conduct ruled by desires, not by God.
- Speak arrogantly – v. 16
- Use inflated words of pride.
- Flatter others for the sake of advantage – v. 16
- Manipulate through praise to gain benefit.
- Mockers (empaiktai) – v. 18
- Scoff at God and His truth.
- Follow the way of Cain – v. 11
- Like Cain, showing hatred and unbelief.
- Rush for profit into Balaam’s error – v. 11
- Driven by greed, like Balaam.
- Destroyed in Korah’s rebellion – v. 11
- Share in Korah’s arrogant rejection of God’s appointed leaders.
- Examples of judgment given in history (applied to them) – v. 5–7
- Israel’s unbelief, angels who left their domain, Sodom’s immorality.
- Hidden reefs in your love-feasts – v. 12
- Dangerous presences within the fellowship, unseen threats.
- Shepherds who feed only themselves – v. 12
- Self-serving leaders.
- Clouds without water – v. 12
- Empty, promising refreshment but giving none.
- Autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted – v. 12
- Barren, lifeless, and judged.
- Wild waves of the sea – v. 13
- Chaotic, foaming up their shame.
- Wandering stars – v. 13
- Misleading lights, destined for darkness.
- For whom the blackest darkness has been reserved forever – v. 13
- Their final destiny: eternal judgment.
I will tell you that I do have an inclination from much personal study in the Word mainly in the Greek, that #1, 3, 5 tell us the majority of the issue. I'll go through other references to psuchikos as I have time.
