Commenting on “spiritual body” (σῶμα πνευματικόν) in 1 Cor 15:44, Rhodes and Draper note that:
As Greek grammar bears out, the -ικον (-ikon) ending of the adjective πνευματικον (pnematikon), “spiritual,” does not
refer to the composition of the body put rather denotes “modes of being or
characteristics.” In Paul’s writings, “spiritual” refers most specifically “to
being derived from, or being about, the spirit.” Paul creates a strong contrast
between “fleshly” (σαρκικος, sarkikos) and “spiritual” (πνευματικος, pneumatikos) bodies. The first body
is under the influence of the flesh and is driven thereby while the second body
is dominated by the Spirit and led thereby (1 Cor. 15:47). By taking Paul’s
treatment on the subject as a whole, we see that the resurrected mode of
existence is characterized by the reversal of weakness and decay and the gain
of splendor and power. (Richard D. Draper and Michael D. Rhodes, Paul’s
Second Epistle to the Corinthians [Brigham Young University New Testament
Commentary; Provo, Utah: BYU Press, 2023], 279)
For
their understanding of πνευματικος, Draper and Rhodes reference Louw-Nida, §12.20, 21, which reads thusly:
12.20 πνευματικός, οῦ m: (derivative of πνεῦμαa ‘Spirit,’
12.18) one who has received God’s Spirit and presumably lives in accordance
with this relationship—‘one who is spiritual, one who has received the Spirit.’
πνευματικοῖς πνευματικὰ συγκρίνοντες ‘explaining spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit’ 1 Cor
2:13. In a number of languages it is not possible to speak of ‘possessing the
Spirit,’ but one can often say ‘to be possessed by the Spirit’ or ‘those whom
the Spirit possesses’ or ‘… owns’ or ‘… controls.’
12.21 πνευματικόςa, ή, όν; πνευματικῶςa: (derivatives of πνεῦμαa ‘Spirit,’ 12.18) pertaining to being derived from or being about the
Spirit—‘spiritual, from the Spirit’ (in reference to such matters as gifts,
benefits, teachings, blessings, and religious songs).
πνευματικόςa: περὶ δὲ τῶν πνευματικῶν, ἀδελφοί, οὐ θέλω ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν ‘brothers, I do not want you to be
ignorant about spiritual gifts’ or ‘… gifts which come from the Spirit’ 1 Cor
12:1; πνευματικοῖς πνευματικὰ συγκρίνοντες ‘explaining
spiritual truths to spiritual persons’ 1 Cor 2:13. In 1 Cor 2:13 πνευματικά may perhaps be best rendered in some languages as ‘truths revealed by
the Spirit’ or possibly ‘truths about the Spirit.’ Some persons would insist,
however, that in 1 Cor 2:13 πνευματικά refers to teachings which are of
particular benefit or relevance to people’s spirits.
ὁ εὐλογήσας ἡμᾶς ἐν πάσῃ εὐλογίᾳ πνευματικῇ ‘who has blessed us with every spiritual
blessing’ or ‘… with every blessing which comes from the Spirit’ Eph 1:3; ἵνα τι μεταδῶ χάρισμα ὑμῖν πνευματικὸν εἰς τὸ στηριχθῆναι ὑμᾶς ‘in order to share a spiritual blessing
with you to make you strong’ Ro 1:11. The occurrence of πνευματικός in Eph 1:3 and Ro 1:11 could be understood as referring to the human
spirit, but the contexts would seem to point more clearly to the involvement of
the Spirit of God. See 26.10.
λαλοῦντες ἑαυτοῖς ἐν ψαλμοῖς καὶ ὕμνοις καὶ ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς ‘speak to one another in the words of
psalms, hymns, and songs inspired by the Spirit’ Eph 5:19. It is also possible
that in Eph 5:19 πνευματικαῖς means merely ‘spiritual,’ and as such
pertains to what is ‘sacred’ or ‘religious.’ One can, therefore, translate ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς as ‘songs used in worship’ or ‘songs used in worship of God.’ For a
discussion of certain related problems involving the rendering of πνευματικός, see 26.10.
πνευματικῶςa: ὅτι πνευματικῶς ἀνακρίνεται ‘because it is
judged in terms of the Spirit’ 1 Cor 2:14. The reference in 1 Cor 2:14 may be
interpreted to mean that the unspiritual person cannot receive the gifts of the
Spirit; neither can such a person understand them because they can only be
judged or evaluated on the basis of their being derived from the Spirit of God.
For another interpretation of πνευματικῶς in 1 Cor 2:14, see 26.10.
