The invisible part of a person that feels and can connect with God.
About Spirit (Human)
Designation of that aspect of existence that is noncorporeal and immaterial. Its Latin derivation (as with the Hebrew and Greek words in the Bible—ruach and pneuma) denotes blowing or breathing (Jb 41:16; Is 25:4). So the noun spiritus signifies breath and life. God, the source of all life, is himself Spirit (Jn 4:24). He put a spirit within all human beings so that they could commune with him in his realm and in his nature. A Christian’s experience of Jesus Christ is made real when that person experiences the Spirit of Jesus Christ in his or her spirit.
Three articles follow that describe three major aspects of spirit: (1) Spirit of God; (2) Spirit of Jesus Christ; (3) spirit of man.
Key References
“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
All Scripture References (94)
Matthew (3)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit.
Mark (3)
At once Jesus knew in His spirit that they were thinking this way within themselves. “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?” He asked.
Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit and said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Luke (7)
And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.
Her spirit returned, and at once she got up. And He directed that she be given something to eat.
Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last.
But they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit.
Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
John (7)
Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.
But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him.
God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”
When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit.
Acts (7)
Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them
but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.
He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and was fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.
After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well.”
And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
Romans (7)
God, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.
But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”
Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
1 Corinthians (16)
For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.
When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of the Lord Jesus,
hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.
But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit.
and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can please her husband.
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam a life-giving spirit.
For they refreshed my spirit and yours as well. Show your appreciation, therefore, to such men.
2 Corinthians (7)
I had no peace in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.
And in keeping with what is written, “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,
in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it very easily.
I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?
Galatians (2)
Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Ephesians (2)
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
to be renewed in the spirit of your minds;
Philippians (3)
Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending together as one for the faith of the gospel,
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Colossians (1)
For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.
1 Thessalonians (1)
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians (2)
not to be easily disconcerted or alarmed by any spirit or message or letter seeming to be from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has already come.
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival.
1 Timothy (1)
By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.
2 Timothy (2)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.
Philemon (1)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Hebrews (5)
Now about the angels He says: “He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire.”
Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?
in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
James (2)
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?
1 Peter (3)
but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.
in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison
That is why the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged as men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
1 John (4)
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.
We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
Revelation (8)
John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven spirits before His throne,
“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of the One who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation for being alive, yet you are dead.
From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven spirits of God.
Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered the two witnesses, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell upon those who saw them.
The second beast was permitted to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed.
So I fell at his feet to worship him. But he told me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Then the angel said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soon take place.”