Word Studies in the Bible

By E. M. Zerr

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TEMPORAL - SPIRITUAL

     The first word occurs only once in the King James Version. But it is one of the commonest terms in our religious speech, which justifies its use in this column. The relation between the two terms is various, and requires much care in using them in order to avoid what might appear to be contradictory. The single instance of the first word is in 2 Corinthians 4: 18 as follows: "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

     Of course the reader notices the difference between the form of our heading and that seen in the passage quoted. My reason for using such a heading is the almost universal use of the phrase as here presented. It is common to hear a situation disposed of by such an expression as "well, that is a temporal matter; it would be different were it a spiritual one." This will be spoken with an air of finality as if the two terms were always and unconditionally opposite each other. Such a use of the words indicates that the speaker has not given the subject careful study, but is only taking his conclusion for granted. There is no hard and fast rule of distinction between the two words of our heading. It is possible for an object to be both temporal and spiritual, if the various meanings of each term are considered.

     The first word is from PROSKAIROS, which Strong defines, "for the occasion only, i.e., temporary." Thayer defines it as follows:"For a season, enduring only for a while, temporary." Besides the word under consideration, its original is rendered in the King James Version by "but for a time," "for a season," "for a while." These uses of the term also agree with the principal definitions given in Webster's Dictionary which are as follows: "Of, pertaining to, or limited by time. Pertaining to the present life or this world." It was in view of such meanings of the word that Paul contrasted it with "eternal" in the passage quoted. But its use as a contrast to "spiritual" is what we are considering in this article, which is the reason for the heading selected.

     Our second heading word is from PNEUMATIKOS. I will copy Thayer's definitions (the parts in italics). "Emanating from the Divine Spirit, or exhibiting its effects and so its character. Produced by the sole power of God himself without natural instrumentality, supernatural. One who is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God. Pertaining to the wind or breath; windy, exposed to the wind; blowing." Let the reader note that no reference is made to the duration of anything, as to how it differs from things that are "temporal." Neither is such a distinction indicated in the several passages where the word is used in the New Testament. The only way such a distinction can be seen is by considering the characteristics and/or objectives of the thing considered.

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     Doubtless by now the reader can see my reason for saying a thing could be both temporal and spiritual. Paul called the manna the Israelites ate "spiritual meat," yet we know it was used for physical food and was not to be continued more than four hundred years. The miraculous gifts of Paul's day were "spiritual" gifts, yet we know they were temporary (hence temporal). On the other hand, our bodies are fleshly and material, constituting what are ordinarily classed as temporal objects. Yet Jesus teaches that the body as well as the spirit of the unsaved will be cast into hell (Luke 12: 4, 5), which we are assured by the scriptures is never to cease to exist. The tabernacle which Moses erected was made of wood, metal and fabrics, all of which were material and temporal in their characteristics. Yet they were spiritual since they came from God in the mount (Hebrews 8: 5), and part of the definition of spiritual is "emanating from Divine Spirit."

     The remainder of this article will deal more directly with the subject as it pertains to our day. A group of disciples may be discussing the advisability of using certain material for the baptistry; whether to paint the walls of the church building or paper them; or whether to carpet the entire floor or only the aisles. Some brother then suggests that it is to be decided by vote. Such a suggestion will be defended by saying these are "temporal matters. Why does he say that? It is because those items are material or physical. Well, the vessels used on the Lord's table are likewise physical and hence "temporal." Yet no one would favor taking a vote to decide whether metal or glass should be used. No, they would say that such matters are in the spiritual category and should be determined by the elders. It is true that in all matters of judgment the elders should consult with the members of the flock. But any subject that has to do with the welfare of the congregation is a spiritual matter, and the rulers are the ones to have the final decision.