O significado de espírito na Bíblia: corpo, alma e fôlego

O que significa espírito na Bíblia

Na Bíblia, a palavra "espírito" traduz o hebraico ruach e o grego pneuma, que significam literalmente sopro, vento ou fôlego de vida. As Escrituras usam o termo principalmente em três sentidos: o sopro divino que concede vida biológica ao ser humano, a dimensão imaterial e profunda da pessoa (onde ocorrem a consciência e a comunhão com o Criador) e o próprio Deus — em especial a pessoa do Espírito Santo.

Diferente do corpo material, o espírito humano representa o íntimo do ser, a vida que volta a Deus quando o corpo morre:

1 In the beginning, God" (Elohim). created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.(Genesis 1:1,2)

8 But there is a spirit in man,

and the Spirit of the Almighty gives them understanding.(Job 32:8)

6 before the silver cord is severed,

or the golden bowl is broken,

or the pitcher is broken at the spring,

or the wheel broken at the cistern,

7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was,

and the spirit returns to God who gave it.(Ecclesiastes 12:6,7)

26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.(James 2:26)

12 For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.(Hebrews 4:12)

3 Don’t put your trust in princes,

in a son of man in whom there is no help.

4 His spirit departs, and he returns to the earth.

In that very day, his thoughts perish.(Psalms 146:3,4)

O conflito entre a carne e o espírito

No Novo Testamento, os autores bíblicos contrastam com frequência o espírito e a "carne". Enquanto "carne" descreve a natureza humana inclinada ao pecado e marcada pela fragilidade moral, o "espírito" renovado por Deus inclina a pessoa a obedecer à vontade do Criador.

No Getsêmani, Jesus apontou essa fragilidade ao advertir os apóstolos a orar e vigiar, pois a disposição interior não anula a fraqueza humana sem a dependência de Deus:

41 Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."(Matthew 26:41)

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.(Galatians 5:16)

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.(Galatians 5:17)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.(Galatians 5:22,23)

25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.(Galatians 5:25)

6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;(Romans 8:6)

1 Having therefore these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.(2 Corinthians 7:1)

A habitação do Espírito Santo no crente

A teologia bíblica ensina que a vida cristã não se sustenta no esforço puramente humano. A partir da fé em Cristo, o Espírito Santo passa a habitar no interior do crente, transformando seu corpo em templo e dando testemunho de que ele foi adotado como filho de Deus:

19 Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.(1 Corinthians 6:19,20)

17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.(1 Corinthians 6:17)

11 For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except God’s Spirit.(1 Corinthians 2:11)

10 If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.(Romans 8:10)

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.(Romans 8:14)

15 For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;(Romans 8:15,16)

26 In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered.(Romans 8:26)

16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love,(Ephesians 3:16,17)

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him,(Ephesians 1:17)

13 By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.(1 John 4:13)

13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"(Luke 11:13)

3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.(Acts 2:3,4)

19 For I know that this will turn out to my salvation through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,(Philippians 1:19)

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.(Romans 15:13)

Adoração em espírito e renovação da mente

Ao conversar com a mulher samaritana, Jesus afirmou que Deus é espírito. Isso significa que o relacionamento com o Criador não está preso a montanhas, ritos exteriores ou templos locais, mas exige sinceridade interior e conformidade com a verdade bíblica:

23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."(John 4:23,24)

15 What should I do? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.(1 Corinthians 14:15)

11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,(Romans 12:11)

18 But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.(2 Corinthians 3:18)

7 For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.(2 Timothy 1:7)

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.(Philippians 4:23)

As promessas proféticas e o discernimento

Os profetas do Antigo Testamento anunciaram que Deus colocaria um espírito novo e retiraria o coração insensível de Seu povo. O texto sagrado também orienta o crente a exercer domínio sobre as próprias reações e a discernir as influências espirituais à luz da Palavra:

19 I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them. I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.(Ezekiel 11:19,20)

5 The Lord Yahweh says to these bones: "Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you will live.(Ezekiel 37:5)

1 The Lord Yahweh’s Spirit is on me,

because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble.

He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives

and release to those who are bound,(Isaiah 61:1)

6 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, "This is Yahweh’s word to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says Yahweh of Armies.(Zechariah 4:6)

23 Turn at my reproof.

Behold,", means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection. I will pour out my spirit on you.

I will make known my words to you.(Proverbs 1:23)

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes,

but Yahweh weighs the motives.(Proverbs 16:2)

18 Pride goes before destruction,

and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor,

than to divide the plunder with the proud.(Proverbs 16:18,19)

32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty;

one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.(Proverbs 16:32)

27 The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp,

searching all his innermost parts.(Proverbs 20:27)

1 Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.(1 John 4:1)

2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked toward me.

3 How great are his signs!

How mighty are his wonders!

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.

His dominion is from generation to generation.(Daniel 4:2,3)

A postura correta diante de Deus: humildade de espírito

A Bíblia destaca que Deus acolhe quem reconhece a própria dependência e necessidade de perdão. Quando o rei Davi se arrependeu de seus pecados graves, ele pediu não poder terreno, mas a renovação de um espírito íntegro em seu interior:

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.

Renew a right spirit within me.

11 Don’t throw me from your presence,

and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation.

Uphold me with a willing spirit.(Psalms 51:10-12)

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.

O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart.(Psalms 51:17)

18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart,

and saves those who have a crushed spirit.(Psalms 34:18)

3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 5:3)