_Anthropology: or, The Doctrine of Man D%. F. E. MA R S H London, England Editor “ The Prophetic News’* SYLLABUS : "What is the spirit of man?” — Individuality and intelligence—Individuality: illustrations in proof—Intelligence: man a rational being: "Cogito ergo sutn —7 en things identified, with* man's spirit: Disposition; Discernment; Understanding; Mind; Heart; Will;1Imagination; Memory; Conscience; Reason —Longfellows comment — "EGO”—Man is a spirit and has a spirit—proofs of man possessing a spirit—Man as a spirit sug gests seven - things : Invisibility ; Individuality ; Intellectuality; Copacity: Identity; Immateriality; Continuity—The Scriptures’ sevenfold summary of what man is as a spirit. (SHE main question is, “ What is the spirit of man?” K Fundamentally, it is the individual as identified sum up,—-individuality and intelligence. Fundamentally, “ Spirit" Speaks of Man’s Individuality. Both in the Old and New Testament, the words for “ spirit” are applied-to the Holy Spirit, and from the Saviour’s teach ing, we know “ HE” is a Person; let us look at a few Scriptures. Paul, in writing about the undisciplined brother in the Church at Corinth says (1 Cor. 5 :3 -5 ): “ For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have Judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed; .in the name of our Lord Jesus.Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” Here Pneuma occurs three times, and in the first instance with the definite article. Four individuals are spoken of: The Lord Jesus, in whose name and under whose authority the church is to act; the Holy Spirit, in whose power the apostle was present, for the words “ in spirit” should read “ in the Spirit” ; Paul’s own spirit, as he expresses it when he says “ my spirit” ; and, lastly, the man under discipline is referred to, who, while he is delivered to Satan for “ the destruction of the flesh,” “ the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” “ And the spirits of the prophets are subject- to the prophets” (1 Cor. 14:32). This signifies one giving place to another. Individuality with reference to others is the predominating thought. Undoubtedly there is also a con trast suggested, as Godet points out: “ The apostle had reminded them (12 :2 ), that they were carried away blindly in the past by diabolical inspirations.” This is not so with the operations of the Divine Spirit; this does not deprive the prophet of his liberty. Divine inspiration differs from diabolical, in the fact that the latter takes the man from himself; it is a possession; whereas the former restores him to himself. Clear, intelligent and considerate action, as controlled by the Spirit, is the thought suggested. Paul was refreshed by the coming of the three brethren from Corinth. He says, “ They have refreshed my spirit”
In these days when so-called * scholars are insisting that they cannot believe anything which cannot be proved by “ science” (i.e., in the laboratory), and that the soul and mind of man is of purely animal origin, every Christian should be prepared to meet their sophistries with a Thus saith the Scrip tures.” The unanswerably arguments ad vanced by Dr. Marsh along this line provide the very best possible ammunition for this purpose. This is the sixth of the series, the first having appeared in the January issue.
(1 Cor. 16:18). Godet says, "They consoled him, not merely In his human sensibilities (this would require soul), but even in his inmost being, his spirit, the organ of his relation to God.” Paul himself was refreshed. He uses a similar expression in his second letter, when he refers to the Joy of Titus, because his “ spirit had been refreshed” by the way they had received him (2 Cor. 7:13). Individuality is expressed in the reference to “ the spirits in prison,” for they are the disembodied persons who were disobedient in the days of Noah (1 Pet. 3:19). To “ try the spirits” (1 John 4 :1 ) is to test the teachings of the individuals who make declarations of professed truth, for we are not to believe every spirit. “ Pneuma” Signifies Also Intelligence In the next place “ Pneuma” is used of the intelligence of man. Man is a rational being, and as such is endowed with certain qualifications which enable him to exercise intelli gent action. “ Cogitò ergo sum” / which means “ I think, therefore I exist” ; or, as Mandalay says,,"I (who am) think, therefore I (who-thinks) am.” . When we begin to sum up the things which are found in the shrine of man’s inner being, we are awed by their com plexity and variety. There are at least ten things which are found identified with’ spirit, and these are: Disposition, Discernment, Understanding, Mind, Heart, Will, Imagina tion, Memory, Conscience, and Reason. Disposition. Disposition is the power to wish. Christ said of the sleeping disciples “ The spirit indeed in .willing” (Matt. -26:41). Discernment. Discernment is the power to perceive. Christ “ perceived in His Spirit” the reasonings of the scribes (Mark 2 :8 ). Understanding. Understanding is the power to know. “ What man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?” (1 Cor. 2 :2 ).‘ Mind. Mind is the power to know. “ Ruach” is rendered “ mind" in Ezekiel 11:5, where the prophet is charged to say to Israel, “ I know the things which came into your mind” (spirit). Heart. Heart is the power to love. Epaphras told Paul of the love the saints had “ in spirit.” (There is no article in the Greek). (Col. 1 :8 ). Will. Will is the power to act. “ With my spirit within me will I seek Thee” says Isaiah (Isa. 26:9). Imagination. Imagination is the power to create. Ezekiel speaks of the prophets who “ follow their own spirit” , that is, their own imagination (Ezek. 13:3). Memory. Memory is the power to recall. Pharaoh was
with God in the indestructibility of His naturer and indicatlvely, thé spirit is what a man has, as- a rational being, namely, intelligence; two words therefore
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