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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Natural; Nature
Subjects in this Topic:
nat̬´-uÌ„Ì-ral, nā´t̬uÌ‚r (לח, leÌ„ahÌ£; ψυχικοÌÏ‚, psuchikoÌs, φυσικοÌÏ‚, phusikoÌs, φυÌσις, phuÌsis) :
1. As Used in the Old Testament:
“Natural†is the translation of leÌ„ahÌ£, “freshness or vigor†(). Of Moses it is said, “His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.â€
“Nature†in the sense of a system or constitution does not occur in the Old Testament. The world and men, each individual, were conceived as being the direct creation of a supra-mundane God, and conserved by His power and Spirit. The later conception of “nature†came in through Greek influences.
In the Apocrypha, we find “nature†in the sense of innate character or constitution (The Wisdom of Solomon 7:20, “the natures (phuÌseis) of living creaturesâ€; The Wisdom of Solomon 13:1, “Surely vain are all men by nature†(phuÌsei), 3 Macc 3:29, “mortal nature†(phusis)).
2. As Used in the New Testament:
In the New Testament “nature†(phusis) is frequently found in the latter sense (, “against natureâ€; , “by natureâ€; ; , also “contrary to natureâ€; , “Doth not even nature itself teach you?â€; ; ; ; in , we have “that ye might be partakers of the divine nature,†the Revised Version margin “or, aâ€) ; phusis occurs also in , “every kind of beasts,†the Revised Version margin “Greek: nature,†also “mankind†(), the Revised Version margin “Greek: the human nature.†“Natural†(, ) is the translation of kataÌ phuÌsin, “according to nature.†Paul in 1 Corinthians speaks of “the natural man†(, the American Revised Version margin “or unspiritual, Greek: physicalâ€) and of a “natural body†( twice), the Greek word being psuchikos, “of the soul†(psucheÌ„Ì), the animal, natural, principle, as contrasted with what pertains to the higher principle of the spirit (pneuÌma). In the contrast is expressed, “Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural,†the American Revised Version margin “Greek: physical.†The “natural man†is the man in whom the spirit is unquickened, the “natural body†is that corresponding to the psychical or soul-nature, the “spiritual body†that corresponding to the Spirit as the dominant principle of the life. In , we have phusikoÌ„Ìs, “naturally†“naturally, as brute beasts,†the Revised Version (British and American) “naturally, like the creatures without reasonâ€; geÌnesis, “origin,†“birth,†is translated “natural†(, “his natural face,†the Revised Version margin “Greek: the face of his birthâ€); and “nature†(, “the course of nature†the Revised Version (British and American) “the wheel of nature†margin “or birthâ€) (“wheel†probably means “circle of nature†(the whole creation; see COURSE)); gneÌ„sıÌoÌ„s, “genuine†(“true to right natureâ€) “legitimate,†“sincere,†is translated “naturally†(, “who will naturally care for your state,†the Revised Version (British and American) “truly,†margin “Greek: genuinelyâ€).