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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Spiritual Sacrifice
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(πνευματικαὶ θυσιÌαι, pneumatikaÄ±Ì thusıÌai): A figure taken from the victim slain and offered on the altar, as e.g. the paschal lamb; thus signifying the complete and acceptable offering of the self-dedicated spirit. As the temple, priesthood and God Himself are spiritual, so is the sacrifice of the consecrated believer (); compare “living sacrifice†(); “sacrifice of praise†(, ). Any self-dedicating act of the inner man; the devout, renewed, consecrated spirit, e.g. Christian benevolence (); “to do good and to communicate†(); “mercy†and “knowledge of God,†instead of material and outward sacrifice (). This is defined and beautifully illustrated in the classic verse on this theme, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,†etc. ().