Part 2 - The Human Life

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called The Knowledge of Life.

Only the Life of God is real or genuine "life (Zoë, divine spirit)" since only God's life is the eternal uncreated life. All other kinds of life cannot then to be counted as genuine life. The "life" we speak of in this study is in Greek "Zoë," which is God's own eternal limitless "spirit-life."

Let's now look at how it was that man has "human life." God, who "is spirit" (John 4:4) is the only source of life (Zoë, the eternal spirit-life of God) and the human life element was derived from God. It was by God's "breath (spirit) of life" that God breathed into Adam's clay formed body, that gave mankind life. God's "breath (spirit)" made Adam a "living soul" (Gen 2:7).

In the Hebrew of the Old Testament we have two words referring to "spirit." "Spirit" in Gen 1:1 is "ruach" meaning the spirit of creator God Himself. We also have a second Hebrew word translated "spirit," which is "neshamah." Both words are translate as spirit, breath, wind, and blast. "Neshamah" is the blowing of the breath of God, expressive of the manifestation of God's power in nature, man, and providence. These two Hebrew words refer to the very same "Spirit of God" but in two aspects, 1) "ruach" as to God as the Spirit of all creation, and 2) "neshamah" as the manifestation of God's Spirit-power in nature itself. Thus "neshamah" is used of "the Spirit of God" in the created man as "the spirit of man" (Zechariah 12:1).

Genesis 1:2  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit (Heb. ruach, Spirit) of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Genesis 2:7 the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath (Heb, neshamah, spirit) of life (Heb, chay, plural lives); and man became a living soul (Heb, nephesh, living creature).

Zechariah 12:1 ... saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit (Heb neshamah, God's spirit of life in man) of man within him.

God's "breath of life" became "the spirit of man within him," enlivening man and enlightening his soul."

The spirit (neshamah) of man [that factor in human personality which Proceeds Immediately From God] is the Lamp of The Lord, searching all his innermost parts." (Prov 20:27)

The "spirit of man" is given temporally to men as the life that is given on loan from God. The "spirit of man" will return to God upon death, one way of another. Solomon wrote this of the dead who are lost in unbelief; 7Then shall the dust [out of which God made man's body] return to the earth as it was, and The Spirit Shall Return To God Who Gave It." Eccl 12:7 (AMP). 5For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Eccl 12:5 (KJV)  10there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. Eccl 12:10 (KJV)

"Life" in the phrase "breath of life," according to the original Hebrew, is transliterated as "chay," pronounced "ky." It is masculine plural and therefore it's better translated as "breath of lives." Here is how God's breath that was breathed into Adam can be plural as the breath of multiple lives?

  • When God's "breath of life" was breathed into the clay of Adam's formed physical body it at once generated (3) three kinds of life within man; 1) spirit life (Greek, Zoë), 2) soul life (Greek, psuche), & 3) physical life (Greek, bios).

"...the very God of peace sanctify you wholly (as a whole); and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body..." (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

  • The "breath of God" fully animated Adam in the three (3) parts of his being.

1) Every man has his human spirit by which he may relate to, hear from, and fellowship with God who also "is a spirit" (Jn 4:24) - Spirit to spirit.

2) Man individual person is expressed by his soul with its faculties of mind, emotion, and will; making up his psychological self.  These make man a rational, self-conscious, sensing being, by which he may make the choices of his free-will.

3) Man has a physical body by which he may relate to the physical realm of the world about him.

Man was created in "the image of God." Yet, an "image," as a shadow, is an empty representation, void of the real thing. This means man is like God in that he has a spirit organ to commune with and receive of God's faculties of mind, emotion, and will... to influence man's soul. These two elements make man capable of receiving and also expressing God's life, nature and will once a man receives "The Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus" (Rom 8:2, cf., Jn 1:12). Man was made as a living container with all the faculties to express God's life and nature, yet man never becomes God even after receiving Christ's "Spirit of life." Thus man was created to be fully alive to three realms; the spirit realm, the psychological realm and the physical world when Adam received the "breath" of God, called "the breath of life (lives)." The "breath of God" was God imparting the "spirit of man" to Adam, as man's core and life-source.

Man is unlike the plants that have physical life but no conscious life, or the animals that have physical life and a lower level of consciousness. Only man possesses the physical life, and soul-consciousness that is quickened by his spirit organ's conscience. The "spirit of man" was made to receive and be the "temple" of the Lord. Man's spirit was made to be the eternal dwelling place of God within man.

Having the "spirit of man." each person has the potential of becoming a reborn eternal child of God by receiving Christ resurrected "Spirit of life" into his spirit.

1 John 1:2 For the life (Zoë) was manifested (in Jesus), and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life (Zoë), which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;

John 3:16 For God (the Father) so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish (apollymi, be destroyed fully), but have everlasting (eternal) life .

1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him (Christ), and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

Thus, God's "breath of life" breathed into man is the literal "Spirit of God." However, this is NOT the post-crucifixion "Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (Rom 8:2a) that believers today receive by first believing. John wrote that "the Spirit" which is of Christ Jesus... "was not yet" (John 7:38-39) before Jesus' glorification.

Jesus Christ is "The Life"... and The Life Sustainer in Believers:

The "Breath" of life (John 20:22): "Now the Lord Jesus is that Spirit" (2 Cor 3:17).

The first believers (Jesus' disciples) received Him after His resurrection by His "breath" when "…he (Jesus) breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost (Gk. pneuma, breath)" (John 20:22, authors emphasis added). Note that "the Spirit of life,"  the regenerating Spirit came out from Christ Himself for them to receive. Paul refers to this as "…. "The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:2a). Christ' "Spirit-breath" enlivens all who receive Him.

The "Living Water" (John 4:10, 7:38):

The "living water" is none other than the water of Christ as "the spirit of life" flowing to man. Believers have been regenerated by the water of His life. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5).  Jesus said partakers of the water of Him shall "never thirst" (John 4:14).

Recall that both "blood and water" came out of Jesus' side when the Roman soldier's spear pierced His side. "one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." (Jn 19:34) The flow of His blood is for redemption, while the flow of the water is Christ's life brings life to believers.

38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified. (Note that in John 7:38-39 "given" is italicized, because it was inserted; e.g. Thus "The Holy Ghost was not yet; because that Jesus was not yet glorified")

The "Living Bread" (John 6:51):

We've seen that the resurrected Christ germinates His life in us; we have the continuous flow of His "Spirit of life" within our spirit. His Spirit nourishes, sustains, and refreshes us in our walk. In Egypt the Jews ate ALL the lamb before crossing the Red Sea. The lamb's blood on the doorpost covered them from judgment. But it was by eating the roasted (judged) lamb; taking of ALL of the lamb into them by morning nourished and strengthened them to leave Egypt. Hence Jesus said, "For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed." (John 6:55). He is the "living bread" of life to strengthen us.