[Therefore, if you ….make my joy complete by being like-minded]… being one in spirit…
Summary: This passage challenges us to explore the meaning of the word Paul used for “one in spirit.”
Nestled between the “same love” and being “of one mind,” Paul inserted today’s passage: “… being one in spirit.”
Have you ever wondered why the text reads “spirit,” and not “Spirit?”
In Greek, “spirit” and “Spirit” are both generally translated from the same word, “pneûma.” “Pneûma” (Strong’s G4151), which is used for “breath” or “breeze.” Translators decide whether to use “Spirit” or “spirit” depending on the context of the text and their particular interpretation of what was intended by the writer.
In this case, Paul used a different word.
Not being an expert in ancient languages (or even English for that matter!) I am not going to attempt to dissect Paul’s word choice here, except to point to the obvious. The word Paul chose is “sýmpsychos,” which in Greek suggests the blending of two or more psyches.*
The English word “psyche” refers to the human “soul, mind, or spirit”** just as it does in Greek.
This points us to a larger problem. Specifically, we humans are constructed of two general categories of things; the first and most obvious category is physical, what we can see, feel, touch, and measure. The other category is what we cannot see, feel, or touch: the spiritual components of our being.
To be “one in spirit” is not something we can measure. It is not even something we can see. Instead, it is something that we feel with our spirits.
Can people who don’t know God be “one in spirit?”
I don’t know, but I suspect that the answer is “Yes.” The reason I say this is that the Gospel accounts often mention evil spirits. If people can be “one” with evil spirits, it follows that we can probably be “one” in spirit with another person.
To be like-minded in a spiritual sense is more than just agreeing intellectually. It is to achieve a level of spiritual harmony that blends people’s hearts together as well as their minds. When we as Christians achieve Paul’s goal for us, I am sure it is music to God’s ears!
Application: Strive for spiritual harmony wherever you fellowship with believers.
Food for Thought: How does being “one in spirit” empower us as Christians?
*The Greek root of the word “sýmpsychos” is literally the Greek word “psychḗ.”
**Online dictionary
How does being “one in spirit” empower us as Christians?
The Holy Spirit: Is God, the third person of the Trinity not an it or a thing. He raised Jesus from the dead, He is the source of gifts to us, the power to serve each other and reach others with the gospel, He convicts us of sin in our lives; He confirms God’s Word as truth as we read it and He is our best friend, comforter, uplifter and helper.
As believers we are different parts of one body held together and functioning by the power of one spirit of God. we need to know that we are made in God’s image, become children of God through Christ, and have been empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 6:19, We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.
1 Corinthians 12:12, Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Thank you, Ron!
What a wonderful description of empowerment! 🙂
Very good meditation this morning. Some days I am sharper than others, today not so much.
If I am understanding everything correctly, Paul is saying (I’m paraphrasing) “be one with the Spirit, be like-minded with the Spirit, then collectively be like-minded through the Spirit.” To me that would sound more “practical” than Paul asking us to be “one in spirit” with each other, then collectively “one in spirit” with the Spirit. It puts God first, it also speaks to each of us being a new creation through Christ, and finally, the empowerment that you ask about is realized, through the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
Empower or empowerment is one of my favorite words. It is more than being given the authority to do something, it involves a process of being built up to do something, and then being given the authority to do that something.
How does being “one in spirit” empower us as Christians?
We are new creations as Christ lives within us, His Holy Spirit guides us to all truth, and because His Spirit lives in each of us and He is the Master, His Spirit builds us up and prepares us for His good works. Collectively then, we each perform our works according to His good Will, which in turn builds up His Body.
1 Corinthians 12:11-13 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
It’s strange to me how sometimes I gloss right over an important point in the Bible. Like this one today, the difference in Paul’s use of spirit and Spirit. I’m grateful you pointed this out; feels like I have been given a blessing this morning.
Chris,
You are a blessing, too, my friend!
I appreciate your analysis: “be one with the Spirit, be like-minded with the Spirit, then collectively be like-minded through the Spirit.”
Very good!
I think being one in spirit allows us to work together and be equally yoked in a common cause. This reminds me of an OT passage that looks at the power and benefits of working together.
Ecclesiastes 4: 9 – 12: Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Thanks, Rich!
I feel like pointing out this is no “yoking” matter, but I won’t. 🙂
Thank you for showing such restraint 😊
You’re welcome! 🙂