3 Spiritual Categories of Men according to Paul

These are:1. The Corpse (the natural man) psuchikos

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him : neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

- 1 Corinthians 2:14

PAUL DIVIDES ALL MEN INTO THREE SPIRITUAL CATEGORIES.

Characteristics of psuchikos mana. He may not be totally depraved (as evil as he could possibly be), but he is totally helpless to comprehend God’s word. “And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.”

– Acts 8:31


Characteristics of corpse psuchikos manb. He thus concludes the Scriptures are senseless.


Characteristics of corpse psuchikos man“A group of Epicurean and Stoicphilosophers began to debate with him.Some of them asked, “What is this babblertrying to say?” Others remarked, “He seemsto be advocating foreign gods.” They saidthis because Paul was preaching the goodnews about Jesus and the resurrection.”

- Acts 17:18


Characteristics of corpse psuchikos man“When they heard about the resurrection ofthe dead, some of them sneered, but otherssaid, “We want to hear you again on thissubject.”

- Acts 17:32


Characteristics of corpse psuchikos man“At this point Festus interrupted Paul’sdefense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!”he shouted. “Your great learning is drivingyou insane.”

-Acts 26:24


Characteristics of corpse psuchikos manc. He is dead and must be resurrected, for he can not be revived.


Characteristics of corpse psuchikos man“Therefore, just as sin entered the worldthrough one man, and death through sin, andin this way death came to all people, becauseall sinned.” – Romans 5:12


Characteristics of corpse psuchikos man“As for you, you were dead in yourtransgressions and sins.”

– Ephesians 2:1


The crybaby (the carnal man, 3:1-4) sarkikos man“And I brethren, could not speak unto you asunspiritual, but unto carnal, even as babes inChrist.”

-2 Corinthians3:1


The crybaby (the carnal man, 3:1-4) sarkikos mana. He is helpless, as a newborn infant. The word“babes” used here is nepios in the original, andcarries with it weakness without power ofspeech, immaturity and inexperience.


The crybaby (the carnal man, 3:1-4) sarkikos man“Then we will no longer be babies. We will notbe tossed about like a ship that the waves carryone way and then another. We will not beinfluenced by every new teaching we hear frompeople who are trying to fool us. They makeplans and try any kind of trick to fool peopleinto following the wrong path.” -Ephesians 4:14


The crybaby (the carnal man, 3:1-4) sarkikos man“It is the same for us. We were once likechildren, slaves to the useless rules of thisworld.”

- Galatians 4:3


The crybaby (the carnal man, 3:1-4) sarkikos man“But anyone who does not have these things cannot see clearly. He is blind and has forgotten that he was made clean from his past sins.”

- 2 Peter 1:9


The crybaby (the carnal man, 3:1-4) sarkikos manb. He is unable to receive anything but milk(3:2) This condition always suggests eitherinfancy or infirmity. Milk is proper for awhile( 1 Peter 2:2) but “strong meat belongeth to themthat are full age, even those who by reason ofuse have their senses exercised to discern bothgood and evil.


The crybaby (the carnal man, 3:1-4) sarkikos man“But solid food is for the mature, who byconstant use have trained themselves todistinguish good from evil.”

– Hebrew 5:14


The crybaby (the carnal man, 3:1-4) sarkikos manHe walks and talks like an unsaved man. Are you carnal and walk as men? All believers should consider this pointed question: “If you were arrested and charged with being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”


The crybaby (the carnal man, 3:1-4) sarkikos manThe Corinthians, it would seem, to a large extent would get off scotfree.


The crybaby (the carnal man, 3:1-4) sarkikos mand. They compared spiritual leaders instead of spiritual truths “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”-2 Corinthians 5:17


The crybaby (the carnal man, 3:1-4) sarkikos mand. Paul answers this by saying “I have planted,Apollos watered; but God gave increase.He has made us competent as ministers of a newcovenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; forthe letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

-2 Corinthians 3:6


The conqueror ( the spiritual man, pneumatikos)

“But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.”

– 1 Corinthians2:1 5


The conqueror ( the spiritual man) pneumatikos:

“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christamong those who are being saved and thosewho are perishing.”

- 2 Corinthians 2:15


Charactheristics of conqueror ( the spiritual man, pneumatikos:a. He is not sanctimonious (making a hypocritical show of religious devotion)b. He is not superior (in matters of brains, strength, background, money, etc.)c. He is not sensational.


Charactheristics of conqueror ( the spiritual man, pneumatikos)d. He is not sugary sweet.e. He is not straightlaced.f. He is not segregated from society.g. He is not superficial.h. He is not spineless.i. He is spiritual.


Charactheristics of conqueror pneumatikos:

To be spiritual is to be in harmony with God, as are his laws

“For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” - Romans 7:14



Thus, a spiritual man is simply one controlled and motivated by the Holy Spirit.



“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in theSpirit.”

- Galatians 5:25



Paul states that, “ We have the mind of Christ” -2 Corinthians 2:16



All believers enjoy this positionally .“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and theSpirit against the flesh: and these are contrarythe one to the other: so that ye cannot do thethings that ye would.”

-2 Corinthians 5:17



“But the spiritual man has it experientially.Let this mind be in you, which was also in

Christ Jesus.”- Philippians 2:5


3 Spiritual Categories of Men according to Paul

Spiritual

paul divides

spiritual categories

carnal man

natural man receiveth

natural man psuchikosbut

sarkikos manthen

sarkikos manand

sarkikos manit