One(!) more post on the Breath and Spirit of God
Bill Hamilton (hamilton@predator.cs.gmr.com)
Tue, 27 Jun 1995 13:06:03 -0500Stephen and I have been discussing whether the "breath of life" in Genesis
2:7 means anything more than just the physical breath, which we agree that
all air-breathing animals have. I say it does, Steve says it doesn't.
Robert Pyne has interjected some helpful information gleaned from his study
of the Hebrew Bible, in which I believe his most telling point is that the
Hebrew nishmat used for the breath of life in 2:7 is _not_ the term
(ruwach) normally used in the OT for the spirit of God. I believe the fact
that this phrase (nishmat hayyim) appears in a reprise of the description
of the creation of man suggests that something more than just physical
breath is meant, Stephen disagrees, and Robert at least counsels caution.
That's how I understand it at the moment, and that's about how it's going
to have to remain -- at least until I get back from France the 17th.
Sometime late in July I'll porobably take this up with a couple people I
know who are somewhat familiar with Hebrew, and perhaps at least the three
of us can discuss it further. I think there _is_ something here, and _I_
for one am excited about what it says about the relationship between God
and man. I outlined this discussion to another elder in our church after
our Session meeting last night, and he was quite surprised that anyone
would disagree that 2:7 says something about God imparting his spirit to
men. That encouraged me to at least keep thinking about this view, and I
hope we can discuss it later.
One point I do want to make is that we are arguing over a meaning of the
passage that is (if it's valid) a meaning beyond the plain sense of the
passage. If I have seemed to be denying the plain sense of the passage,
that was not my intention.
Peace in Christ
Bill Hamilton | Vehicle Systems Research
GM R&D Center | Warren, MI 48090-9055
810 986 1474 (voice) | 810 986 3003 (FAX)