Note 25 at 1Co 14:37: The Greek word here for "spiritual" is "PNEUMATIKOS," and it was translated as "spiritual" twenty-six times in the King James Version. Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon states that "PNEUMATIKOS" in this verse, as well as in 1Co 2:15 and Ga 6:1, means "one who is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God." Lawrence O. Richards states, "Its (pneumatikos) basic function is to identify the thing described as belonging to the realm of the Spirit.... When the adjective (pneumatikos) is used as a noun, it may be translated 'that which is spiritual'" (Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, p. 577).

PNEUMATIKOS was used to describe spiritual gifts (Ro 1:11; 1Co 12:1, and 14:1), the Law (Ro 7:14), spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3), spiritual truths (1Co 2:13), spiritual persons (1Co 2:15, 3:1; and Ga 6:1), spiritual things (1Co 9:11), spiritual food and drink (1Co 10:3-4), the resurrection body (1Co 15:44 and 46), spiritual songs (Eph 5:19 and Col 3:16), spiritual wickedness (Eph 6:12), spiritual understanding (Col 1:9), and a spiritual house (1Pe 2:5).

Note 26 at 1Co 14:37: Paul was claiming that his instructions were in fact "the commandments of the Lord." His claim to divine inspiration is a fact that should not be overlooked.

Many people, when thinking about "commandments," only think in terms of restriction, bondage, barriers, etc., but in truth, God's principles are the guidelines between "life and death, blessing and cursing" (De 30:15-19).

Many Old Testament Hebrew and New Testament Greek are translated into our English words "command" and "commandments." Of the most outstanding in Hebrew are "PEH," "TSAVAH," and "MITSVAH." PEH is found nearly 500 times in the O.T. and carries the idea that God is Lord and speaks with authority--He's the God that communicates and speaks to His people. TSAVAH was often translated to mean to command, charge, or give orders. MITSVAH was translated as our English word "commandments" in most cases. As to the Greek usage, "ENTOLE" (noun) and "ENTELLOMAI" (verb) are two of the most important. ENTOLE is the word that Paul used in this passage and has a general meaning of "an injunction, charge, precept, commandment. It is the most frequent term, and is used of moral and religious precepts" (Vine's Expository Dictionary). Here, Paul was using ENTOLE to give directions as an apostle and stated that those who are spiritual will recognize his apostolic authority, that he was speaking the very commandments of the Lord.

Just as there is a new covenant to replace the old, there are new commands that now guide the believers. Whereas the Old Covenant commands were much more explicit--regulating how to worship, what day to worship, what to eat, what not to eat, etc.--the New Covenant believers are guided much more by principles than by detailed instructions. They are now indwelt by the Holy Spirit and are governed by love as a guiding principle (see note 4 at Joh 13:35 and note 3 at Ro 12:10). The N.T. commands are principles, showing the believers how to manifest and express the love that God has placed in their hearts by the Holy Spirit (1Jo 5:3 and 2Jo 6). While the O.T. commandments dealt only with outward behavior, the New Covenant looks at the motives of the heart and has empowered believers through the reality of a renewed heart and a new spirit (Eze 36:26-27).