What is meant by spirit?

General Faith
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What Does ‘Spirit’ Really Mean in the Bible?

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The spirit of a person—what is it, and how does it change when someone comes to Christ? This post explores whether “spirit” refers to our core character and how it’s shaped by sin or the Holy Spirit. Join the discussion in Crosswalk Forums and share your thoughts.
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The word spirit is used 563 times in the Bible but what does it mean? (I am not referring to the Holy Spirit here.)

I believe that humans are composed of body, mind, and spirit. The first and second are clearly understood, but what about the third?

I believe that the best definition is that of character. It is the basis of whom a person is, their fundamental nature. Excluding “body”, the “mind” is an active use of consciousness, i.e., what I am thinking or saying right now. For example, I am using my mind right now to form what I am about to type.

So, that leaves spirit. The closest definition I can come up with is “character”. What is it that makes a person act and think the way s/he does? It is not a moment-to-moment quality, but a fundamental part oif a person.

The Bible says that we are born with Adam’s spirit and therefore are destined to be controlled by sin. (There is no better description of this than Romans 7.) When a person becomes a Christian, they receive a NEW spirit, a different quality than what s/he is born with. As such, Christians have the ability to be controlled by that Spirit and no longer are subject to sin’s control.

Can Christians sin? YES! There are many people who continue to sin even after they have received the Holy Spirit from God! How does that manifest itself? By deliberately acting toward others in ways that are contrary to loving their neighbor. (A command that is repeated in BOTH Testaments.) A often-seen quality of this is nastiness. Instead of being kind, a person deliberately acts negatively towards others.

Unfortunately, I have seen a recent trend toward nastiness to others from many people, even those who profess to be Christians. They express themselves in a way to dominate and/or hurt people, which is a poor substitute for loving one’s neighbor.

Remember, in the parable of the good Samaritan, the Samaritan did not know the man(!) yet gave him aid and comfort. Why, because that was his character. Opposite behavior can be clearly seen in the attitude of the Pharisees toward Jesus. They argued with Him and constantly tried to “trip him up” with counter-arguments. (They even plotted how to kill Him for such behavior as healing on the Sabbath.) Why? Because they were controlled by their sinful nature.

In the parable about the prodigal son, he clearly sinned but his father loved him and forgave him. The older brother was angry that HE wasn’t rewarded in a similar fashion to his younger brother (who had clearly sinned).

So, what are your thoughts about the spirit of a person? Does a person fundamentally change when s/he receives the Holy Spirit? Is frequent Christian anger and hostile behavior toward others justified?

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You’re asking the right question, brother. But then you took a sharp turn into the land of Oprah definitions: “spirit = character”? That’s not exegesis, that’s existential poetry.

The Bible never defines “spirit” as character. Not once. Not in Hebrew (ruach), not in Greek (pneuma). You’re smuggling modern psychology into the sanctuary and calling it theology. That’s how we end up with sermons that sound like TED Talks and Christians who think the fruit of the Spirit is “being nice.”

Let’s put the brakes on the sentimental Sunday School version and go Bible-first, not feelings-first.

Biblical Breakdown: What Is the Spirit?

  1. The spirit is not your “character,” it’s your innermost being—your God-conscious faculty.

    “The spirit of a man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.”
    — Proverbs 20:27
    That’s not “personality” talk, that’s deep soul diagnostics.

  2. The spirit is dead until God revives it.

    “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”
    — Ephesians 2:1
    Character doesn’t need to be resurrected. Your spirit does.

  3. There’s a difference between the human spirit and the Holy Spirit.

    “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
    — Romans 8:16
    Two spirits. One divine. One human. Don’t confuse them like a bad spiritual smoothie.

You Said: “When we receive the Holy Spirit, we get a new spirit.”

Careful, brother. That’s dangerously close to saying the Holy Spirit replaces our spirit, which is nowhere in Scripture. What happens is regeneration—our spirit is made alive, not replaced.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
— John 3:6

The Holy Spirit indwells the believer, empowering their spirit, not overwriting it like divine malware.

As for “Nastiness in Christians”…

Yes, Christians can act like jerks. That’s not a spiritual mystery—it’s called the flesh. And you don’t overcome it by focusing on behavior or “niceness,” but by walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). Spoiler alert: the fruit of the Spirit isn’t just smiling politely while believing heresy.

“Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?”
— Galatians 4:16
Sometimes truth sounds like a sword, not a Hallmark card.

Bottom line, Benny:
Your spirit isn’t your personality, your vibes, or your moral resume. It’s the inner core that either houses the Holy Spirit or stays spiritually bankrupt. The issue isn’t bad manners—it’s bad theology that redefines spiritual reality to make it more palatable.

Let’s stop calling sandcastles “solid ground.” The Word defines the spirit. Not our best guesses.