Defining the Concept of Life: A New Testament's Challenge against Greek Philosophy

Abstract

The New Testament provides a new definition of life and employs two words to refer to it, namely, ζω and ψυχ. As the setwowordsareGreek, I think it is proper to exam their meanings in the context of Ancient Greek thought, and compare them against their meanings defined by Greek thought. We find that these two Greek words have conceptual connections with other three Greek words, that is, πνε͂υμα, σ ρξ, and σ͂ωμα, and therefore it is necessary to analyze these 5 words interactively. Simply put, the New Testament defines life in terms of ζω, and sees it as a life rejecting the control ofσρξ (human will) while being sustained by πνε͂υμα (the Holy Spirit) in a form of transformed body.