| Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Devoted to the pleasures of sense and appetite; luxurious; voluptuous; lewd; libidinous. 2. (a.) Pertaining to, consisting in, or affecting, the sense, or bodily organs of perception; relating to, or concerning, the body, in distinction from the spirit. 3. (a.) Hence, not spiritual or intellectual; carnal; fleshly; pertaining to, or consisting in, the gratification of the senses, or the indulgence of appetites; worldly. 4. (a.) Pertaining or peculiar to the philosophical doctrine of sensualism. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia SENSUAL sen'-shoo-al (psuchikos, "animal," "natural"): Biblical psychology has no English equivalent for this Greek original. Man subject to the lower appetites is sarkikos, "fleshly"; in the communion of his spirit with God he is pneumatikos, "spiritual." Between the two is the psuche, "soul," the center of his personal being. This ego or "I"in each man is bound to the spirit, the higher nature; and to the body or lower nature.
The soul (psuche) as the seat of the senses, desires, affections, appetites, passions, i.e. the lower animal nature common to man with the beasts, was distinguished in the Pythagorean and Platonic philosophy from the higher rational nature (nous, pneuma).
The subjection of the soul to the animal nature is man's debasement, to the spirit indwelt of God is his exaltation. The English equivalent for psuchikos, "psychic" does not express this debasement. In the New Testament "sensual" indicates man's subjection to self and self-interest, whether animal or intellectual-the selfish man in whom the spirit is degraded into subordination to the debased psuche, "soul." This debasement may be
(1) intellectual, "not wisdom.... from above, but.... earthly, sensual" (James 3:15);
(2) carnal (and of course moral), "sensual, having not the Spirit" (Jude 1:19).
It ranges all the way from sensuous self-indulgence to gross immorality. In the utter subjection of the spirit to sense it is the utter exclusion of God from the life. Hence, "the natural (psuchikos) man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:14). The term is equivalent to "the mind of the flesh" (Romans 8:7) which "is not subject to the law of God."
See PSYCHOLOGY.
Dwight M. Pratt |  | Multi-Version Concordance Sensual (8 Occurrences) Colossians 2:23 Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren't of any value against the indulgence of the flesh. (See NIV) Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your earthward inclinations--fornication, impurity, sensual passion, unholy desire, and all greed, for that is a form of idolatry. (WEY) 1 Timothy 5:11 But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry; (See NAS NIV) James 3:15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. (WEB KJV ASV WBS) 2 Peter 2:7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful life of the wicked (See NAS) Jude 1:19 These are they who cause divisions, and are sensual, not having the Spirit. (WEB KJV ASV WBS) Isaiah 47:8 So now take note of this, you who are given up to pleasure, living without fear of evil, saying in your heart, I am, and there is no one like me; I will never be a widow, or have my children taken from me. (See NAS) Ezekiel 33:32 Behold, you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they don't do them. (See NAS) |
