Bible Dictionaries
Natural, Naturally

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

originally signifying "produced by nature, inborn," from phusis, "nature" (see below), cp. Eng., "physical," "physics," etc., denotes (a) "according to nature," Romans 1:26,27; (b) "governed by mere natural instincts," 2 Peter 2:12 , RV, "(born) mere animals," AV and RV marg., "natural (brute beasts)."

"belonging to the psuche, soul" (as the lower part of the immaterial in man), "natural, physical," describes the man in Adam and what pertains to him (set in contrast to pneumatikos, "spiritual"), 1 Corinthians 2:14; 15:44 (twice),46 (in the latter used as a noun); James 3:15 , "sensual" (RV marg., "natural" or "animal"), here relating perhaps more especially to the mind, a wisdom in accordance with, or springing from, the corrupt desires and affections; so in Jude 1:19 .

"birth," is used in James 1:23 , of the "natural face," lit., "the face of his birth," "what God made him to be" (Hort). See GENERATION , NATURE , No. 2.

Note: In Romans 11:21,24 the preposition kata, "according to," with the noun phusis, "nature," is translated "natural," of branches, metaphorically describing members of the nation of Israel.

"naturally, by nature" (akin to A, No. 1), is used in Jude 1:10 .

Note: In Philippians 2:20 , AV, gnesios, "sincerely, honorably, truly" (from the adjective gnesios, "true, sincere, genuine;" see, e.g., Philippians 4:3 ), is translated "naturally" (RV, "truly;" marg., "genuinely").