Bible Encyclopedias
Psychici and Pneumatici

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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(ψυχικοί and πνευματικοί , scil. ἄνθρωποι ) are often contrasted in such a manner that the former word is employed in a lower sense, the second with a more refined and noble signification. The Montanists thus designated the orthodox, because they rejected the prophecies and preteuded inspirations of their founder, and would not receive his rigid laws respecting fasting, etc. This was the term constantly used by Tertullian after he had fallen into the errors of the Montanists. He calls his own party the spiritual, and the orthodox the carnal. Tertullian, who ranged himself with the Pneurnaticists, wrote a book Contra Psychicos s. Orthodoxos. But this meaning is very seldom given to these words in our times. (See ORIGEN). The latter found in the Scriptures a somatic, psychical, and pneumatical meaning, because man is composed of body, soul, and mind. The name appears to have originated with the Valentinians, who styled themselves the spiritual and the perfect, and said they had no need of abstinence and good works, which were unnecessary for them that were perfect.