Did Paul Openly Teach Jewish Mysticism to the Gentiles in Rome?

In my experience, the more time one spends engaging with Rabbinic literature, the more apparent these traditions become in the Apostolic writings, hidden in plain sight.

Often, these insights challenge the long-held traditional interpretations. What once seemed straightforward moral advice can be understood as a hint at the deeply mystical¹ frameworks found in later Rabbinic literature.

There are a few reasons these ideas have not been apparent: 1) many people lack awareness of these traditions and frameworks, and 2) translators, who largely reside within this first group, seem to have made some faulty assumptions in their interpretations, further obscuring these ideas.

Below, we will unpack one example of this phenomenon, but first, we will need to become acquainted with this tradition ourselves.

Spirit, Pneuma, Ruach

In the Hebrew Bible, the soul is not the same as the spirit.

The word for Spirit in Hebrew is Ruach (רוח), and pneuma (πνεῦμα) in the Greek. The Ruach is the spiritual aspect of a person, and transcends the body and soul (Nefesh).

This nuance is preserved throughout the Rabbinic literature as well as the New Testament:

Now may the G_D of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless... - 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Spirit vs Holy Spirit

For many, the word spirit immediately draws to mind the concept of the Holy Spirit². In some passages in the Epistles, this is indeed the subject. But, other passages seem to be referring simply to the spirit within humans. This is a big shift.

If a translator were to inadvertently confuse these, the interpretation will be skewed, and perhaps miss the point entirely. In the worst cases, this translation error may become the foundation for later theological ideas not intended in the original message.

It seems to me that this is exactly what has happened.

Paul's Intended Message

Unfamiliar with the nuance of these tradition of the soul, translators made the assumption that Paul's use of the word spirit (pneuma) was a reference to the "Holy Spirit."

The evidence of their assumption can usually be found in the capitalization of 'Spirit' in the English text, for example:

"... so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." - Romans 8:4

More examples are found in Galatians 5, i.e.:

“I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.” - Galatians 5:16

However, the Greek does not indicate a specific reference to the Divine aspect at all.

Walking in the Spirit

This subtle change pivots the focus of Paul's teaching to the theological concept of the Holy Spirit. This happens in key theological passages that have become divergent from the Jewish understanding of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit).