Sam's Biblical Insight, Exploring the Word, Faith, Theology, Doctrine, and Christian Life in the Spirit

 

In Romans 6:11 and Ephesians 2:1, Paul describes humanity as “νεκρός” (dead) in transgressions and sins. In Romans 7:9, Paul shares his own experience, stating that he “died” (ἀπέθανον) in sins. These passages raise a key theological and exegetical question:

Does “νεκρός” (dead) paired with “ἀποθνῄσκω” (to die) imply total spiritual incapacitation, requiring resuscitation before responding to the gospel? Or does it suggest a state of spiritual dormancy—like a sleeping giant—where the spirit, though disconnected from God, is still capable of responding to a divine wake-up call?

Understanding the Terms in Biblical Context

It is essential to understand biblical terms within their scriptural context, rather than relying solely on lexical definitions. For example, the first use of the word מוּת (muth – “to die”) occurs in Genesis 2:17, when God tells Adam, “When you eat from it, you will surely die” (מוּת). This “death” did not result in Adam’s immediate physical demise but instead signified a relational separation from God, rather than total incapacitation.

Adam lived for 930 years after the Fall, along with his descendants, outside the Garden of Eden. While he was barred from access to the Garden and direct communion with God, God still engaged with him as He willed, showing that Adam’s death was not complete annihilation but rather separation from God’s intimate fellowship.

This understanding sets the interpretive guideline for the term “death” in this context—not as total incapacitation but as separation from God. This approach is crucial for grasping the spiritual deadness of humanity and the power of sin over human spirituality. It also underscores the importance of avoiding interpretations based on any particular theological framework.

“Dead in Sin” Denotes Spiritual Dormancy, Not Total Death

Paul’s statement in Ephesians 2:1, often translated as “dead in sin”, carries significant theological, semantic, and exegetical weight. In this context, “dead” refers to being immersed in transgressions and sins, implying that the person is under sin’s influence and spiritually estranged from God.

This state describes spiritual dormancy—a condition where individuals cannot respond to God on their own but are still capable of being awakened by God’s initiative through His life-giving word.

The Bible indicates that the human spirit never truly dies. Therefore, being “dead in sin” refers to a state of spiritual dormancy, where the spirit is estranged from God but still capable of being awakened by God’s intervention. This concept is supported by various biblical examples.

For instance, when Jesus referred to Lazarus’ death (ἀποθνῄσκω), He described it as “fallen asleep” (κοιμάομαι), signaling that He would wake (ἐξυπνίζω) him. Lazarus responded and walked out of the tomb when Jesus called him with a loud voice.

Similarly, Paul, then known as Saul, though spiritually dead, responded immediately when Jesus called him, saying, “Saul, Saul,” on the road to Damascus. Moreover, figures like Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, and patriarchs such as Noah and Abraham continued to communicate with God even after the Fall, despite living in sin.

These examples suggest that being spiritually “dead” means being dormant—still capable of responding to God’s life-giving word, like a sleeping giant. Though estranged from God, the human spirit retains the capacity to awaken and respond to God’s call.

Spiritual Dormancy and the Depth of Sin

Spiritual dormancy is not a static condition; it intensifies based on a person’s level of sinfulness. For example, Paul, despite his zeal for God, was in one of the deepest stages of spiritual dormancy due to his hostility toward the “new way” of Jesus, as he led the persecution of believers. This state of spiritual near-deadness is not unique to Paul but is seen throughout Scripture.

As Genesis 6:5 reveals, spiritual dormancy deepens as sin increases: “The wickedness of man was great on the earth, and every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” As humanity’s sinful state worsens, the extent of their spiritual blindness and alienation from God increases proportionally.

Thus, the more pervasive sin becomes, the more profound the state of spiritual dormancy and the harder it becomes for individuals to awaken. Without a timely response to the gospel call—“Repent, believe in the gospel, for the kingdom of Heaven is near”—spiritual νεκρός (spiritually lifeless) becomes the final state.

Doctrinal Considerations: Spiritual Dormancy vs. Total Depravity

Understanding “dead in sin” as a state of spiritual dormancy, rather than total incapacitation, is critical for grasping both the spiritual state of humanity and the transformative power of God’s grace. This perspective suggests that the human spirit, though estranged from God, can still be awakened by the gospel call and brought back to spiritual life. It challenges the idea that prior regenerative work by the Holy Spirit is necessary for someone to hear the gospel and respond.

By interpreting “dead in sin” as spiritual dormancy, we avoid theological pitfalls that present humanity’s spiritual state as one of total incapacitation. This understanding emphasizes that sin affects humanity deeply but does not render individuals entirely incapable of responding to God’s call.

The Challenge to Total Depravity

The doctrine of total depravity holds that, because of the Fall, every aspect of human nature is corrupted by sin, rendering people entirely unable to seek God or exercise faith on their own without prior divine intervention. This view asserts that regeneration must precede any human response to the gospel.

However, the concept of spiritual dormancy, as discussed above, offers a more balanced Scriptural understanding and challenges this idea. It suggests that humans, though estranged from God, are still capable of responding to the gospel without the need for prior regeneration. This interpretation maintains that even in their fallen state, humans can turn to God when called by Him.

Conclusion

The concept of spiritual dormancy is a crucial interpretive key to understanding Paul’s message. The Bible consistently demonstrates that the human spirit, though estranged from God, can still be awakened by the gospel call and brought back to spiritual life, even without prior regenerative work by the Holy Spirit.

In this regard, doctrinal arguments like “A dead man, baby, or creature cannot exercise faith in Jesus Christ,” and quoting “The dead know nothing” (Ecclesiastes 9:5) as evidence for spiritual incapacity, are unscriptural attempts at best. Paul exhorts believers, who were once dead in sin but are now alive in Christ, to avoid falling back into living in sin and to set their minds on things above (Romans 6:2 and Colossians 3:3).

Paul clarifies this further in Romans 1:18-21: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them… So people are without excuse.”

PS: Romans 1:18-21 affirms that humanity, though spiritually dormant, remains capable of perceiving God through creation and is responsible for suppressing the truth about Him. This further supports the argument that spiritual dormancy does not equate to total incapacitation, and individuals are still capable of responding to God’s gospel call.

Sola Scriptura!