Bible Dictionaries
Natural
Holman Bible Dictionary
According to nature. 1. Natural use (Romans 1:26-27 KJV; natural relations, RSV) refers to heterosexual relations, thus “natural intercourse,” NRSV, REB). 2. Natural affection refers specifically to affection for family members. Those lacking natural affection (itastorgoiro) are unloving to their families or generally inhuman or unsociable ( Romans 1:31; 2 Timothy 3:3 ). 3 . Natural branches refer to original or native branches as opposed to ingrafted ones (Romans 11:21 ,Romans 11:21,11:24 ). 4 . the natural or unspiritual person (1 Corinthians 2:14 ) is one not open to receiving gifts from God's Spirit or to discerning spiritual matters (constrast 1 Corinthians 2:15 ). This contrast between the spiritual and natural is also evidenced by James 3:15 (NAS) and Jude 1:19 (NIV). 5. The natural face ( James 1:23 ) is literally the face of one's birth. To see one's natural face is to see oneself as one actually is.
Copyright Statement
These dictionary topics are from the Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman.
Bibliography Information
Butler, Trent C. Editor. Entry for 'Natural'. Holman Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hbd/n/natural.html. 1991.