Bible Dictionary
SPIRITUALLY
Spiritually means by the work or understanding of the spirit, especially through the Holy Spirit’s renewal and illumination. It can also describe a figurative or moral characterization, as when Babylon is spiritually called Sodom.
Definition
Spiritually means by the work, perception, or illumination of the spirit, especially the human spirit renewed and enlightened by God’s Spirit. It may also be used allegorically to describe a figurative or moral characterization.
Biblical Usage
To judge spiritually is to judge through the mind of the Spirit. The word can also describe an allegorical designation, as when the great and wicked city is spiritually called Sodom.
Historical Background
The term is an adverbial use of the word meaning spiritual. Its meaning may be positive, referring to Spirit-given understanding, or figurative, referring to a spiritual characterization.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>spir'-it-u-al-i (pneumatikos): As in 1Co 2:14, "spiritually judged," i.e. by means of the spirit renewed and enlightened by the spirit of God; having the mind of the Spirit is to be spiritually-minded (compare the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) Ro 8:6).</p><p>Allegorically used also (Re 11:8) to characterize, in a bad sense, the qualities of the spiritual (i.e. the spirit's) life: "which spiritually is called Sodom."</p><p>See SPIRITUAL.</p>