Au contraire...
Christopher Stead of the Cambridge Divinity School explains how a statement that God is spirit would have been interpreted within ancient Judaism:
By saying that God is spiritual,
we do not mean that he has no body … but rather that he is the source of a mysterious life-giving power and energy that animates the human body, and himself possesses this energy in the fullest measure. (Christopher Stead,
Philosophy in Christian Antiquity (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), 98)
Stead also stated:
“The Hebrews . . . pictured the God whom they worshipped as having a body and mind like our own, though transcending humanity in the splendour of his appearance, in his power, his wisdom, and the constancy of his care for his creatures.” (Christopher Stead,
Philosophy in Christian Antiquity (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), 120)
Harvard Historian Harry Austryn Wolfson wrote:
in Scripture . . . there is no indication that by spirit and soul were meant any such principles as form or immateriality. (Wolfson,
Philo, 2:95.)
Note the above Wolfson quote.
Now you're tossing softballs. Look what's written:
"
element" is synonymous with matter!
See element synonyms.
Element is not always synonymous with matter, it depends on the context:
Grammar English–Spanish Spanish–English
Meaning of element in English
element
noun
US
/ˈel.ə.mənt/ UK
/ˈel.ɪ.mənt/
element noun (PART)
[ C ]
a part of something:
List the elements that make up a
perfect dinner party.
The
movie had all the elements of a good
thriller.
We weren't
even taught the elements of (=
basic information about)
physics at
school.
More examples
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
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element noun (AMOUNT)
an element of sth
small amount of an emotion or quality:
There was
certainly an element of
truth in what she said.
Don't you
think there's an element of
jealousy in all of this?
We
walked quietly up to the
door to
preserve the element of
surprise.
More examples
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
element noun (SIMPLE SUBSTANCE)
[ C ]
a
simple substance that cannot be
reduced to
smaller chemical parts:
Aluminum is an element.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
element noun (EARTH, AIR, ETC.)
[ C ]
earth,
air,
fire, and
water from which
people in the past
believed everything
else was made
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
element noun (WEATHER)
the elements
[ plural ]
weather, usually
bad weather:
We
decided to
brave the elements and go for a
walk (= go for a
walk despite the
bad weather).
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
element noun (ELECTRICAL PART)
[ C ]
the
part of an
electrical device that
produces heat:
a
heating element
The
coffee maker needs a new element.
[ C, C ]
(UK usually ring)
a
circular piece of
material often made of
metal that can be
heated in
order to be used for
cooking:
a
gas element
an
electric element
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Idioms
be in your element
be out of your element
(Definition of element from the
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
element | INTERMEDIATE ENGLISH
element
noun
[ C ]
US
/ˈel·ə·mənt/
element noun [C] (PART)
parts of something that makes it
work, or a
quality that makes someone or something
effective:
the
heating element of a
toaster
Having a second
income is an
important element for most
home buyers.
They had all the elements of a
great team.
element noun [C] (AMOUNT)
small amount or
degree:
There was an element of truth in what she said, but it was an exaggeration.
element noun [C] (SUBSTANCE)
substance that cannot be
reduced to
smaller chemical parts and that has an
atom different from that of any other
substance
Idiom
in your element
(Definition of element from the
Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
EXAMPLES of element
element
Mascots work together with such other
branding elements as names, logos, slogans, and jingles to increase the success of a product or company brand.
From
Business InsiderOregonLive.comabundant element
Phosphorus was the most abundant element, with the lowest level at 4 and 5 weeks.
From the
Cambridge English Corpusarchitectural element
The columns of the assessment matrix can be totalled to give scores for each architectural element.
From the
Cambridge English Corpusbasic element
The first object which is a cube, represents very basic element of any solid part.
From the
Cambridge English Corpus
element
Definition of element
1a: any of the four substances air, water, fire, and earth formerly believed to compose the physical universe
belements plural : weather conditions
especially : violent or severe weather
battling the elements
c: the
state or sphere natural or suited to a person or thing
at school she was in her element
2: a constituent part: such as
aelements plural : the simplest principles of a subject of study : RUDIMENTS
b(1):
a part of a geometric magnitude
an infinitesimal element of volume
(2): a generator of a geometric figure
also : a line or line segment contained in the surface of a cone or cylinder
(3):
a basic member of a mathematical or logical class or set
(4): one of the individual entries in a mathematical matrix or determinant
c: a distinct group within a larger group or community
the criminal element in the city
d(1):
one of the necessary data or values on which calculations or conclusions are based
(2): one of the factors determining the outcome of a process
e: any of the fundamental substances that consist of atoms of only one kind and that singly or in combination constitute all matter
f: a distinct part of a composite device
g: a subdivision of a military unit
3elements plural : the bread and wine used in the Eucharist
...
Definition of ELEMENT
