Niels Prip – Blog

The Hebrew word for “holiness” is qōdes, a word that highlights the realm of the sacred in contrast to everything common and profane. The adjective qādôš, “holy,” refers to God and what belongs to him. In various places in the Hebrew Scriptures, God is called by the title the “Holy One of Israel.”

We live in a modern world where there are so many things that are common and profane. Those two words, common and profane, can seem to be distant from each other. Common is a general term for things that are not so special. Profane has a more severe edge to it. But these words are used to help us distinguish between what is “holy” and what is not.

Ezekiel 44:23 tells us “Moreover, they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Some translations use the word “common” instead of profane. So it is safe to say that things common and profane are contrasted with things holy. Things unclean vs clean. We see in the Old Testament that the priests were commanded to teach people the difference between the two. Is that not what Paul taught the church in the New Testament and still instructs us for today? Paul tells us in Galatians 5:16 “We are to walk by the Spirit and thereby not fulfill the deeds of the flesh”. The deeds of the flesh are common and profane, anyone can naturally fulfill those deeds. It takes little effort.

The things of the Spirit are holy, they are sacred, they are unique. They are not out of our own imaginations, they stand out as something “other”. We are encouraged in I Corinthians 14:1 to “Earnestly desire the things of the Spirit”. Some translations say “Desire the gifts of the Spirit” but if you look at the Greek the word “gift” is an added word in most Bibles. Young’s Literal translation says “Pursue the love, and seek earnestly the spiritual things”. We are to pursue all things Spiritual. In all areas of our lives.

We are to be desiring the things of the Spirit in all things. When we walk, we are led by the Spirit. When we pray, we are led by the Spirit. Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”. We are saved and filled with His Spirit for this reason. Lord teach us what is holy, and lead us away from the things that are common and profane.