The Bowels
“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Philippians 2.1, 2
Thinking back on some of the sayings of my Dad, I often sense a smile on my face. At the time he made them I made no great effort to remember them, but remember them I have. I’m not certain if many of them were original, but I honestly can’t think of anyone else who made similar statements. On at least one occasion when I was trying to describe the malady I was experiencing, Dad asked me, “Son, are you feeling a bit queasy and uneasy?” Although I had no idea what the word “queasy” meant, it sounded about right. (By the way, I found out in my adulthood that “queasy” is an actual word.)
Bible writers make much of the “bowels” when expressing feelings and emotions. As a matter of fact, those writing under the inspiration of God will put more weight on the feelings of the bowels than they do the heart. Not to minimize the heart, but the bowels seem to have a much greater effect on a person’s well-being and balanced frame of mind than does the heart.
It would seem that the heart is something over which we have some control. The Bible tells us: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17.9) This suggests that we have opportunity to rein in the heart and to make choices that would control it. Having a good grasp of Scripture and submission to the authority of God go a long way in the believer’s life as he strives for the mastery of his faith. (I Corinthians 9.25)
The bowels, on the other hand, seem to be something within us which have the power to create in us an intense sense of compassion. The word which translates “bowels” (splágchnon) in the New Testament literally speaks of a part of the human body – the bowels – yet, it is only so used once. It is used nine times in the New Testament and the other eight times it speaks of deep emotion which causes a person to feel “queasy and uneasy.”
Quite often during the altar call we fall under the conviction of God’s Spirit. When that happens, we sense such great urgency from the Word and the draw of the Spirit that we rush to the altar to get things settled. Your deepest emotions have been aroused by God’s Spirit and your only recourse is to run to the Savior for respite. Unfortunately, some run away from God rather than to the only One who can set things straight.
Interestingly enough, the one time the word “bowels” actually means a literal part of the body is in Acts 1.18. There we are told of the suicide of Judas. Judas, having been deluded, misled and ensnared by the Tempter’s wiles, hanged himself. He found he could no longer live with his personal infamy – his deepest emotions were exploding within him – so he ended his life. Having died by his own hand, his body testified to this great emotional tragedy: “Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.” (Acts 1.18)
Bible writers make much of the “bowels” when expressing feelings and emotions. As a matter of fact, those writing under the inspiration of God will put more weight on the feelings of the bowels than they do the heart. Not to minimize the heart, but the bowels seem to have a much greater effect on a person’s well-being and balanced frame of mind than does the heart.
It would seem that the heart is something over which we have some control. The Bible tells us: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17.9) This suggests that we have opportunity to rein in the heart and to make choices that would control it. Having a good grasp of Scripture and submission to the authority of God go a long way in the believer’s life as he strives for the mastery of his faith. (I Corinthians 9.25)
The bowels, on the other hand, seem to be something within us which have the power to create in us an intense sense of compassion. The word which translates “bowels” (splágchnon) in the New Testament literally speaks of a part of the human body – the bowels – yet, it is only so used once. It is used nine times in the New Testament and the other eight times it speaks of deep emotion which causes a person to feel “queasy and uneasy.”
Quite often during the altar call we fall under the conviction of God’s Spirit. When that happens, we sense such great urgency from the Word and the draw of the Spirit that we rush to the altar to get things settled. Your deepest emotions have been aroused by God’s Spirit and your only recourse is to run to the Savior for respite. Unfortunately, some run away from God rather than to the only One who can set things straight.
Interestingly enough, the one time the word “bowels” actually means a literal part of the body is in Acts 1.18. There we are told of the suicide of Judas. Judas, having been deluded, misled and ensnared by the Tempter’s wiles, hanged himself. He found he could no longer live with his personal infamy – his deepest emotions were exploding within him – so he ended his life. Having died by his own hand, his body testified to this great emotional tragedy: “Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.” (Acts 1.18)
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