The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee is a classic work that explores the pathway to living a victorious Christian life by learning to walk in the Spirit, subdue the flesh, and function according to the biblical understanding of humanity’s tripartite nature—spirit, soul, and body. More than just a theological treatise, this book is designed as a practical guide, showing believers how to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to grow into maturity and experience freedom from a carnal, self-centered existence.
What is the book about?
The Tripartite Nature of Man: At its foundation, the book explains that humanity is comprised of three distinct parts: the spirit, the soul (mind, will, and emotions), and the body. True spiritual growth comes when the spirit—renewed by God—governs the soul and body.
Spiritual vs. Soulish Living: Nee carefully distinguishes between living from the spirit and living from the soul. A soulish life, though active and often outwardly impressive, is rooted in human effort and self-focus, while a spiritual life flows from union with God.
Walking by the Spirit: Practical instructions are given on how to discern the difference between the spirit’s inner intuition and the reasoning of the soul. This discernment equips believers to live consistently in the Spirit’s guidance and victory.
Everyday Application: The book emphasizes that spirituality is not abstract. It is lived out through daily choices to submit to God’s will, resist the flesh, and allow the Spirit to transform one’s whole being.
Why should you read it?
To Grasp Spiritual Warfare: The Spiritual Man serves as a manual for battling the flesh and overcoming sinful passions, equipping believers to walk in true freedom.
To Pursue Deeper Christian Living: Nee provides a roadmap for spiritual development, helping readers avoid confusion and stagnation by showing a clear path toward maturity.
To Gain Experiential Knowledge: The book is not presented as theory but as tested truth—“a manual on the spiritual life, every point of which can be experimentally proven.”
Key Lessons from the Book
Balance is Essential: Authentic spirituality arises when the spirit takes its rightful place of leadership, bringing harmony to the soul and body.
Partnership with the Holy Spirit: Growth is never achieved by self-effort alone. Transformation comes through continual cooperation with the Spirit’s work.
The Role of Intuition: A sharpened spiritual intuition is vital for perceiving God’s leading and discerning deeper spiritual realities.
The Goal is Total Transformation: The ultimate aim is nothing less than the believer’s entire being—spirit, soul, and body—being renewed and conformed to the new creation in Christ.
About the author
Watchman Nee was born in 1903 in Swatow, China, as an answer to his mother's prayer. Having already borne two daughters, she prayed that if God should give her a son, she would give him back to God. As the boy grew up, he showed every sign of promise except that he had no interest in things spiritual. It was not till he was seventeen years of age that he was met by the Lord. He knew at that time that he must accept Christ Jesus as his Savior, yet he struggled over the necessity of surrendering his life to the Lord. The love of Christ finally overwhelmed him, and he capitulated to Christ. This was on April 29, 1920. He had such a love for the Word of God that he studied it almost incessantly, so within a very short period, he had read the whole Bible several times. He began to witness for Christ to his schoolmates and soon earned the nickname of "the preacher". In searching the Scripture, he (with a few other believers) discovered 'the simplicity and purity that is towards Christ.' He was determined to follow the Word of God explicitly and nothing but the Word.
In 1927, he began his life's work in Shanghai, where he was able to practice the vision which the Lord had shown him in the Word. He understood that the eternal purpose of God is Christ and His Church. Through the mighty working of the Holy Spirit and the faithful ministry of this servant of God, this testimony spread over the vast land of China.
In 1949, the Communists took over China. Knowing what would be waiting for him back home, he nonetheless felt strongly his responsibility toward God and His Church. So he returned to China from Hong Kong in 1950. In April of 1952, he was seized and put in prison. He was later falsely accused as a master spy and was sentenced to twenty years of imprisonment. In prison, he was not allowed to do anything but what was assigned to him by the prison authority. At the expiration of his sentence term, he was not released, and the news arrived quickly that he died faithful to the Lord.
Product details
Publisher : Christian Fellowship Pubns
Publication date : June 1, 1968
Edition : COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME
Language : English
Print length : 694 pages
ISBN-10 : 0935008381
ISBN-13 : 978-0935008388
Item Weight : 78 pounds
Condition: Used Very Good
Genres: Christian, Spirituality, Theology, Christian Living, Christianity, Nonfiction, Religion
