SS 5, 6 - The Spiritual Meaning of the Word

SS 5

The spiritual meaning is not the sense
that shines from the literal one
when one is studying the Word
and interpreting it in order to confirm
some dogma of the church.
This sense is the Word’s literal sense.
Rather its spiritual meaning is one
not apparent in the literal one.
The spiritual meaning lies within the literal one,
like the soul within the body,
like thought within the eyes,
and affection within the face,
which operate in concert,
like cause and effect.

That spiritual meaning
is what principally causes the Word to be spiritual,
not only for people, but also for angels.
Consequently that meaning is
the means by which
the Word communicates with the heavens.

SS 6 [2]

The angels of the Lord's celestial kingdom,
of whom is composed the third or highest heaven,
are in that Divine which proceeds from the Lord
that is called the celestial,
for they are in the good of love from the Lord.
The angels of the Lord's spiritual kingdom,
of whom is composed the second or middle heaven,
are in that Divine which proceeds from the Lord
that is called the spiritual,
for they are in truths of wisdom from the Lord.
But the people of the church on earth
are in the Divine Natural,
which also proceeds from the Lord.
From this it follows that the Divine
in proceeding from the Lord to its ultimates
descends through three degrees,
and is named the celestial, the spiritual,
and the natural.
The Divine which comes down
from the Lord to people descends
through these three degrees;
and when it has come down,
it holds these three degrees contained within it.
Such is everything Divine,
so that when it is in its ultimate degree
it is in its fullness.
Such is the Word;
in its ultimate sense it is natural,
in its interior sense it is spiritual,
and in its inmost sense it is celestial;
and in each sense it is Divine.