69. It can be seen from this that spirit and life are present only in the Word, which makes possible a conjunction with the Lord and affiliation with angels. As the Lord teaches:

The words that I speak to you are spirit and life. (John 6:63)

The water that I shall give (you) will become...a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)

...labor...for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of man will give you.... (John 6:27)

5. 1. What the spiritual meaning is. 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.