The Soul - Body or Spirit?

[e.r.m.]

The greek word for
Soul is:
ψυχή,n \{psoo-khay'}
1) breath 1a) the breath of life 1a1) the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing 1a1a) of animals 1a12) of men 1b) life 1c) that in which there is life 1c1) a living being, a living soul 2) the soul 2a) the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.) 2b) the (human) soul in so far as it is constituted that by the right use of the aids offered it by God it can attain its highest end and secure eternal blessedness, the soul regarded as a moral being designed for everlasting life 2c) the soul as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death (distinguished from other parts of the body)
Greek Bible

Is the soul in scriptures: one's Spirit, or one's Body, or the Life force?

I contend that in scripture it is one's spirit, and not the other two.

Luke 2:33-35 33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

I seriously think history would have remembered if Mary, the mother of Jesus, physical body had ever been stabbed by a sword.

28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Such things would not be said if the soul were the physical body. Even if someone finds a grammatical loophole in the verse (doubtful), people who believe the soul and body are one physical entity, do not talk this way. They find other ways to express themselves.

Feel free to express your point of view.

Thank you.

 

[Sleeppy]

I'm not sure..

I think there's a lot of overlapping between 'soul' and 'spirit', which makes it difficult to separate and define. I think soul is specific, whereas souls are still spirits.

And a soul may include a body, but doesn't need to.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

The soul is ill defined.
Some like the the JW's see the Soul as both body and spirit.
Many other Christians might define it as the spark of life.
Others still, as the "You" that survives death.
I prefer to see the Soul as the spirit of God within us, that will one day return to God.

 

[e.r.m.]

The soul is ill defined.
Some like the the JW's see the Soul as both body and spirit.
Many other Christians might define it as the spark of life.
Others still, as the "You" that survives death.Ti
I prefer to see the Soul as the spirit of God within us, that will one day return to God.

Thank you. Couple of problems with that though, for those souls going to hell and not returning to God, I don't see God throwing His own spirit into hell. Secondly, the scriptures repeatedly make a separation between God's Spirit and ours.

 

[e.r.m.]

I'm not sure..

I think there's a lot of overlapping between 'soul' and 'spirit', which makes it difficult to separate and define. I think soul is specific, whereas souls are still spirits.

And a soul may include a body, but doesn't need to.

Thank you. I agree with the first part, not so much the second. But that's just my opinion.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Thank you. Couple of problems with that though, for those souls going to hell and not returning to God, I don't see God throwing His own spirit into hell. Secondly, the scriptures repeatedly make a separation between God's Spirit and ours.

I do not believe in either a physical heaven or hell.
Those who believe in Universal Salvation can not believe in hell.
Hell is at most a temporary separation from God.

The New testament Scriptures were mostly written by men who who had some concept hell. As such a belief did not Follow from Jewish Belief or Scripture, it probably came from the Greeks, who had a comprehensive and detailed concept.

Scripture and Dogma also state that Jesus descended into hell. but does not say why? what he did there? or how he got out? It seem to be a metaphor, but even that is unclear and left unexplained.

As God and the Holy Spirit are all pervasive, there is no possibility for our Souls to be disconnected... any separation can only be figurative.
Such as... our spirit is separated from God by our sin....hence the need for repentance for full communion with God.... it is us that places sin between us.

 

[Muffled]

The greek word for
Soul is:
ψυχή,n \{psoo-khay'}
1) breath 1a) the breath of life 1a1) the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing 1a1a) of animals 1a12) of men 1b) life 1c) that in which there is life 1c1) a living being, a living soul 2) the soul 2a) the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.) 2b) the (human) soul in so far as it is constituted that by the right use of the aids offered it by God it can attain its highest end and secure eternal blessedness, the soul regarded as a moral being designed for everlasting life 2c) the soul as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death (distinguished from other parts of the body)
Greek Bible

Is the soul in scriptures: one's Spirit, or one's Body, or the Life force?

I contend that in scripture it is one's spirit, and not the other two.

Luke 2:33-35 33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

I seriously think history would have remembered if Mary, the mother of Jesus, physical body had ever been stabbed by a sword.

28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Such things would not be said if the soul were the physical body. Even if someone finds a grammatical loophole in the verse (doubtful), people who believe the soul and body are one physical entity, do not talk this way. They find other ways to express themselves.

Feel free to express your point of view.

Thank you.

My understanding is that a soul is a spirit living within a body.

 

[Muffled]

The soul is ill defined.
Some like the the JW's see the Soul as both body and spirit.
Many other Christians might define it as the spark of life.
Others still, as the "You" that survives death.
I prefer to see the Soul as the spirit of God within us, that will one day return to God.

The Spirit of God within us is the Paraclete and distinct from our own spirit.

That appears to be a lack of deiscernment as to what the scripture says. Ge 2:7 And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
If the body was not a soul by itself, it is logical that it is not part of the soul.

There is never a distinction between a spirit that has experienced life in a body and one that hasn't but then maybe there aren't any spirits that haven't experienced life in a body.

I think that is a bit presumptuous. There may be other ways for a body to be quickened without a spirit. I suspect that instilling life with a spirit was intentional but not necessary.

 

[e.r.m.]

The Spirit of God within us is the Paraclete and distinct from our own spirit.

That appears to be a lack of deiscernment as to what the scripture says. Ge 2:7 And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
If the body was not a soul by itself, it is logical that it is not part of the soul.

There is never a distinction between a spirit that has experienced life in a body and one that hasn't but then maybe there aren't any spirits that haven't experienced life in a body.

I think that is a bit presumptuous. There may be other ways for a body to be quickened without a spirit. I suspect that instilling life with a spirit was intentional but not necessary.

Cool!

 

[e.r.m.]

My understanding is that a soul is a spirit living within a body.

Me too.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

The Spirit of God within us is the Paraclete and distinct from our own spirit.

I and many Christians would believe our spirit is with us from conception...
The Holy Spirit Guides us all Baptised or not.
Whilst the Holy Spirit is with us all at Baptism he is not the spirit within us.
That which is born within us, is of God.

I prefer the term Holy Spirit Rather than the Greek derived, Paraclete, which is not known by most people.

(According to Trinitarian doctrine, the Paraclete or Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity who among other things provides guidance, consolation, strength, and support to people.) It is clearly not with in us.

 

[thadc71]

I believe the bible exsplains this pretty well! God created a body then breathed the spirit of life into it, making it a living soul! Take away the spirit of life and the body dies. Body + spirit= living soul

 

[thadc71]

When God takes the spirit of life from us we die, we do not go to another geological location, such as Heaven or Hell! When you die your dead till the ressurections!

 

[thadc71]

The spirit of life and the Holy spirit are 2 different things! The Holy Spirit which procedes from the Father is not a nother person or part of a trinity! If it procedes from Him it is Him! If there were a trinity, why would Jesus after God put all things under his feet, hand over the Kingdom to the Father? If they are the same it is already the Fathers!

 

[thadc71]

Living in Heaven or Hell! The meek shall inherit heaven? No, the meek shall inherit the earth! Going to either is mute in light of scripture!

 

[thadc71]

Apart from what gave us we have no spirit of our own!

 

[Sleeppy]

When God takes the spirit of life from us we die, we do not go to another geological location, such as Heaven or Hell! When you die your dead till the ressurections!

Where do you think Moses and Elijah were before the transfiguration? Or where did the thief being crucified go besides paradise? Certain people don't stay in the pit for long.

 

[arcanum]

I believe the bible exsplains this pretty well! God created a body then breathed the spirit of life into it, making it a living soul! Take away the spirit of life and the body dies. Body + spirit= living soul

Here is the problem the bible is not clear, rather the problem lies in taking the bible as one whole book that is totally consistent which it is clearly not otherwise everyone would believe the same thing on this matter. The books of the bible reflect the development of hebrew thought and is a reflection of the writers understanding at the time of the writing. Why do we all interpret the scriptures differently if the bible is clear? Is the bible the best source regarding this question when the writers of the bible believed different contradictory things between the old and new testaments?

 

[e.r.m.]

Here is the problem the bible is not clear, rather the problem lies in taking the bible as one whole book that is totally consistent which it is clearly not otherwise everyone would believe the same thing on this matter. The books of the bible reflect the development of hebrew thought and is a reflection of the writers understanding at the time of the writing. Why do we all interpret the scriptures differently if the bible is clear? Is the bible the best source regarding this question when the writers of the bible believed different contradictory things between the old and new testaments?

The following is the reason why people diverge on the Bible:
(NIV) 2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

I believe part of that is because people choose denominations according to their personalities. I don't see a JW converting to pentecostalism or vice versa. In the NT church, it was one church.

 

[arcanum]

The following is the reason why people diverge on the Bible:
(NIV) 2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

I believe part of that is because people choose denominations according to their personalities. I don't see a JW converting to pentecostalism or vice versa. In the NT church, it was one church.

First off many scholars believe 1 & 2 timothy to be forgeries, not actually written by paul, and if you think the church was originally one please read Lost Christianities by Bart Ehrman.