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This is not based on any text just my own understanding. I have explained those that Spirit is like your consiousnes, thinking and that kind of "part" of yourself and soul what you really are below your consious. Still im not sure is spirit part of soul or are they just two different things that affect each other
A
It may be an elementary question but there is really no simple answer. Some say the two words are interchangeable. Some say the soul is simply you and the spirit is the life force that gives the body consciousness, and some say the spirit is your consciousness of God and those who dont know God are spiritually dead.
I highly recommend the wikipedia article on "Soul in the Bible", as far as it's explanation of word origin, used in scripture alongside the separate words "spirit" and "breath of life"
Soul in the Bible - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Seems to me the "soul" is our personal "trinity" so to speak, of which the "spirit" is a part.
Though scripture does also seem to separate "body" and "soul", maybe just as if to say "man can kill part of it but not all of it"
Soul in the Bible - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Seems to me the "soul" is our personal "trinity" so to speak, of which the "spirit" is a part.
Though scripture does also seem to separate "body" and "soul", maybe just as if to say "man can kill part of it but not all of it"
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A
I say the soul is who you are and the spirit is what you have 
Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Eccl 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Eccl 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Actually if you want to know what the authors thought instead of what we modern people think you really need to go back and look at the original languages. Plus the author's use of the terms. In Paul's case the two terms are interchangeable, Paul uses them both and he doesn't distinguish between them. One of my mentors was going to write his PhD thesis on this very issue but discovered that there was nothing he could write because of this problem.
One must remember that the whole concept of the "mind" is a very modern concept beginning around the turn of the 20th century and even then it was in dispute for many years. Many references in ancient literature use "heart" for the center of thought.
One must remember that the whole concept of the "mind" is a very modern concept beginning around the turn of the 20th century and even then it was in dispute for many years. Many references in ancient literature use "heart" for the center of thought.
K
The article posted by wolfinoxhide is very good, as it has the basics and a table that shows the translation confusion. It you wish to go deeper:
You need to do the word search in Hebrew via Strong's numbers. You are composed of five Hebrew parts: body, moving soul (nephesh), purpose (shem), life-force (chai), and spirit (ruach). You also have a heart and a breath. Gen. 2:7 (breath of life) is not "ruach of life" but "neshama" of life. If I recall correctly, chai is a homonym for a verb that means to grasp, and neshama is a homonym for that which allows you to "choose your own purpose" (niphil of shem). Many of the translations are wrong and confuse our thinking. Note that God creates us as "nephesh chai" or living beings. Our bodies and souls don't show up until Gen. 6 where God says "my Spirit shall not contend with the earth forever in man because he is also flesh"; the difference is what God sees vs. what the earth sees. The word search reveals so much of the operation of grace that you can discover for yourself.
In Greek, you can summarize very nicely from Rom. 12:2 "Be transformed by the renewal of your mind." The Holy Spirit speaks to our spirit, which, if our mind cooperates, allows the grace to renew our mind, and then our mind changes our bodies so they act as God wishes.
You need to do the word search in Hebrew via Strong's numbers. You are composed of five Hebrew parts: body, moving soul (nephesh), purpose (shem), life-force (chai), and spirit (ruach). You also have a heart and a breath. Gen. 2:7 (breath of life) is not "ruach of life" but "neshama" of life. If I recall correctly, chai is a homonym for a verb that means to grasp, and neshama is a homonym for that which allows you to "choose your own purpose" (niphil of shem). Many of the translations are wrong and confuse our thinking. Note that God creates us as "nephesh chai" or living beings. Our bodies and souls don't show up until Gen. 6 where God says "my Spirit shall not contend with the earth forever in man because he is also flesh"; the difference is what God sees vs. what the earth sees. The word search reveals so much of the operation of grace that you can discover for yourself.
In Greek, you can summarize very nicely from Rom. 12:2 "Be transformed by the renewal of your mind." The Holy Spirit speaks to our spirit, which, if our mind cooperates, allows the grace to renew our mind, and then our mind changes our bodies so they act as God wishes.
The way I understand it
Soul and Spirit
Galatians 5:17
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do
Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
For everyone who seeks to find GOD there is a battle going on inside of them. This battle is for the place of control. People can have a belief that there is a God but not have faith in him. Belief is what you are taught and faith is when you put what you have been taught into action. When we are born we are controlled by our soul. Our soul is the part of us that loves the world. The soul wants to fill every body desire Food, the most desired thing in the world and enjoyment. The soul is never satisfied when it rules a person it always wants more power, love, money ect.
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever" 1 john
2:15-17
Our Spirit within us at this time lays in an unaware state. As we grow in life we have a sense that something is missing. This is our spirit trying to wake up. Spiritual growth is a process and a battle. You can not serve two masters As the LORD has said. This day I set before you life and death choose life. The Longer it take for us to reach out to God in our lives and be ruled by the Spirit the more pain and suffering we will go through. There is more Joy and peace in our life when we allow ourselves to be ruled by the Spirit. Some people have to go through a great trial for them to start looking for GOD others just have a strong yearning that pulls them along. When we hear the knock of Jesus on our hearts this is the start of a journey that will continue to grow deeper the more time we spend with him. This growth is a combined work between the Spirit of man and the Spirit of God. As our Spirit learns how God communicate our love and trust for him grows deeper. We are awakened to joy and freedom that can never be known at the soul level. As we learn to live in this place of complete surrender we treasure the embrace of God as he leads us deeper into himself. We no longer look to other for our worth or satisfaction, we are free just to be who we are. Each new step taken toward Spiritual growth can create an internal conflict as our soul fights to keep control and our Spirit pushes us forward. Then there is the evilone who sees we are making progress and will throw up some road blocks, but if we stay in prayer and the word we will come out with stronger faith, wisdom and knowledge to continue the path before us.
　
God's eternal desire is for "all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4). God does not want a single soul to be lost. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9).
And yet, God will not force anyone to obey His will -- we are creatures with free moral agency -- we can reject all that God has done for us and judge ourselves "unworthy of everlasting life" (Acts 13:46).
　
　
Soul and Spirit
Galatians 5:17
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do
Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
For everyone who seeks to find GOD there is a battle going on inside of them. This battle is for the place of control. People can have a belief that there is a God but not have faith in him. Belief is what you are taught and faith is when you put what you have been taught into action. When we are born we are controlled by our soul. Our soul is the part of us that loves the world. The soul wants to fill every body desire Food, the most desired thing in the world and enjoyment. The soul is never satisfied when it rules a person it always wants more power, love, money ect.
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever" 1 john
2:15-17
Our Spirit within us at this time lays in an unaware state. As we grow in life we have a sense that something is missing. This is our spirit trying to wake up. Spiritual growth is a process and a battle. You can not serve two masters As the LORD has said. This day I set before you life and death choose life. The Longer it take for us to reach out to God in our lives and be ruled by the Spirit the more pain and suffering we will go through. There is more Joy and peace in our life when we allow ourselves to be ruled by the Spirit. Some people have to go through a great trial for them to start looking for GOD others just have a strong yearning that pulls them along. When we hear the knock of Jesus on our hearts this is the start of a journey that will continue to grow deeper the more time we spend with him. This growth is a combined work between the Spirit of man and the Spirit of God. As our Spirit learns how God communicate our love and trust for him grows deeper. We are awakened to joy and freedom that can never be known at the soul level. As we learn to live in this place of complete surrender we treasure the embrace of God as he leads us deeper into himself. We no longer look to other for our worth or satisfaction, we are free just to be who we are. Each new step taken toward Spiritual growth can create an internal conflict as our soul fights to keep control and our Spirit pushes us forward. Then there is the evilone who sees we are making progress and will throw up some road blocks, but if we stay in prayer and the word we will come out with stronger faith, wisdom and knowledge to continue the path before us.
　
God's eternal desire is for "all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4). God does not want a single soul to be lost. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9).
And yet, God will not force anyone to obey His will -- we are creatures with free moral agency -- we can reject all that God has done for us and judge ourselves "unworthy of everlasting life" (Acts 13:46).
　
　
A
our 5 senses give our soul access to our enviroment...without any senses you would be dead...that connects us to the material realm.
when God regenerates us and we receive His Spirit..we access somewhat the spiritual world...without the spirit we cant access the
spiritual realm. or understand spiritual matters...so like our senses are to our body naturally the spirit is to our heart and mind, spiritually.
when God regenerates us and we receive His Spirit..we access somewhat the spiritual world...without the spirit we cant access the
spiritual realm. or understand spiritual matters...so like our senses are to our body naturally the spirit is to our heart and mind, spiritually.
B
The word "spirit" and "soul" are different to each other in relation to the spiritual life of man. They are used interchangeably in the Bible and Christians stop in learning their difference and importance in this life.
The whole man is spirit, soul and body. The term "mind" used by psychologist, etc. is in the soul. The soul have the "spiritual heart" where the beliefs, attitudes, faith, sins, etc are stored. The soul also have the intellect, emotions and will of man. The soul is the real man, who will go to heaven or hell after separating from the earthly body or dust of the ground. The soul will have the "glorified" or eternal body after the earthly body is gone.
The spirit of man is simply spirit part of the whole man. God gave the spirit as part of man from the creation of Adam through the "Breath of Life." This spirit of man is the part who died when Adam and Eve sinned. The soul and body of man never die but remained. Before the fall, the Holy Spirit resides in the spirit of man. Because of committing sin then, the Holy Spirit left the spirit of man and therefore considered dead or died. The term "Born Again" is applied when a person accepted the Lord Jesus Christ in life and the spirit received a new life when the Holy Spirit resides again in the spirit of man. Eccle. 12:7 says the spirit of man will return to God and the earthly body to the dust of ground. The soul will go to either heaven or hell depending on the judgement of God.
The whole man is spirit, soul and body. The term "mind" used by psychologist, etc. is in the soul. The soul have the "spiritual heart" where the beliefs, attitudes, faith, sins, etc are stored. The soul also have the intellect, emotions and will of man. The soul is the real man, who will go to heaven or hell after separating from the earthly body or dust of the ground. The soul will have the "glorified" or eternal body after the earthly body is gone.
The spirit of man is simply spirit part of the whole man. God gave the spirit as part of man from the creation of Adam through the "Breath of Life." This spirit of man is the part who died when Adam and Eve sinned. The soul and body of man never die but remained. Before the fall, the Holy Spirit resides in the spirit of man. Because of committing sin then, the Holy Spirit left the spirit of man and therefore considered dead or died. The term "Born Again" is applied when a person accepted the Lord Jesus Christ in life and the spirit received a new life when the Holy Spirit resides again in the spirit of man. Eccle. 12:7 says the spirit of man will return to God and the earthly body to the dust of ground. The soul will go to either heaven or hell depending on the judgement of God.
The original-language terms (Heb., ne'phesh [נפׁש]; Gr., psy·khe' [ψυχή]) as used in the Scriptures show“soul” to be a person, an animal, or the life that a person or an animal enjoys.
The connotations that the English “soul” commonly carries in the minds of most persons are not in agreement with the meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words as used by the inspired Bible writers.
The difficulty lies in the fact that the meanings popularly attached to the English word “soul” stem primarily, not from the Hebrew or Christian Greek Scriptures, but from ancient Greek philosophy, actually pagan religious thought. Greek philosopher Plato, for example, quotes Socrates as saying: “The soul,…if it departs pure, dragging with it nothing of the body,…goes away into that which is like itself, into the invisible, divine, immortal, and wise, and when it arrives there it is happy, freed from error and folly and fear…and all the other human ills, and .　.　. lives in truth through all after time with the gods.”-Phaedo, 80, D, E; 81, A.
In direct contrast with the Greek teaching of the psy·khe' (soul) as being immaterial, intangible, invisible, and immortal, the Scriptures show that both psy·khe' and ne'phesh, as used with reference to earthly creatures, refer to that which is material, tangible, visible, and mortal.
The Greek pneu'ma (spirit) comes from pne'o, meaning “breathe or blow,” and the Hebrew ru'ach (spirit) is believed to come from a root having the same meaning. Ru'ach and pneu'ma, then, basically mean “breath” but have extended meanings beyond that basic sense. They can also mean wind; the vital force in living creatures; one’s spirit; spirit persons, including God and his angelic creatures; and God’s active force, or holy spirit. All these meanings have something in common: They all refer to that which is invisible to human sight and which gives evidence of force in motion. Such invisible force is capable of producing visible effects.
Be advised that these are basic answers. A more detailed explanation-with examples-are lengthy.
The connotations that the English “soul” commonly carries in the minds of most persons are not in agreement with the meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words as used by the inspired Bible writers.
The difficulty lies in the fact that the meanings popularly attached to the English word “soul” stem primarily, not from the Hebrew or Christian Greek Scriptures, but from ancient Greek philosophy, actually pagan religious thought. Greek philosopher Plato, for example, quotes Socrates as saying: “The soul,…if it departs pure, dragging with it nothing of the body,…goes away into that which is like itself, into the invisible, divine, immortal, and wise, and when it arrives there it is happy, freed from error and folly and fear…and all the other human ills, and .　.　. lives in truth through all after time with the gods.”-Phaedo, 80, D, E; 81, A.
In direct contrast with the Greek teaching of the psy·khe' (soul) as being immaterial, intangible, invisible, and immortal, the Scriptures show that both psy·khe' and ne'phesh, as used with reference to earthly creatures, refer to that which is material, tangible, visible, and mortal.
The Greek pneu'ma (spirit) comes from pne'o, meaning “breathe or blow,” and the Hebrew ru'ach (spirit) is believed to come from a root having the same meaning. Ru'ach and pneu'ma, then, basically mean “breath” but have extended meanings beyond that basic sense. They can also mean wind; the vital force in living creatures; one’s spirit; spirit persons, including God and his angelic creatures; and God’s active force, or holy spirit. All these meanings have something in common: They all refer to that which is invisible to human sight and which gives evidence of force in motion. Such invisible force is capable of producing visible effects.
Be advised that these are basic answers. A more detailed explanation-with examples-are lengthy.