How does scripture distinguish between the components of mankind (body, soul, and spirit of man)?

[Hungry]

Our emotions that pass through our pineal gland will regulate the way we feal. and create an oura of either positive or negative calm or anxious Joyful or sad. You could say then that body in some way outputs a frequencie connected to our emotions that people around us pick up on. The same could be said for the light, The light speaks to us throught frequencie, and its diffacult to communicate and be at one with the light. when where leading busy life styles. or in a negative state in the mind. So in that way our soul is like a mobile phone. We will recieve better communication when we prepare our emotions befor hand. keeping hold of calmness is a must.

I do believe our body creates an energy field, known as an oura, which is connected to the pineal gland. and is also verry important to the soul of our body.
Learning how to Change your oura in the blink of an eye is equally important.
Which is learning how to control your pineal Gland (known as the third eye)

which is done throught controling your emotions which controls the chemical serotin that is released through the pineal gland.

Personaly i dont see the the pineal gland as the sim card the main receptor for the soul. its a collection of all the sences that for me, touch smell hearing thought taste sight sound.
sound travels in light. like sonar waves or radar. We humans as mamamls do have the the ability to output radar and sonar waves and recieve them just like our mamal freinds dolhins and bats and mice, etc. you can push sonar sound waves out of your body with every heart beat.

You can control the energy of your body for a better purpose, but it takes practice.

I’m picking up what you’re laying down however keeping in analogy, your DNA would be your SIM card. The pineal gland is the transmitter/receiver. We are programmed with human/mammal operating system (endocrine system) that wires us for survival and reproduction. Then our psychological function is the result of apps (programming) we download about our world. Many people go through life in airplane mode never questioning that icon, living a carnal existence. Those who know there is more functions to this vessel, seek a higher existence and few make it to the Creator where we accept Him as our service provider and become connected to Source.

 

[de-emerald]

I’m picking up what you’re laying down however keeping in analogy, your DNA would be your SIM card. The pineal gland is the transmitter/receiver. We are programmed with human/mammal operating system (endocrine system) that wires us for survival and reproduction. Then our psychological function is the result of apps (programming) we download about our world. Many people go through life in airplane mode never questioning that icon, living a carnal existence. Those who know there is more functions to this vessel, seek a higher existence and few make it to the Creator where we accept Him as our service provider and become connected to Source.

interesting analogy, all tho i do feal like a bit of a robot reading it. lol the difference is what ever information a robot downloads it stores. but with us, we only store information that we understand. maybe thats our conscience telling us something there. That where not pre programmed lol

 

[BrokenSparrow]

Here we see scripture being good for the conscience of the soul and further down we see what is bad for the conscience of the soul

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul proverbs 16:24
(yup this is why the spiritual enemy wispers curses in people ears he doesnt want gracious words in your conscience, and twists the word of God to become a curse, and pretends to be God and miss repersents God with a cursing nature, whispering in peoples ears)

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. psalm 19:7 (the law of the spiritual enemy of decieving isnt from the enemy tricking a persons thought by wispering in there ears so called curses from God)

Proverbs 2:10
For wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; (only if its the right knowledge the spiritual enemy will plant wrong knowledge of God in the mind which stays in the conscience)

Hebrews 6:19
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, (The enemy steals that hope also no anchor = giving up)


Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? romans 8:35 ? (the enemy wispering in our ear taking control of our thoughts which effect the conscience of the soul)

Proverbs 17:22
A joyful heart is good medicine,
But a broken spirit dries up the bones (the spiritual enemy knows that allright)

John 12:27
Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me (the spiritual enemy loves this state of mind, works hard every day to get a person in this state.

Psalm 119:28
My soul weeps because of grief;
Strengthen me according to Your word. (Yup i know that one but when your weeping the spiritual enemy will go in for the kill.)

There you have it satan steals souls by effecting and taking over the conscience.

The bible says there are children oF God and children of the devil. well actually there is only stolen children of the devil. and that bastard wont keep them in bondage for ever.

the law

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. psalm 19:7

so why is there so much miss repersentation of the law then who twisted that lot.

well no law equals no conscience. there ya go another soul lost

Yes, our spirit must be in subjection to God, and our soul and body must be in subjection to our spirit.

God's word the scripture is always good for our spirit, soul, and body (his temple).

If we walk in the Spirit then we aren't led astray through the flesh or through Satan.

The flesh and mind is where Satan likes to tempt us and tries to confuse us and get us to follow our own will or wants/emotions to please our flesh instead of God's will.


If we love the Lord and walk in the spirit with him then all the rest will follow. Jesus died to set us free and who the Son sets free is free indeed.

Once our spirit is regenerated or born again then we can truly walk with God. When we walk in the Spirit then we will not break the commandments of God. If we get in our selves and sin, then we know we have an advocate with the Father and we will be quick to turn to him.

 

[BrokenSparrow]

The best thing you can do is ignor satan and not get annoyed or resentful towards him and his other cherubim, when unpleasant thoughts come, or temptataion. because it only leaves a bitter feeling. We dont have to be troubled by him to, from suffering of denomic attacks, but we do need to train and speak to our conscience when denomic attacks occur or temptataion or reminders of any past events , to recognise the difference. Practicing having higher self esteem and forgiveness is a must. as bitterness is a disease to the mind heart and soul.

God isnt always going to speak to us when denomic attack occurs or temptation or reminders of past events. so one has to immeadiately wipe the conscience clean with good inner silent thoughts of commandments of what ever one of Gods moral standard suits the thought you may be having, when denomic attacks happen or unpleasant thoughts or any thought for that matter, and at the same time, keeping hold of peace quietness and gentleness. just like those sparrows.

Telling your mind you love Gods moral standards is good, or telling your mind you are forgiven and you like to forgive is good. telling your mind you have to this for the sake of your soul every time past event occurs in the mind is good, The enemy constantly wants to pull our conscience in to his train of thought and any undescent standard he can. It may even be something very minor, like there picking on me or they dont like me or hes bad hes not nice. but if you dont immeadiately speak to our conscience, it can take a hold and lead to falling from grace and one of the fruits of the spirit.


the spiritual warfare battle for control of your conscience is like driving a car through rainy weather, if you dont put your wipers on straight away. your blind and cant see. and you crash.

I found a pretty good teaching on spirit, soul, and body. It helps to distinguish between soul and spirit.

Seems the Greek word for soulish or psuchikos: is translated into most Bible versions in different ways in English. Sometimes it is referred to as the natural man, carnal man, worldly or sensual, but it is actually the same Greek word being used in each passage for these various meanings of soulish.

1. (Soul)
5591 psyxikós (an adjective, derived from 5590 /psyxḗ, "soul, natural identity") – properly, soulish, i.e. what is natural, as it relates to physical (tangible) life alone (i.e. apart from God's inworking of faith).
5591 /psyxikós ("natural") typically describes the natural ("lower") aspect of humanity, i.e. behavior that is "more of earth (carnality) than heaven." 5591 (psyxikós) then sometimes stands in contrast to

2. Spiritual
The spirit of man or /pneumatikós is defined as:
4152 /pneumatikós ("spiritual") – the higher, spiritual aspect of humanity that develops through faith (4102 /pístis).

So it seems the spirit is the part of man that is regenerated by God through faith. It is the highest level of man. It is in direct connection with God.

The soul is natural or carnal. It is the part that can be in rebellion to God. Unless our spirit is regenerated the soul and body by itself cannot please God.

In order to be in true worship and connection to God our spirit must be regenerated by God through faith in his Son Jesus Christ.

First off, God places a drawing/conviction upon our soul. Our soul must choose to deny itself and trust and accept Him. After doing so our spirit becomes regenerated or born again by God through faith in Jesus.

Once saved God's spirit dwells with our regenerated spirit. The spirit is where we directly communicate with and get our instructions from God.

Our spirit is in subjection to God, and our soul must be subjected to our spirit, and the body must also be subjected to the spirit, as well.

The spirit lives to worship, please, and obey God. If we get out of the spirit or out of communication with God then that is when trouble can begin. Our soul was the part that was in rebellion to begin with so it and our body must be kept in subjection to the spirit which is ultimately in subjection to the Spirit of God.

Our soul is the part that Satan tempts. It is the part where our self-will (wants), thoughts, and emotions comes into play. It is emotional and moody constantly changing...it is the part that can be tempted. If we fall for temptation then we normally bring the body along in sin.

Scripture says that the body is his temple, and that as we once yielded our members unto unrighteousness now after our spirit is born again we need to yield our member instruments of righteousness to God.

Romans 6:13
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

So to sum it up, our spirit is the highest level that is in connection with God, the soul is the the thoughts, emotions, and self-will, the body is the lowest level or physical part that functions through our senses and/or physical needs.

Our spirit must be in subjection to God's Spirit. God walks with us and communicates with us directly through our spirit. So our soul and body needs to be in subjection to our spirit if our soul and body are not in subjection the our spirit then that is where sin can enter.

Oh my goodness this is a very complex subject and takes a lot of effort. But I'm sure it is worth putting the effort in if we can learn to understand it better.

Hope what I have written makes some sense.

 

[BrokenSparrow]

If you have a cell phone then you have the perfect analogy. The body is the structural component, including the electronics and hardwiring. The soul of the phone is the battery. Our phones charge through electricity. Our bodies charge by food. The spirit of the phone is its cellular and wifi features that allow it to connect. The SIM card is the identity. Our cellular mechanism is expected to be our pineal gland, the third eye, represented by a pine cone in much art. Our emotions determine our frequency and can call upon the spiritual world. Guilt and fear vs love and joy. If we have aligned our frequency with God we can speak with Him. When we become part of His network, He promised to take our SIM card and place it into an upgraded device in the future.

Thanks for the analogy.

I'm not sure what some of the terms you used mean. Sounds like a mix of biology and psychology. So I am going to look up the unfamiliar terms.

Thanks

 

[BrokenSparrow]

interesting analogy, all tho i do feal like a bit of a robot reading it. lol the difference is what ever information a robot downloads it stores. but with us, we only store information that we understand. maybe thats our conscience telling us something there. That where not pre programmed lol

Yeah, I feel like a robot too and I don't understand some of the terms that either or you used so I'm going to look them up. lol

 

[de-emerald]

I found a pretty good teaching on spirit, soul, and body. It helps to distinguish between soul and spirit.

Seems the Greek word for soulish or psuchikos: is translated into most Bible versions in different ways in English. Sometimes it is referred to as the natural man, carnal man, worldly or sensual, but it is actually the same Greek word being used in each passage for these various meanings of soulish.

1. (Soul)
5591 psyxikós (an adjective, derived from 5590 /psyxḗ, "soul, natural identity") – properly, soulish, i.e. what is natural, as it relates to physical (tangible) life alone (i.e. apart from God's inworking of faith).
5591 /psyxikós ("natural") typically describes the natural ("lower") aspect of humanity, i.e. behavior that is "more of earth (carnality) than heaven." 5591 (psyxikós) then sometimes stands in contrast to

2. Spiritual
The spirit of man or /pneumatikós is defined as:
4152 /pneumatikós ("spiritual") – the higher, spiritual aspect of humanity that develops through faith (4102 /pístis).

So it seems the spirit is the part of man that is regenerated by God through faith. It is the highest level of man. It is in direct connection with God.

The soul is natural or carnal. It is the part that can be in rebellion to God. Unless our spirit is regenerated the soul and body by itself cannot please God.

In order to be in true worship and connection to God our spirit must be regenerated by God through faith in his Son Jesus Christ.

First off, God places a drawing/conviction upon our soul. Our soul must choose to deny itself and trust and accept Him. After doing so our spirit becomes regenerated or born again by God through faith in Jesus.

Once saved God's spirit dwells with our regenerated spirit. The spirit is where we directly communicate with and get our instructions from God.

Our spirit is in subjection to God, and our soul must be subjected to our spirit, and the body must also be subjected to the spirit, as well.

The spirit lives to worship, please, and obey God. If we get out of the spirit or out of communication with God then that is when trouble can begin. Our soul was the part that was in rebellion to begin with so it and our body must be kept in subjection to the spirit which is ultimately in subjection to the Spirit of God.

Our soul is the part that Satan tempts. It is the part where our self-will (wants), thoughts, and emotions comes into play. It is emotional and moody constantly changing...it is the part that can be tempted. If we fall for temptation then we normally bring the body along in sin.

Scripture says that the body is his temple, and that as we once yielded our members unto unrighteousness now after our spirit is born again we need to yield our member instruments of righteousness to God.

Romans 6:13
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

So to sum it up, our spirit is the highest level that is in connection with God, the soul is the the thoughts, emotions, and self-will, the body is the lowest level or physical part that functions through our senses and/or physical needs.

Our spirit must be in subjection to God's Spirit. God walks with us and communicates with us directly through our spirit. So our soul and body needs to be in subjection to our spirit if our soul and body are not in subjection the our spirit then that is where sin can enter.

Oh my goodness this is a very complex subject and takes a lot of effort. But I'm sure it is worth putting the effort in if we can learn to understand it better.

Hope what I have written makes some sense.

A lot of it makes sence, but i really am strugling to see the soul as carnal, as that term is used to describe the flesh. ill way it up more tomorrow. the soul crys out for God where as the flesh doesnt.

 

[ewq1938]

I have been studying and contemplating the components of man (body, soul, and spirit of man) trying to identify and define what each component actually is according to the scripture.

Actually there is no difference between the soul and spirit except the two names being different. Otherwise, they are identical:

In John 12:27, Jesus said, "Now is my soul (psuche) troubled", and in John 13:21 it says, "Jesus was troubled in his spirit (pneuma)

Here spirit and soul are used interchangeably. He was troubled in his soul, and he was troubled in his spirit.


Genesis 35:18 (KJV)
18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

James 2:26 (KJV)
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.


Here they are used also interchangeably since the body is dead when the soul departs and the body is also dead when the spirit departs.


Soul and Spirit are defined the same in both Hebrew and Greek, and even English. They are synonyms.


English:

soul (sol) noun
1. The animating and vital principle in human beings, credited with the faculties of thought, action, and emotion and often conceived as an immaterial entity.
2. The spiritual nature of human beings, regarded as immortal, separable from the body at death, and susceptible to happiness or misery in a future state.
3. The disembodied spirit of a dead human being; a shade....
5. A human being: "the homes of some nine hundred souls" (Garrison Keillor).
6. The central or integral part; the vital core: "It saddens me that this network . . . may lose its soul, which is after all the quest for news" (M. Kalb).

spir·it (spîr¹ît) noun
1. a. The vital principle or animating force within living beings. b. Incorporeal consciousness....
2. The soul, considered as departing from the body of a person at death.
6. a. The part of a human being associated with the mind, will, and feelings: Though unable to join us today, they are with us in spirit. b. The essential nature of a person or group.
7. A person as characterized by a stated quality: He is a proud spirit.(11)

BDB dictionary Hebrew:

SOUL (nephesh):
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions


SPIRIT (ruach)
1) wind, breath, mind, spirit
1a) breath
1b) wind
1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation)
1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour
1c2) courage
1c3) temper, anger
1c4) impatience, patience
1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented)
1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse
1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals)
1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being
1e) spirit (as seat of emotion)
1e1) desire
1e2) sorrow, trouble
1f) spirit
1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts
1f2) rarely of the will
1f3) as seat especially of moral character(13)

So in Hebrew "soul" refers to "that which breathes" and to the mind, desire, and emotions.
And "spirit" refers to "that which breathes" and the part of us which experiences emotions and is responsible for "mental acts."

Greek:

Thayer's Greek words for soul (psuche) and spirit (pneuma):


SOUL (psuche):
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....

SPIRIT (pneuma)
2) the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated
2a) the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides
2b) the soul
3) a spirit, i.e. a simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting
3a) a life giving spirit
3b) a human soul that has left the body
4) the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one
4a) the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire, etc.(14)



Thus in Greek "soul" refers to the animating principle which feels, desires, and can attain everlasting life with God.
And "spirit" is also the animating principle which feels, thinks, and decides. Notice once again, the use of the word soul to define spirit (twice in fact: 2b,3b).

Greek:

Strong's Greek words for soul (psuche) and spirit (pneuma):



Spirit
G4151
pneuma
pnyoo'-mah
From G4154; a current of air, that is, breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively a spirit, that is, (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, daemon, or (divine) God, Christ’s spirit, the Holy spirit: - ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind. Compare G5590.

Soul
G5590
psuche
psoo-khay'
From G5594; breath, that is, (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew [H5315], [H7307] and [H2416]: - heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you.


"Summing up, overall the definitions of the English words and lexical entries for the Hebrew and Greek words indicate that "soul" and "spirit" are interchangeable terms, with common characteristics ascribed to both."


Spirit: "by analogy or figuratively a spirit" and "the rational soul"
Soul: "(by implication) spirit" and "the rational and immortal soul"

Same exact meanings.



Unfortunately scripture doesn't provide any reasoning why the two have their own names or why we need two of something that is essentially two of the same thing with no provided differences between them. It's kind of like having a two headed coin, the same on both sides yet one side is not the other side technically.

 

[BrokenSparrow]

Actually there is no difference between the soul and spirit except the two names being different. Otherwise, they are identical:

In John 12:27, Jesus said, "Now is my soul (psuche) troubled", and in John 13:21 it says, "Jesus was troubled in his spirit (pneuma)

Here spirit and soul are used interchangeably. He was troubled in his soul, and he was troubled in his spirit.


Genesis 35:18 (KJV)
18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

James 2:26 (KJV)
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.


Here they are used also interchangeably since the body is dead when the soul departs and the body is also dead when the spirit departs.


Soul and Spirit are defined the same in both Hebrew and Greek, and even English. They are synonyms.


English:

soul (sol) noun
1. The animating and vital principle in human beings, credited with the faculties of thought, action, and emotion and often conceived as an immaterial entity.
2. The spiritual nature of human beings, regarded as immortal, separable from the body at death, and susceptible to happiness or misery in a future state.
3. The disembodied spirit of a dead human being; a shade....
5. A human being: "the homes of some nine hundred souls" (Garrison Keillor).
6. The central or integral part; the vital core: "It saddens me that this network . . . may lose its soul, which is after all the quest for news" (M. Kalb).

spir·it (spîr¹ît) noun
1. a. The vital principle or animating force within living beings. b. Incorporeal consciousness....
2. The soul, considered as departing from the body of a person at death.
6. a. The part of a human being associated with the mind, will, and feelings: Though unable to join us today, they are with us in spirit. b. The essential nature of a person or group.
7. A person as characterized by a stated quality: He is a proud spirit.(11)

BDB dictionary Hebrew:

SOUL (nephesh):
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions


SPIRIT (ruach)
1) wind, breath, mind, spirit
1a) breath
1b) wind
1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation)
1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour
1c2) courage
1c3) temper, anger
1c4) impatience, patience
1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented)
1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse
1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals)
1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being
1e) spirit (as seat of emotion)
1e1) desire
1e2) sorrow, trouble
1f) spirit
1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts
1f2) rarely of the will
1f3) as seat especially of moral character(13)

So in Hebrew "soul" refers to "that which breathes" and to the mind, desire, and emotions.
And "spirit" refers to "that which breathes" and the part of us which experiences emotions and is responsible for "mental acts."

Greek:

Thayer's Greek words for soul (psuche) and spirit (pneuma):


SOUL (psuche):
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....

SPIRIT (pneuma)
2) the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated
2a) the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides
2b) the soul
3) a spirit, i.e. a simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting
3a) a life giving spirit
3b) a human soul that has left the body
4) the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one
4a) the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire, etc.(14)



Thus in Greek "soul" refers to the animating principle which feels, desires, and can attain everlasting life with God.
And "spirit" is also the animating principle which feels, thinks, and decides. Notice once again, the use of the word soul to define spirit (twice in fact: 2b,3b).

Greek:

Strong's Greek words for soul (psuche) and spirit (pneuma):



Spirit
G4151
pneuma
pnyoo'-mah
From G4154; a current of air, that is, breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively a spirit, that is, (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, daemon, or (divine) God, Christ’s spirit, the Holy spirit: - ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind. Compare G5590.

Soul
G5590
psuche
psoo-khay'
From G5594; breath, that is, (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew [H5315], [H7307] and [H2416]: - heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you.


"Summing up, overall the definitions of the English words and lexical entries for the Hebrew and Greek words indicate that "soul" and "spirit" are interchangeable terms, with common characteristics ascribed to both."


Spirit: "by analogy or figuratively a spirit" and "the rational soul"
Soul: "(by implication) spirit" and "the rational and immortal soul"

Same exact meanings.



Unfortunately scripture doesn't provide any reasoning why the two have their own names or why we need two of something that is essentially two of the same thing with no provided differences between them. It's kind of like having a two headed coin, the same on both sides yet one side is not the other side technically.

Thanks for all the information you have supplied.

I'm going to read and study all of this and take it into account.

I previously thought soul and spirit were the same thing.

Then one day I was reading in Hebrews Chapter 4 and came across this verse:

12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

It seems to say that the soul and spirit can be divided by the word of God. So then I started researching it more and came across many different teachings about it.

I am trying to take all the scriptures into account and trying to learn as much as I can about both words soul and spirit and where they are mentioned in the Bible. I never knew just how complicated and complex it would turn out to be.

So thanks for the time you spent on giving me all of this information. I greatly appreciate it and I am going to take more time to look over it and study it.

 

[ewq1938]

Thanks for all the information you have supplied.

I'm going to read and study all of this and take it into account.

I previously thought soul and spirit were the same thing.

Then one day I was reading in Hebrews Chapter 4 and came across this verse:

12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

It seems to say that the soul and spirit can be divided by the word of God. So then I started researching it more and came across many different teachings about it.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.



Note that three sets of things are listed here as being things that the Word of God can "divide asunder" or separate from one another. This means each set of two are merged together as one but have separate characteristics.



1: soul and Spirit

2: joints and marrow

3: thoughts and intents of the heart (which is the mind)



Things things are all part of each other in complex ways. It isn't that the word of God's purpose is separating these, such as separating the bone marrow from our joints, but the intent is to show just how powerful and "sharp" the Word of God actually is. It's not meant to be literal but to simply convey it's unique power in ways that people in biblical times could grasp and understand. The Word of God doesn't literally separate the soul and Spirit from each other, nor our bone marrow from our joints, nor our thoughts from our intents.


I do not believe it is saying the soul and spirit are two different things but more like two aspects of one thing. I believe this is similar to a figure of speech to demonstrate how awesome and "sharp" the Word of God is, that it can even separate the soul and spirit. Not that it literally does, but this is an attempt to show just how powerful it is, that it can even split these things which really are one in the same. The Soul and Spirit are who we are and our "essence".

I think they are two aspects of one intangible thing that constitutes who we are. I do not believe scripture specifically defines each in the sense that the soul is "this" and the spirit is "that". In the Greek they are defined the same way.



Here are some translations that I think convey the point better than the KJV:


(CEV) What God has said isn't only alive and active! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts.


(GNB) The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart.


(GW) God's word is living and active. It is sharper than any two-edged sword and cuts as deep as the place where soul and spirit meet, the place where joints and marrow meet. God's word judges a person's thoughts and intentions.


I believe Paul is saying there is a soul and spirit which are basically one thing, and impossible to separate but the Word is so powerful that only it *could* even separate them...not that it does for what purpose could that have, but if it wanted it could do this because it can penetrate anything. We know the Word is Christ, and yes he knows us, our real inside souls and spirits, our very thoughts and intentions.


Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.


Here appropiately Paul does make a clearer reference to "Him" to connect the Word to Christ, and reiterates his message, that "all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him"...that nothing can be hidden from Him.


Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.


Then Paul gracefully moves into the subject of Christ having been essentially as we are, in the flesh and tempted of all things, and touched with the same infirmities (like fear of death) yet he sinned not, unlike us.


Paul says Christ knows our very hearts, our sins and weakneses, and He can understand because he experienced a flesh life yet did not sin...so trust Him...I believe this is the crux of the message here.

 

[BrokenSparrow]

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.



Note that three sets of things are listed here as being things that the Word of God can "divide asunder" or separate from one another. This means each set of two are merged together as one but have separate characteristics.



1: soul and Spirit

2: joints and marrow

3: thoughts and intents of the heart (which is the mind)



Things things are all part of each other in complex ways. It isn't that the word of God's purpose is separating these, such as separating the bone marrow from our joints, but the intent is to show just how powerful and "sharp" the Word of God actually is. It's not meant to be literal but to simply convey it's unique power in ways that people in biblical times could grasp and understand. The Word of God doesn't literally separate the soul and Spirit from each other, nor our bone marrow from our joints, nor our thoughts from our intents.


I do not believe it is saying the soul and spirit are two different things but more like two aspects of one thing. I believe this is similar to a figure of speech to demonstrate how awesome and "sharp" the Word of God is, that it can even separate the soul and spirit. Not that it literally does, but this is an attempt to show just how powerful it is, that it can even split these things which really are one in the same. The Soul and Spirit are who we are and our "essence".

I think they are two aspects of one intangible thing that constitutes who we are. I do not believe scripture specifically defines each in the sense that the soul is "this" and the spirit is "that". In the Greek they are defined the same way.



Here are some translations that I think convey the point better than the KJV:


(CEV) What God has said isn't only alive and active! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts.


(GNB) The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart.


(GW) God's word is living and active. It is sharper than any two-edged sword and cuts as deep as the place where soul and spirit meet, the place where joints and marrow meet. God's word judges a person's thoughts and intentions.


I believe Paul is saying there is a soul and spirit which are basically one thing, and impossible to separate but the Word is so powerful that only it *could* even separate them...not that it does for what purpose could that have, but if it wanted it could do this because it can penetrate anything. We know the Word is Christ, and yes he knows us, our real inside souls and spirits, our very thoughts and intentions.


Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.


Here appropiately Paul does make a clearer reference to "Him" to connect the Word to Christ, and reiterates his message, that "all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him"...that nothing can be hidden from Him.


Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.


Then Paul gracefully moves into the subject of Christ having been essentially as we are, in the flesh and tempted of all things, and touched with the same infirmities (like fear of death) yet he sinned not, unlike us.


Paul says Christ knows our very hearts, our sins and weakneses, and He can understand because he experienced a flesh life yet did not sin...so trust Him...I believe this is the crux of the message here.

Thanks so much. The way you explain it makes sense. The other translations do seem to imply that it is the same thing.

I wasn't using the KJV. I was using the Berean Study Bible which reference the words spirit and soul with two different Greek words. I think you have already mentioned both in your previous post though. So I guess, that is where I am having issues with it. I am going to study this post and your previous one more too.

If you don't mind could you look at my previous post. If you click on the highlighted word soul and spirit separately in my quote of the BSB translation, it will give you the Greek word for each being used. I'm really no expert on Greek words or meanings so I would like your input.

It gives the word for soul as psuché . and provides this definition and usage for it:
Definition: breath, the soul
Usage: (a) the vital breath, breath of life, (b) the human soul, (c) the soul as the seat of affections and will, (d) the self, (e) a human person, an individual.

Then it gives the word for soul and definition as:
4151 pneúma – properly, spirit (Spirit), wind, or breath. The most frequent meaning (translation) of 4151 (pneúma) in the NT is "spirit" ("Spirit"). Only the context however determines which sense(s) is meant.

[Any of the above renderings (spirit-Spirit, wind, breath) of 4151 (pneúma) is always theoretically possible (spirit, Spirit, wind, breath). But when the attributive adjective ("holy") is used, it always refers to the Holy Spirit. "Spirit" ("spirit") is by far the most common translation (application) of 4151 (pneúma).

The Hebrew counterpart (rûach) has the same range of meaning as 4151 (pneúma), i.e. it likewise can refer to spirit/Spirit, wind, or breath.]

Is this pertaining to the same thing? Sorry if you have already answered this in your previous post. Like I said before this is complicated to me.

I know the breath is the same. But does the spirit also include all the other attributes to the soul such as the self will etc.

Some of the teachings that I have been studying say that the spirit is that which is regenerated when we are saved and it is the part that is born again and is alive to God and is consciousness towards God.

The soul is the natural life, thoughts, will, or self consciousness. They say the soul without the spirit is just a natural life or natural man and is not really alive to God.

Here are some more definitions I posted in a previous post about it:
1. (Soul)
5591 psyxikós (an adjective, derived from 5590 /psyxḗ, "soul, natural identity") – properly, soulish, i.e. what is natural, as it relates to physical (tangible) life alone (i.e. apart from God's inworking of faith).
5591 /psyxikós ("natural") typically describes the natural ("lower") aspect of humanity, i.e. behavior that is "more of earth (carnality) than heaven." 5591 (psyxikós) then sometimes stands in contrast to

2. Spiritual
The spirit of man or /pneumatikós is defined as:
4152 /pneumatikós ("spiritual") – the higher, spiritual aspect of humanity that develops through faith (4102 /pístis).

I know this is a lot to ask of you, but could you please read over this and my post #44 if you get time, to see what you think. https://christianchat.com/threads/h...dy-soul-and-spirit-of-man.200287/post-4605946

It really is complex and complicated to me and I am trying to understand it better. I don't want to go about it the wrong way or be in error so I would greatly appreciate any further input and advise you can give me.

Thanks

 

[ewq1938]

Thanks so much. The way you explain it makes sense. The other translations do seem to imply that it is the same thing.

I wasn't using the KJV. I was using the Berean Study Bible which reference the words spirit and soul with two different Greek words. I think you have already mentioned both in your previous post though. So I guess, that is where I am having issues with it. I am going to study this post and your previous one more too.

If you don't mind could you look at my previous post. If you click on the highlighted word soul and spirit separately in my quote of the BSB translation, it will give you the Greek word for each being used. I'm really no expert on Greek words or meanings so I would like your input.

It gives the word for soul as psuché . and provides this definition and usage for it:
Definition: breath, the soul
Usage: (a) the vital breath, breath of life, (b) the human soul, (c) the soul as the seat of affections and will, (d) the self, (e) a human person, an individual.

Then it gives the word for soul and definition as:
4151 pneúma – properly, spirit (Spirit), wind, or breath. The most frequent meaning (translation) of 4151 (pneúma) in the NT is "spirit" ("Spirit"). Only the context however determines which sense(s) is meant.

[Any of the above renderings (spirit-Spirit, wind, breath) of 4151 (pneúma) is always theoretically possible (spirit, Spirit, wind, breath). But when the attributive adjective ("holy") is used, it always refers to the Holy Spirit. "Spirit" ("spirit") is by far the most common translation (application) of 4151 (pneúma).

The Hebrew counterpart (rûach) has the same range of meaning as 4151 (pneúma), i.e. it likewise can refer to spirit/Spirit, wind, or breath.]

Is this pertaining to the same thing?

Yes. Just remember that the spirit and soul have almost identical definitions in English, Hebrew and Greek.

I know the breath is the same. But does the spirit also include all the other attributes to the soul such as the self will etc.

Yes. Just go back to my post and re-read where I show the same or similar wording in the word's definitions.

Some of the teachings that I have been studying say that the spirit is that which is regenerated when we are saved and it is the part that is born again and is alive to God and is consciousness towards God.

That's incorrect plus you will notice that they don't have anything that backs up that theory.

The soul is the natural life, thoughts, will, or self consciousness. They say the soul without the spirit is just a natural life or natural man and is not really alive to God.

The soul and spirit are linked together and do not separate so this explanation cannot be correct.





Here are some more definitions I posted in a previous post about it:

1. (Soul)
5591 psyxikós (an adjective, derived from 5590 /psyxḗ, "soul, natural identity") – properly, soulish, i.e. what is natural, as it relates to physical (tangible) life alone (i.e. apart from God's inworking of faith).
5591 /psyxikós ("natural") typically describes the natural ("lower") aspect of humanity, i.e. behavior that is "more of earth (carnality) than heaven." 5591 (psyxikós) then sometimes stands in contrast to

2. Spiritual
The spirit of man or /pneumatikós is defined as:
4152 /pneumatikós ("spiritual") – the higher, spiritual aspect of humanity that develops through faith (4102 /pístis).

Take note that whoever wrote those definitions did not one time back it up with any scripture or official dictionary. It's just personal opinion disguised as a dictionary definition. It also contradicts the multiple dictionary definitions that I provided.

I know this is a lot to ask of you, but could you please read over this and my post #44 if you get time, to see what you think.

ok

 

[ewq1938]

I found a pretty good teaching on spirit, soul, and body. It helps to distinguish between soul and spirit.

Seems the Greek word for soulish or psuchikos: is translated into most Bible versions in different ways in English. Sometimes it is referred to as the natural man, carnal man, worldly or sensual, but it is actually the same Greek word being used in each passage for these various meanings of soulish.

1. (Soul)
5591 psyxikós (an adjective, derived from 5590 /psyxḗ, "soul, natural identity") – properly, soulish, i.e. what is natural, as it relates to physical (tangible) life alone (i.e. apart from God's inworking of faith).
5591 /psyxikós ("natural") typically describes the natural ("lower") aspect of humanity, i.e. behavior that is "more of earth (carnality) than heaven." 5591 (psyxikós) then sometimes stands in contrast to

2. Spiritual
The spirit of man or /pneumatikós is defined as:
4152 /pneumatikós ("spiritual") – the higher, spiritual aspect of humanity that develops through faith (4102 /pístis).

I commented on this is previous post. This is just opinion.

So it seems the spirit is the part of man that is regenerated by God through faith. It is the highest level of man. It is in direct connection with God.

That isn't supported by the bible though. Never does it say the spirit of a man is the highest level.

The soul is natural or carnal. It is the part that can be in rebellion to God.

What verse says that? When one iws in rebellion to God, it ivolves the whole person, body, soul and spirit not just one of them.

In order to be in true worship and connection to God our spirit must be regenerated by God through faith in his Son Jesus Christ.

This is about being born again but scripture speaks of the whole man being born again not only one part of him:

Joh_3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

First off, God places a drawing/conviction upon our soul. Our soul must choose to deny itself and trust and accept Him. After doing so our spirit becomes regenerated or born again by God through faith in Jesus.

Once saved God's spirit dwells with our regenerated spirit. The spirit is where we directly communicate with and get our instructions from God.

Our spirit is in subjection to God, and our soul must be subjected to our spirit, and the body must also be subjected to the spirit, as well.

The spirit lives to worship, please, and obey God. If we get out of the spirit or out of communication with God then that is when trouble can begin. Our soul was the part that was in rebellion to begin with so it and our body must be kept in subjection to the spirit which is ultimately in subjection to the Spirit of God.

Our soul is the part that Satan tempts. It is the part where our self-will (wants), thoughts, and emotions comes into play. It is emotional and moody constantly changing...it is the part that can be tempted.

All just opinion and devoid of any scriptural evidence.

So to sum it up, our spirit is the highest level that is in connection with God, the soul is the the thoughts, emotions, and self-will, the body is the lowest level or physical part that functions through our senses and/or physical needs.

While the body might be correctly thought of as lower, the soul and spirit are equal.

Our spirit must be in subjection to God's Spirit.

So does our soul.

God walks with us and communicates with us directly through our spirit.

Never seen that in scripture but I have seen that God sends us His spirit and that's often how he communicates with us.

 

[BrokenSparrow]

Thanks for taking the time to look at it and give me your thoughts on it.

Yes. Just remember that the spirit and soul have almost identical definitions in English, Hebrew and Greek.

Yes, they are very close in meaning.

That's incorrect plus you will notice that they don't have anything that backs up that theory.

So, yes this makes it more complicated as well.

If you click on the blue numbers beside each each word it will give you a link to the concordances used with each. They are not the actual word soul and spirit. They both are derivatives for the words soul and spirit. The adj. form being soulish and spiritual.

Here are links to both words in the concordances used for each:
https://biblehub.com/greek/5591.htm
https://biblehub.com/greek/4152.htm

If you type in the difference between soul and spirit then it will give you many, many, places that say pretty much the same thing as I have typed. They do have scripture listed that does seem to distinguish the two, as well. Some suggested that the soul and spirit are connected but can be separated. Using such scriptures that refer to being spiritually dead as one way to discern between soul and spirit.

Here are just a few of them:
https://www.compellingtruth.org/difference-soul-spirit.html
https://activechristianity.org/soul-vs-spirit-what-is-the-difference

I don't normally use Got Questions but they even have a video about it. lol
https://www.gotquestions.org/soul-spirit.html

Like I said there are hundreds of articles relating to this topic and most do distinguish between the spirit and soul.

Maybe I'm taking it too far and putting too much thought and research into it. Maybe it is not really as complicated as what I'm making it IDK.

Like I said I really don't want to be in error, either way.

So thanks for all the information you have provided.

 

[ewq1938]

I don't normally use Got Questions but they even have a video about it. lol
https://www.gotquestions.org/soul-spirit.html

And that article is full of errors. Here's one:

"Unlike human beings having a spirit, human beings are souls."

Soul has three definitions.

1: the word soul is an old English term that could be used in place of the word "person" or "human being". Basically if you had a soul you could be called a soul.

2: The word soul can be a reference to the human body.

3: the word soul is also the spiritual part of human beings (it's moral and emotional aspect), and survives death and will wait for a physical body to inhabit again at the resurrection.


1Th_5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here we have all the parts that comprise a whole person: 1. body, 2. soul and 3. spirit. The soul here is definition 3.


1Pe_3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Here soul is speaking of all three, body soul and spirit together as a complete person. This would be a soul as in definition 1 and 2.

Human beings have a soul and a spirit and a body. Colloquially a person is a "soul" but a different type of soul than the soul within us.

***************************

Rev_6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

Here we see the souls of dead people communicating with God which shouldn't be possible if the soul is "just a natural life or natural man and is not really alive to God." It should have been the spirits of the dead communicating with God if those made up definitions were actually correct.

 

[BrokenSparrow]

And that article is full of errors. Here's one:

"Unlike human beings having a spirit, human beings are souls."

Soul has three definitions.

1: the word soul is an old English term that could be used in place of the word "person" or "human being". Basically if you had a soul you could be called a soul.

2: The word soul can be a reference to the human body.

3: the word soul is also the spiritual part of human beings (it's moral and emotional aspect), and survives death and will wait for a physical body to inhabit again at the resurrection.


1Th_5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here we have all the parts that comprise a whole person: 1. body, 2. soul and 3. spirit. The soul here is definition 3.


1Pe_3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Here soul is speaking of all three, body soul and spirit together as a complete person. This would be a soul as in definition 1 and 2.

Human beings have a soul and a spirit and a body. Colloquially a person is a "soul" but a different type of soul than the soul within us.

***************************

Rev_6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

Here we see the souls of dead people communicating with God which shouldn't be possible if the soul is "just a natural life or natural man and is not really alive to God." It should have been the spirits of the dead communicating with God if those made up definitions were actually correct.

Thank you this is really good information.

I think many of the articles that I read referred to souls as being eternal, as well.

They seemed to suggest, if the spirit was not regenerated then the soul would live eternally in hell.

They suggest that it is only by the regeneration of the spirit that the soul can live eternally with God. You are right. I do need to look for scriptures that they are using to see if it does directly apply.

Like I said, I always thought the two were the same. Then started contemplating the verse in Hebrews and started researching it and found the many articles and teachings that the soul and spirit are different.

Another thing that I should have done was made a list of all the scripture that people in the articles used to try to distinguish between the spirit and soul. That was a mistake on my part, because I have been pretty busy, but I should have included the scriptures so that we could discuss them.

Anyways, I have enjoyed reading your posts. You make a lot of sense on the issue.

I am going to look at your posts more closely tomorrow. It is late so I'm going to turn in. Have a good night and thanks again

 

[ewq1938]

Another thing that I should have done was made a list of all the scripture that people in the articles used to try to distinguish between the spirit and soul. That was a mistake on my part, because I have been pretty busy, but I should have included the scriptures so that we could discuss them.

Anyways, I have enjoyed reading your posts. You make a lot of sense on the issue.

I am going to look at your posts more closely tomorrow. It is late so I'm going to turn in. Have a good night and thanks again

Appreciate everything you said and thanks for keeping an open mind. The majority of people will see things the other way. The way I see this subject is definitely in the minority. Feel free to ask me more questions or ask for commentary. I'll answer as best I can and leave it up to you and those reading to decide if what I say is accurate or not.

 

[Hungry]

interesting analogy, all tho i do feal like a bit of a robot reading it. lol the difference is what ever information a robot downloads it stores. but with us, we only store information that we understand. maybe thats our conscience telling us something there. That where not pre programmed lol

I’ve done years…and years of research into the human invention. The more I learn, the more I see not how we are made like robots. Robots are made like us. We desire to be like God. The created designs (us) made in His image, now replicate designs made in our image. God created man to tend the garden and be His stewards over Creation. We design technology to take care of our bidding. Humans were the first AI. Humans working together to build the Tower of Babel is like Skynet becoming sentient. Regardless, how the brain works in concert with our endocrine system (hypothalamus) in the skull and at the very center is the pineal gland is the soul, body and spirit joined and protected in the safest part of our body. We are the intellectual property of Jehovah.

 

[Hungry]

And that article is full of errors. Here's one:

"Unlike human beings having a spirit, human beings are souls."

Soul has three definitions.

1: the word soul is an old English term that could be used in place of the word "person" or "human being". Basically if you had a soul you could be called a soul.

2: The word soul can be a reference to the human body.

3: the word soul is also the spiritual part of human beings (it's moral and emotional aspect), and survives death and will wait for a physical body to inhabit again at the resurrection.


1Th_5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here we have all the parts that comprise a whole person: 1. body, 2. soul and 3. spirit. The soul here is definition 3.


1Pe_3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Here soul is speaking of all three, body soul and spirit together as a complete person. This would be a soul as in definition 1 and 2.

Human beings have a soul and a spirit and a body. Colloquially a person is a "soul" but a different type of soul than the soul within us.

***************************

Rev_6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

Here we see the souls of dead people communicating with God which shouldn't be possible if the soul is "just a natural life or natural man and is not really alive to God." It should have been the spirits of the dead communicating with God if those made up definitions were actually correct.

I think if the ancient peoples who recorded these things had better language to label with we wouldn’t be spending countless hours debating such triviality. The word “spirit” (pneuma) is “wind”. They didn’t have words to encapsulate the electromagnetic spectrum. Today we do have such words as frequency and energy. The problem is these words are buzz words for Newagers. If you try to explain or understand the connectivity with God and man through vibrations and frequencies generated by sensible fluctuations in energy manipulated through emotions, surely you can’t be Christian because you didn’t say Spirit.

 

[tourist]

Thanks for all the information you have supplied.

I'm going to read and study all of this and take it into account.

I previously thought soul and spirit were the same thing.

Then one day I was reading in Hebrews Chapter 4 and came across this verse:

12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

It seems to say that the soul and spirit can be divided by the word of God. So then I started researching it more and came across many different teachings about it.

I am trying to take all the scriptures into account and trying to learn as much as I can about both words soul and spirit and where they are mentioned in the Bible. I never knew just how complicated and complex it would turn out to be.

So thanks for the time you spent on giving me all of this information. I greatly appreciate it and I am going to take more time to look over it and study it.

Dividing soul and spirit. The key word, of course, being 'and'. I love the book of Hebrews. It is chock full of interesting spiritual tidbits to chew on.