Are you a body with a soul, or a soul with a body?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,741
441
83
#41
By sayibg creation do you mean Christ's body (ie, us) or creation in general? I hope not the latter
God is Spirit, so no one has ever seen God in a physical form other than those who beheld God incarnate as Christ (1JN 4:12, JN 1:14) and those who behold His creation, which reveals God's omnipotence = omnipresence and loving nature (pun intended) per RM 1:20 (cf. ACTS 17:24-28).
 

The_Parson

Active member
Dec 1, 2024
145
32
28
East Tennessee
#42
I still would certainly hope that it's understood that the soul is that which is saved. Not the body or spirit.

James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

1 Peter 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
 

Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
3,039
1,796
113
#43
Couple of questions:
Is "in all" necessarily all, given that God is never in all in a redemption sense? All are said to be "in" the image of God, but not all are "in" Christ.
If God's preeminent purpose is His glory, and if God is equally glorified in all His attributes, why wouldn't eternal justice serve God's purpose?
Justice without an offense? There will be no offender in that age.

"Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all."

"All" even includes the Son in this age to come. Since nothing was made apart from being made through Him (the Son) I believe that "all" means "all".

Consider eternal conscious torment of a 19 year old who never received Christ. Instead of quoting "His ways are mysterious" what rationale can we give for tormenting that girl in hellfire for eternity? We make all kinds of mythos about "Well, God works in mysterious ways" and "God's eternal character demands an equally eternal consequence", etc. Those stories were created to keep people in pews and scare people into conversion (which is no conversion at all).

No, they are destroyed. Along with the enemy and the demons.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,628
5,897
113
#45
You are a tri-part being ----First your a Spirit Being ----you Possess a Soul and your Spirit and Soul are housed in a Temporal physical body which is needed to live in this Physical world -----

Many use the Spirit and soul interchangeably but the Scripture separated them ---Hebrews 4:12

We are made in God's image ---which is a Spirit being ----then God breathed life into us ---Soul and the body of dust houses these till we pass from this world ----

“you Possess a Soul “

“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.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:7‬ ‭

“And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭

“All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six;”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭46:26‬ ‭

a living soul , is a living being. A body formed of the dust by God , in which God then breathed from within himself the spirit of life the mind and heart thoughts and identity of who we actually are inside character , personality , emotions and feelings ect . The part of us that is the “driver of the boat. “ the actual person inside

procreation then a design of God , Carrie’s on the process

the Bible also uses it to refer to the life or existence of the person.

“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:21-22‬ ‭

“Save your souls “

isn’t saying save a possession you have and can lose and still exist ,

it’s saying “ save you “

“receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“The saving of yourselves “ or your being. Your self or existence “ you “ are a living soul
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
61,100
30,223
113
#46
My take on this subject. When the Lord formed Adam from the earth he was motionless and basically dead. I dont see Jesus breathing a breath of air into Adam but a living soul. Same with our parents, baby is formed from the earth but the living soul comes from the Lord.
Genesis 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.


 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,741
441
83
#47
I still would certainly hope that it's understood that the soul is that which is saved. Not the body or spirit.

James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

1 Peter 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Upon our translation to heaven, Paul says in 1CR 15:35-54 that the earthly body will be changed into an immortal body. Presumably this also applies to the earthly human spirit (1THS 5:23), which is associated with the mind on PHP 2:2 and apparently substituted for the spirit in such verses as MT 22:37 & ACTS 4:32.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
20,041
6,864
113
62
#48
Justice without an offense? There will be no offender in that age.

"Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all."

"All" even includes the Son in this age to come. Since nothing was made apart from being made through Him (the Son) I believe that "all" means "all".

Consider eternal conscious torment of a 19 year old who never received Christ. Instead of quoting "His ways are mysterious" what rationale can we give for tormenting that girl in hellfire for eternity? We make all kinds of mythos about "Well, God works in mysterious ways" and "God's eternal character demands an equally eternal consequence", etc. Those stories were created to keep people in pews and scare people into conversion (which is no conversion at all).

No, they are destroyed. Along with the enemy and the demons.
I appreciate the explanation, but your answer doesn't address God's purpose. If His purpose in eternity remains His glory, how does limiting the display of His justice accomplish this?
And what exactly is the appropriate punishment for an offense against a God who is eternal? We find in His forgiveness of sin eternal life. This certainly reflects the nature and glory of God. An equal and opposite response for unforgiveness seems to be the parallel response that would equally reflect and glory God.
You obviously disagree, but I'm struggling to understand why? I understand you believe it to be a different dispensation. I just don't see how the logic follows.
If you disregard the original offense, is it equally suitable to disregard the original forgiveness?
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
61,100
30,223
113
#49
I appreciate the explanation, but your answer doesn't address God's purpose. If His purpose in eternity remains His glory, how does limiting the display of His justice accomplish this?
And what exactly is the appropriate punishment for an offense against a God who is eternal? We find in His forgiveness of sin eternal life. This certainly reflects the nature and glory of God. An equal and opposite response for unforgiveness seems to be the parallel response that would equally reflect and glory God.
You obviously disagree, but I'm struggling to understand why? I understand you believe it to be a different dispensation. I just don't see how the logic follows.
If you disregard the original offense, is it equally suitable to disregard the original forgiveness?
The options in the garden and elsewhere have been between life and death. Why would
anyone think God needs to display His anger forever in order for His justice to prevail?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,925
13,607
113
#50
While reading the thread about Baptism of the Holy Spirit, this thought came to me that I thought might be ignored in a thread that's so involved. Do you consider yourself a body, with a spirit and with an eternal soul, or an eternal soul that has a temporal body that's governed by a God given spirit?

It sound like a dumb question until you think and pray about it for a bit.
a soul which inhabits a body.
in the resurrection that body will be raised, and glorified, and we will be reunited with it.
 
Nov 14, 2024
24
11
3
#51
It sound like a dumb question until you think and pray about it for a bit.
O.K. I thought about it - didn't have TO PRAY, SINCE NONE OF IT MATTERS AT ALL. I'm a human being indwelled by the Holy Spirit who bears witness to MY spirit that I'm a child of GOD. Pretty soon I'll be Physically DEAD, but spiritually alive in God's Presence. What all of that means, I don't know, and neither do you.

So I'll just ignore the whole thing, and find out for myself shortly.
 

The_Parson

Active member
Dec 1, 2024
145
32
28
East Tennessee
#52
O.K. I thought about it - didn't have TO PRAY, SINCE NONE OF IT MATTERS AT ALL. I'm a human being indwelled by the Holy Spirit who bears witness to MY spirit that I'm a child of GOD. Pretty soon I'll be Physically DEAD, but spiritually alive in God's Presence. What all of that means, I don't know, and neither do you.

So I'll just ignore the whole thing, and find out for myself shortly.
Okey Doke, but I can see a pretty clear picture through the scriptures that I don't fully understand, but will one day. Thanks for sharin!!!
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,746
608
113
#53
“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.”
Adam was an adult when God created Him and so was eve ----God Breathed into their souls ---so they became a living soul

Today that is not the case ----a fetus is formed from an egg and sperm ----then during the pregnancy the Baby develops a soul ----so a baby will possess a Soul at some point ---

there are different views on when the soul is formed in the fetus

From Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensou...ious views are that,of the uterus (viability).

In the time of Aristotle, it was widely believed that the human soul entered the forming body at 40 days (male embryos) or 90 days (female embryos), and quickening was an indication of the presence of a soul. Other religious views are that ensoulment happens at the moment of conception; or when the child takes the first breath after being born;[1][2] at the formation of the nervous system and brain; at the first detectable sign of brain activity; or when the fetus is able to survive independently of the uterus (viability).[
 

Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
3,039
1,796
113
#54
I appreciate the explanation, but your answer doesn't address God's purpose. If His purpose in eternity remains His glory, how does limiting the display of His justice accomplish this?
Good questions.

Assuming that His glory is apart from justice (which it is) justice would be served when the ultimate wage of sin is completed: death. Justice ultimately makes both sides whole after judgement. So, in the case of theft, the offender often receives a fine for what was stolen and a certain amount of time in jail. The fine satisfies the injustice done to the victim and the time served satisfies the burden on the community. Once both are fulfilled, justice is served.

In an exchange like this in the eternal, God does not lose anything: the spirits that were given return to Him. So, He remains whole. In fact, sticking with the OP, God's spirit in us is simply an endowment of Himself to us. We do not own Him. That's part of the gospel: we are given life by the same power that raised Christ from the dead.

And what exactly is the appropriate punishment for an offense against a God who is eternal? We find in His forgiveness of sin eternal life. This certainly reflects the nature and glory of God. An equal and opposite response for unforgiveness seems to be the parallel response that would equally reflect and glory God.
We were not created to be saved. We were created to represent Him. If we do not receive forgiveness of sin through Christ, then we will not represent Him.

You obviously disagree, but I'm struggling to understand why? I understand you believe it to be a different dispensation. I just don't see how the logic follows.
If you disregard the original offense, is it equally suitable to disregard the original forgiveness?
It's the same dispensation that attended creation: everything that existed was made by Him (Christ) BUT His sacrifice for us was given before people were made. Because of this, our bodies and our souls are not eternal (that is why we are given new bodies and why the soul must be ruled by the spirit) but the spirit that God gave us is eternal because it is an endowment of Him. Once it returns to God who gave it, the body and soul can be destroyed. Or, we must be given new bodies that can live forever.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
20,041
6,864
113
62
#55
Good questions.

Assuming that His glory is apart from justice (which it is) justice would be served when the ultimate wage of sin is completed: death. Justice ultimately makes both sides whole after judgement. So, in the case of theft, the offender often receives a fine for what was stolen and a certain amount of time in jail. The fine satisfies the injustice done to the victim and the time served satisfies the burden on the community. Once both are fulfilled, justice is served.

In an exchange like this in the eternal, God does not lose anything: the spirits that were given return to Him. So, He remains whole. In fact, sticking with the OP, God's spirit in us is simply an endowment of Himself to us. We do not own Him. That's part of the gospel: we are given life by the same power that raised Christ from the dead.



We were not created to be saved. We were created to represent Him. If we do not receive forgiveness of sin through Christ, then we will not represent Him.



It's the same dispensation that attended creation: everything that existed was made by Him (Christ) BUT His sacrifice for us was given before people were made. Because of this, our bodies and our souls are not eternal (that is why we are given new bodies and why the soul must be ruled by the spirit) but the spirit that God gave us is eternal because it is an endowment of Him. Once it returns to God who gave it, the body and soul can be destroyed. Or, we must be given new bodies that can live forever.
So what becomes the spirits of unjust men? If one understands them to be eternal, how is their destruction possible?
 

Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
3,039
1,796
113
#56
So what becomes the spirits of unjust men? If one understands them to be eternal, how is their destruction possible?
Their spirits are not destroyed. They return to God who gave them. They originated with Him, they return to Him.

Their souls are destroyed in the LoF.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
20,041
6,864
113
62
#57
Their spirits are not destroyed. They return to God who gave them. They originated with Him, they return to Him.

Their souls are destroyed in the LoF.
Then how are they not partakers of the divine nature?
 
Feb 15, 2024
91
22
8
Victoria, Australia
#58
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. The Spirit is the One who gives life. John 6:63

Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

For you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Genesis 3:19 (Referring to the human flesh, Adam was cut off from the tree of life.)

Also, you can see in revelation 20 and 21 the eternal home of ungodly spirits day and night they worship God the Father and Son without rest.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,628
5,897
113
#59
Adam was an adult when God created Him and so was eve ----God Breathed into their souls ---so they became a living soul

Today that is not the case ----a fetus is formed from an egg and sperm ----then during the pregnancy the Baby develops a soul ----so a baby will possess a Soul at some point ---

there are different views on when the soul is formed in the fetus

From Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensoulment#:~:text=Other religious views are that,of the uterus (viability).

In the time of Aristotle, it was widely believed that the human soul entered the forming body at 40 days (male embryos) or 90 days (female embryos), and quickening was an indication of the presence of a soul. Other religious views are that ensoulment happens at the moment of conception; or when the child takes the first breath after being born;[1][2] at the formation of the nervous system and brain; at the first detectable sign of brain activity; or when the fetus is able to survive independently of the uterus (viability).[
“Adam was an adult when God created Him and so was eve ----God Breathed into their souls ---so they became a living soul “

All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six;”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭46:26‬ ‭KJV‬‬
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
61,100
30,223
113
#60
Adam was an adult when God created Him and so was eve ----God Breathed into their souls ---so they became a living soul
God breathed into their souls? Eh??? No translation says that... because it makes no sense.

New International Version
Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.


New Living Translation
Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed
the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.


English Standard Version
then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.


Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed
the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.


King James Bible
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.


New King James Version
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 being.


New American Standard Bible
Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living person.


NASB 1995
Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.


NASB 1977
Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.


Legacy Standard Bible
Then Yahweh God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and so the man became a living being.


Amplified Bible
then the LORD God formed [that is, created the body of] man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being [an individual complete in body and spirit].


Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and
breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.


Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed
the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.


American Standard Version
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.


Contemporary English Version
The LORD God took some soil from the ground and made a man.
God breathed life into the man, and the man started breathing.


English Revised Version
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.


GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the earth and blew
the breath of life into his nostrils. The man became a living being.


Good News Translation
Then the LORD God took some soil from the ground and formed a man out of it;
he breathed life-giving breath into his nostrils and the man began to live.


International Standard Version
So the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground,
breathed life into his lungs, and the man became a living being.


Majority Standard Bible
Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed
the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.


NET Bible
The LORD God formed the man from the soil of the ground and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.


New Heart English Bible
And God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.


Webster's Bible Translation
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.


World English Bible
Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.