What’s The Difference Between The Body, Soul, And Spirit?

Name: Mary
Question: Brandon, enjoy your readings and explanations so much.

Help me understand the difference between the soul and spirit. I understand when we die our spirit returns to God, but what about the soul?

Blessings to you! Keep up the good work!

Answer: Mary, thank you for the question and feedback.

I’ll answer your question in simple terms, then I’ll go into detail.

Essentially, our spirit resides in a vessel, which is either a natural or spiritual body, (1 Corinthians 15:44). When the body and spirit are combined together, that describes the “soul” of an individual. I’ll prove this by referencing Scripture and looking up the meaning of the words “soul” and “spirit.”

Let’s get started.

Do We Have A Spirit, Soul, And Body?

To a large degree, the words “spirit” and “soul” are used interchangeably in Scripture. Their meanings are very similar, and I’ll cover those later in this study. However, some Christians draw a hard line between “spirit,” “soul,” and “body” due to the following verses.

1 Thessalonians 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.

Many believe Paul described a distinction between the “spirit,” “soul,” and “body.”

I disagree, it was a figure of speech.

Paul was simply providing emphasis that he wanted the entirety of the Thessalonians to be sanctified and preserved blameless. After all, could we be preserved blameless if our “body” sinned, but not our spirit?

Of course not.

If our body sins, then our spirit sins, as our spirit made the decision to engage in sinful acts. In the end, no matter what one believes, the “spirit,” “soul,” and “body” are tied together.

All right, let’s have the next verse.

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.

Others believe this verse draws a distinction between the “soul” and “spirit.”

Again, I disagree.

We do not possess a “spirit,” “soul,” and “body.” However, we do have a “spirit,” and when it’s combined with our “body,” that defines our “soul.”

Let me explain further.

Adam Became A Living Soul

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.

Notice the order here…

First, the “body” of Adam was created, and then God placed the “breath of life” into the body. That would describe Adam’s spirit, and notice what happens next. Adam became a “living soul.” So Adam was not a living soul until God placed his spirit into his body.

That clearly tells us, we do not have a “spirit,” “soul,” and “body.” Rather, we have a “spirit,” and when it’s combined together with a “body,” we become a “living soul.”

Look what the Book of James tells us.

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

Essentially, that’s exactly what we were just told about Adam.

If our body does not have a spirit, it’s dead. If it’s dead, then it’s not a “living soul.”

So once the spirit and body are combined together, we become a soul. Mind you, our body can either be a natural body or a spiritual body, just as Paul described in 1 Corinthians 15:35-55.

All right, now let’s look at some examples of “soul” and “spirit” being used interchangeably.

Soul And Spirit Are Used Interchangeable

Let’s look at a few examples…

  • “…her spirit came again.” – Luke 8:55

The maiden perished, but she was resurrected, as her spirit entered her body.

This once again made her, “a living soul.”

  • “…her soul was in departing.” – Genesis 35:18

When Rachel passed away due to giving birth, her soul departed.

A clear figure of speech, since once we pass away, our “spirit shall return unto God who gave it,” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). A soul cannot depart a body, but a spirit can. Remember, the soul defines the connection of the spirit and body.

  • “…God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave.” – Psalms 49:15

When we die, our body certainly remains in the grave.

However, our spirit is instantly resurrected at death. Just as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was instantly resurrected at His crucifixion.

Therefore, these verses help us understand, the “soul” simply refers to our general being. It’s primarily used as a figure of speech for our spirit, which is the source of our existence.

Let’s look at a few more examples.

  1. “…fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” – Matthew 10:28
  2. “…save a soul from death.” – James 5:20
  3. “…which is able to save your souls.” – James 1:21

With respect to these three verses…

If we had all three: a spirit, soul, and body, then what of the spirit?

Would God destroy a soul and body, leaving the spirit to roam for eternity?

Of course not.

We can clearly see, the reference is being made to our very being in each of these cases. The fact of the matter is, God will utterly blot out the sinner who does not change the error of his ways: spirit and body, (Revelation 3:5).

In the case of point #2, when we help convert a sinner, we are saving a soul, we are saving a child of God from death. It encompasses their whole self.

In the case of point #3, when we live according to the Book, we save our soul from death. This refers to our whole self, just as Paul mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:3.

We cannot just save our soul, body, or spirit, it’s all or nothing my friends.

All right, I think we have that covered.

Our Spirit Is The Source Of Our Thoughts

Some Christians who hold to the theory of a spirit, soul, and body believe the soul contains our mind, thoughts, and emotions. However, that’s not what the Bible says.

1 Corinthians 2:11
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Therefore, our spirit is the source of our thoughts and emotions. Our body can certainly put a damper on our emotions, but when our body is healthy, our spirit shines through.

An Evil Spirit Needs A Body

We can learn more about the relationship between the spirit and body from Jesus.

In Luke 11:24-26, we’re told when an evil spirit is cast out of a man, the evil spirit,

“…walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.”

Now, why can’t the evil spirit rest, and why does it need a “house?”

“A spirit hath no flesh and bones,” and needs a body to manifest itself, (Luke 24:39). This tells us, the spirit is the very basis of an individual. The body simply provides a way for a spirit to manifest itself, and interact in the realm in which it resides.

If that were not true, the evil spirit would have no need of a “house” to dwell in.

When we put this all together, it tells us, a spirit must have a “house,” a spirit must have a body, and when the two come together, they forms a “living soul,” just like Adam.

A Look At The Words Soul And Spirit

Now, let’s take a quick look at the words “spirit” and “soul” in the Old and New Testaments.

In The Old Testament

  • Spirit” is “rûach” and it means, “wind, breath, figuratively life, by resemblance spirit.”
  • Soul” is “nephesh” and it means, “a breathing creature, breath, ghost, soul.”

In The New Testament

  • Spirit” is “pneuma” and it means, “breath, the rational soul, an angel, daemon, or (divine) God, Christ’s spirit, the Holy spirit, ghost, life, spirit, mind.”
  • Soul” is “psuchē” and it means, “breath, spirit, heart, life, mind, soul, us, you.”

As we can see, the words are very similar, and they’re often used interchangeably. That doesn’t mean a “spirit” is a “soul,” but the meaning becomes very minute, and it simply refers to our “being.”

Summary

As we learned, soul and spirit are often used interchangeably. While we have a spirit, our soul describes our spirit’s connection with a body. We learned that in the case of Adam. He didn’t become a “living soul,” until God placed his spirit within the body.

Likewise, the evil “spirit” from Luke roamed the earth without a body, until he found a “body,” a “house” where his spirit could reside. Therefore, it is this connection, the body and spirit that make up a complete soul.

To sum up, you don’t have a “soul,” you are a soul.

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