The Three Parts of a Person – Spirit, Soul and Body

Spirit Soul Body – It is vitally important to recognize that indeed there are 3 parts of a person: the body, the soul (connection to the physical world) and the spirit (connection to God).   Please review this video or continue reading below.

It is obvious that we have a fleshly body.  Humanists would say that we are the product of a very long process of evolution resulting in a very complex body.  The dead body, in their thinking, is just an organized collection of smaller pieces of physical matter that are no longer functioning.  During the time that the body was living, it was driven by complex biological and electrical processes that caused the body to be able to think and act.  The brain by an electro-chemical process causes a person to have a mind and allows then to be able to experience the five senses of seeing, hearing, touching, smelling and tasting.

From a Biblical perspective, a Christian would likely not agree with evolution, but would agree with most of what the humanist believes with regard to how the body functions.  Much knowledge in biology has resulted in an extensive human understanding of how the body functions.  However, the Bible Christian would quickly recognize that there is an immaterial part of man.  The Bible uses words such as soul, spirit, heart and mind to describe features associated with the immaterial part of man.  Some Christians believe that the soul, spirit, heat and mind are basically all the same in that they form the immaterial part of man, but others would recognize that the Bible differentiates between these terms.

The Soul and Spirit are Different – 1 Thess 5:23 and Heb 4:12

Although there are Bible passages that indicate that the soul, spirit, heart and mind appear to be used interchangeably, there are some basic Bible passages that indicate that the three parts of a whole living person are body, soul and spirit.  We will find out later that other terms such as heart, mind, bowels and conscience also are used in the Bible to describe immaterial functions of a human being, but they are symbols of the actions of the soul and spirit and not actually the substance of what a soul and a spirit is. More on this later.  For now, let us examine three Bible passages to get a basic understanding of the differences between the body, soul and spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 – Sanctification ‘Wholly’ of Spirit, Soul and Body:

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 [emphasis added].

(1Th 5:23)

An important word that is used in this passage is ‘wholly / whole’.  The word in the original Greek for ‘whole’ in the above passage is holokleros, which literally could be translated as ‘whole in every part’, with the ‘every part’ being spirit, soul and body.  The word in the original Greek for ‘wholly’ in the above passage is holoteles, which means ‘perfectly or completely whole’.  In the context of this verse, this would refer to our desire to be holy in all ways possible.  The word ‘wholly’ used in the above passage would strongly suggest that there are three parts of our being that are in need of holiness.  The use of the word ‘wholly / whole’ in this verse underscores the emphasis on the fact that the spirit, soul and body in their totality would comprise a person.  To be fully or completely sanctified (i.e., made holy), this would need to occur in all three of our parts: spirit, soul and body.

Some have argued that since some verses (such as Mat 22:37, Mk 12:30 and Lk 10:27) say that the Christian is to love the Lord with all their heart, all their soul and all their mind, then it could also follow that 1 Thess 5:23 would be in a similar format of just listing expressions for the immaterial part of man.  They conclude that the usage of the three terms (body, soul and spirit) in 1 Thess 5:23 should not be pressed into saying that these are three distinct parts that comprise the whole person.  They would further observe that if the mind and the heart discussed in Mat 22:37, Mk 12:30 and Luke 10:27 were added, then the whole person could have 5 parts, which would be absurd.  However, it should be noted that Mat 22:37, Mk 12:30 and Lk 10:27 are different since they say that we should love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind.  The use of the word ‘all’ (Greek:  holos) makes it obvious that the emphasis in Mat 22:37, Mk 12:30 and Lk 10:27 is that we are to love God emphatically.  The use of heart, soul and mind are emphasizing the fact that we are to Love God in all aspects of our life.  Also, and very importantly, the use of the word ‘wholly’ in 1 Thess 5:23 is a very strong and compelling reason why we should understand ‘soul’ and ‘spirit’ to be separate.  There are Bible verses (e.g., 1 Pet 3:4, 2 Cor 3:3, Ro 2:29, Acts 4:32, Jer 32:41) that indicate that the ‘heart’ is used as a metaphor for the ‘soul’ or ‘spirit’.  Also, the mind should be understood as a function of the physical body and therefore, is affected by the actions of the ‘soul’ and ‘spirit’.   The topics of ‘heart’ and ‘mind’ will be further discussed in later chapters.

Hebrews 4:12 – Dividing Asunder of Spirit and Soul:

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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.  (Heb 4:12)

This is another important proof-text that the ‘soul’ and ‘spirit’ are different entities.  Although closely connected, the spirit and soul are actually differing parts of a person.  As we can see in the above passage in Hebrews 4:12 is that the spirit and soul can be separated.  They can be divided asunder.

In Hebrews, God presents to us two examples of materials that are very closely connected, yet can be separated:

Joints and Marrow: 

The Greek word for ‘joint’ is harmos, which means a joint (or something that is connected but allows for movement).  A similar use of the Greek root word is found in 2 Corinthians 11:2, which refers to Christians being espoused to one husband, Christ.   When one is espoused to another it means that the two are joined together.  They are two entities that are different, but joined together.  The Greek word for marrow is muelos, which is translated as marrow (or bone).  Therefore, the dividing asunder of joints and marrow could refer to the separation of the ligaments / tendons that connect to the bone to allow the bones to produce motion in the body.  The joints (ligaments / tendons) are not the same as the bone, but are obviously connected and work together with the bone to provide motion of function in the body.  Therefore, the metaphorical use of joints and marrow (since they are different, although closely connected) would suggest that the soul and spirit are closely connected, but different.

Additionally, If we relate soul (joints) to spirit (marrow), we receive some insight into what the difference in function is between the soul and the spirit.  Just as the joints allow for motion of the body, the soul create motion or activity of the human body.  The soul makes decisions and directs energy that results in movement.  On the other hand, the marrow is very important to the bones in the body, which are required for motion to occur.  It is the frame that provides support and strength.  Similarly, without the spirit, we are just a mess of unstructured weak tissue that is not able to stand for Christ (e.g., Eph 6:11), walk in the spirit (Gal 5:17) or run the race that is set before us (1 Cor 9:24-26).

Thought and Intents of the Heart:

Moving to the thoughts and intents of the heart, we find that ‘thoughts’ (Greek: enthumesis) means to deliberate or be ‘in passion’.  The word intents is the Greek word ennoia, which literal means ‘in the mind’.  Therefore, once again, the parallel of thoughts (soul) and intents (spirit) can be seem as two closely related means for one to take action.  The intents involves deliberate decision-making or passion which is related to emotion and the production of actions, while the spirit is related to the deeper inner thinking that is the basis for the actions.

In Chapter 3, a more detailed examination will be done concerning the differences between the soul and spirit, where it will be seen that the spirit is our connection to God, while the soul is our connection to the physical world.

The Death of Jesus Christ – Body, Soul and Spirit

A very important Biblical truth concerning the spirit and soul can be seen in what occurred at the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.  In Phil 2:5-11, we find that Jesus took on the form of man and therefore, was humbled in obedience to the point of death.  In other words, Jesus came in the flesh in the likeness of men. John 1:14 teaches us that Jesus became flesh and dwelt among His people.  He was born of a virgin (Is 7:14. Mat 1:20-23, Lk 2:7, etc.).  He took on a physical body of flesh and bone.  He was from the seed of David, through Mary (Ro 1:3-4, Mat 1:20-23).  In 1 Pet 2:24, we find that Jesus bore our sins in his own body on the tree that we being dead in sins, should live unto righteousness (1 Pet 2:24).   It was in His body that Jesus, as the Lamb of God suffered for our sins (John 1:29, Heb 9:28, Mat 8:17, etc.).

On one hand we see that Jesus commended His spirit into the hands of the Father and He told the thief on the cross next to Him who was dying, that they would be together in Paradise that very day.  On the other hand, we find in the Bible that when Jesus died, His soul went to be in hades (translated as hell or grave).  Consider the following verses:

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.   (Luk 23:43)

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.  (Luk 23:46, see also Ps 31:5)

 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.   (Act 2:23-32, see also Ps 16:10)

It is important to observe in these passages that when Christ died on the cross, His spirit was given up from the body (John 19:30) and went to be with the Father, while his soul went to reside in Hades until His resurrection (Acts 2:31, Ps 16:10).  But God raised up Jesus again and exalted (Acts 2:32-33).  At His resurrection, his body, soul and spirit were recombined into His body.  These verses reflect that Jesus’ soul and spirit were separated and went in different places when Jesus died on the cross.  We must bear in mind that Jesus, being God, never spiritually died (for by saying so, this would be similar to saying God, who is a Spirit (John 4:24) is dead).  But he did die physically in the flesh since His soul was in Hades (Hell), with His spirit in heaven with God the Father until His resurrection.  As 1 Pet 3:18 teaches, Jesus suffered for us and was put to death in the flesh.   At death, the soul and spirit depart from the body (e.g., Acts 27:22, Phil 2:30, Acts 20:10, Acts 7:59, Lk 8:55).  The Bible teaches us that the passion of Christ began in the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus’ soul was troubled unto death (Mat 26:38, Mk 14:34, John 12:27).

The important truth about what happens to the soul and spirit at death is further discussed in Chapter 6.  For now, it is only important to understand that at the death of Christ, the spirit and soul are referred to as separate (with the spirit being with the Father, but the soul being in Hell).

 1 Corinthians 15:44-45 – Soul versus Spirit Bodies in the Resurrection

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.  (1Co 15:44)

In 1 Corinthians 15:35-49, the Bible discusses the nature of the Christian’s resurrection from the dead.  The above verse is one of the key verses in the passage that will assist us in understanding that the soul and spirit are two different entities.  In the above passage in 1 Corinthians 15:44, the word ‘natural’ in the origin al Greek language is ‘psuchikos’, which is the identical Greek word that is usually translated as ‘soul’.  So in the above passage, it becomes evident that when the body dies, it dies as a ‘soulish-body’ and when it arises at the last day, it rises as a ‘spiritual-body’.  While the details of the salvation of the Christian’s body will be examined in more detail in Chapter 5, suffice it for now to just observe that there are two types of bodies involved: the human body that dies (and decays back to dust) and the spiritual body that is raised again.

The first body, which is fleshly is that which is from Adam who was made of the earth (1 Cor 15:45-47).  The resurrected body is spiritual, which is of the Lord Jesus from heaven (1 Cor 15:47-48).  The first ‘soulish-body’ bore the image of Adam, but, the second body bears the image of the heavenly (1 Cor 15:49).  In Jude 19, the Bible notes that those who are unsaved are ‘sensual’ (Gr: psuchikos, meaning soulish).  The ‘soulish’ man describes the nature of one who is not saved.  The ‘spiritual’ man describes one who is controlled by the Holy Spirit of God, who witnesses with our spirit that we are a child of God (Rom 8:16).   The soul is connected to those things sensual (earthly), while the spirit is connected with those things spiritual (heavenly). Although some have argued that the distinction between the ‘soulish-body’ and the ‘physical-body’ are just two aspects of the same immaterial part of man, each having its own emphasis, God’s comparison of the ‘soulish-body’ and the ‘spiritual-body’ suggests two different entities and not just two aspects of the same entity.

These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.  (Jud 1:19)

Jude 19 is another important Scripture that distinguishes between the soul and spirit.  Jude 19, in context, is discussing false teachers in the church who are unsaved.  They are described as ‘sensual’ (which is actually the Greek word psuchikos, which literally means ‘soulish’).  Therefore, this verse could have been translated as describing the false teachers as ‘soulish’ not having the Spirit.  In the context, the Spirit would refer to the Holy Spirit, but this verse highlights that one who does not have the Holy Spirit is spiritually dead and the soul is in control of the body.  In Romans 8:14-16 teaches us that it is only those whose spirit is led by the Holy Spirit that re the sons of God.  If the Holy Spirit is not indwelling a person, the person’s spirit cannot be led and they are effectively spiritually dead and need of a new birth of the spirit (John 3:3-5).  To be born again (1 Pet 1:23, John 1:13, 3:3-7) means to be spiritually reborn.