Soul, Spirit, Heart

[jmldn2]

Sometimes I get confused about what actually we mean by the words Soul, Spirit, Heart.  Are they 3 or do they all mean the same? 

[Ezra]

Sometimes I get confused about what actually we mean by the words Soul, Spirit, Heart.  Are they 3 or do they all mean the same? 

The soul and spirit are distinct from each other. The spirit is dead in all human beings until they are born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. "The heart" is a metaphor for the soul, and the soul consists of your thoughts, your emotions, and your will -- your inner being. Man is a tripartite being with a body, a soul and a spirit.  The spirit communicates with God and understands the things of God.

[thereselittleflower]

Sometimes I get confused about what actually we mean by the words Soul, Spirit, Heart.  Are they 3 or do they all mean the same? 

They are all the same.

Scripture sometimes emphasizes certain aspects of the spiritual soul by calling the higher aspects of the soul the spirit - the means by which we commune with God and interact with the spiritual reaom), and the lower aspects the soul  - the means by which we interact with our physical bodies and the physical world.

But they are freely used interchangeably in scripture which is why trying to make them separate becomes a confusing endeavor.

As the scripture shows the dualism of man here:

Ecclesiastes 12:7
and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

 

There is the physical body which returns to dust in the ground, and our spirit (soul) which returns to God.

 

We see the same dualism in the words of Jesus  -  here soul is used instead of spirit:

Matthew 10:28

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

 

Matthew 16:26

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

 

Luke 9:25
What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

 

In this last one our soul, is our "self."

Luke 12:20

"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'

   But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

 

 

Edited September 6, 2015 by thereselittleflower

[missmuffet]

Question: "Do we have two or three parts? Body, soul, and spirit? Dichotomy or trichotomy?"

Answer: Genesis 1:26-27 indicates that there is something that makes humanity distinct from all the other creations. Human beings were intended to have a relationship with God, and as such, God created us with both material and immaterial parts. The material is obviously that which is tangible: the physical body, bones, organs, etc., and exists as long as the person is alive. The immaterial aspects are those which are intangible: soul, spirit, intellect, will, conscience, etc. These exist beyond the physical lifespan of the individual.

All human beings possess both material and immaterial characteristics. It is clear that all mankind has a body containing flesh, blood, bones, organs, and cells. However, it is the intangible qualities of mankind that are often debated. What does Scripture say about these? Genesis 2:7 states that man was created as a living soul. Numbers 16:22 names God as the “God of the spirits” that are possessed by all mankind. Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life,” indicating that the heart is central to man’s will and emotions.Acts 23:1 says, “Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, ‘My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.’” Here Paul refers to the conscience, that part of the mind that convicts us of right and wrong. Romans 12:2 states, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” These verses, and numerous others, refer to the various aspects of the immaterial part of humanity. We all share both material and immaterial qualities.

So, Scripture outlines far more than just soul and spirit. Somehow, the soul, spirit, heart, conscience, and mind are connected and interrelated. The soul and spirit, though, definitely are the primary immaterial aspects of humanity. They likely comprise the other aspects. With this in mind, is humanity dichotomous (cut in two, body/soul-spirit), or trichotomous (cut in three, body/soul/spirit). It is impossible to be dogmatic. There are good arguments for both views. A key verse is Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” This verse tells us at least two things about this debate. The soul and spirit can be divided, and the division of soul and spirit is something that only God can discern. Rather than focusing on something we cannot know for sure, it is better to focus on the Creator, who has made us “fearfully and wonderfully” (Psalm 139:14).

http://www.gotquestions.org/body-soul-spirit.html

Edited September 6, 2015 by bopeep1909

[Willa]

Often the heart has replaced the bowells, which is a more litteral KJV but no longer means the seat of our innermost being as it did in ancient times.  Sometimes "gut" might work, as in I have a gut feeling.  The Holy Spirit can distinguish spirit from soul.  Often pneuma is used for Spirit or breath or wind.  Our spirits can communicate with the Holy Spirit and with God.   Soul is psyche and constitutes what charaterizes us as an individual.  

[Omegaman 3.0]

Gee, I thought that (the got questions cut and paste) was a well balanced presentation.

[thereselittleflower]

A verse that is often used to "prove" the spirit and soul are different from each other, actually, when looked at in context, indicates just the opposite if we look closely at it wthout preconceived ideas:

 

Heb 4:12

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.

 

 

Now looking at this we see comparative dualisms being given.

"soul and spirit"    "joints and marrow"   "thought and intents of the heart"

 

"Joints and Marrow"   are both of the body.   We would not say one is of the body and the other is of something else.    They are both of the body.

"Thoughts and Intents"  are both of the heart.   We would not say one is of the heart and the other is of something else.  They are both of the heart.

"Soul and Spirit" are both of the same as well. Just as the other two examples above from the same verse demonstrating dualism,   we would be mistaken to say the spirit is one thing and the soul is something else.   This is not the imagery the writer set up here.    They are both of what I find it best to term the spiritual soul.

 

 

Edited September 6, 2015 by thereselittleflower

[gdemoss]

Sometimes I get confused about what actually we mean by the words Soul, Spirit, Heart.  Are they 3 or do they all mean the same? 

I can appeciate your confusion!  For Peter has told us that in the bible, specifically  Pauls writings, there are some things hard to understand.

What is your current understanding of them?

[thereselittleflower]

God's Word says God's Word separates down to the spirit and soul and even thoughts and intents  of the heart - 

and anyone who says spirit and soul are not different are contradicting God's Word DIRECTLY.

Stay with God's Word, and carefully avoid the distractions from it.

It is simply your opinion being contradicted Jeff.  

 

 

 

[thereselittleflower]

I wonder if people realize that the view man is a trichotomy - spirit, soul and body - is actually gnostic in origin predating Christianity?

 

 The Gnostics prior to Christianity taught that man is composed of body, soul, and spirit. The body and the soul are man's earthly existence, and were considered evil. Enclosed in mans soul, is the spirit, a divine substance of man. This “spirit” was asleep and ignorant and needed to be awakened. It could only be liberated by this special knowledge, that would be called by the modern term illumination. (This teaching is also found in Caballa.)

http://www.letusreason.org/Current48.htm

 

This is confirmed from gnostic sources themselves, which I will not quote or provide a link to.

 

As this source explains:

Unfortunately, traces of Gnostic thought continue to permeate the thinking of many well-meaning Christians today. For example, some Christians think that only two things will last into eternity: God's Word and the souls of men and women—an emphasis on the spiritual and an exclusion of the physical. But this is wrong. The Bible explicitly teaches that not only will these two last into eternity but so will our bodies, in a glorified state (John 5:28–29; 1 Corinthians 15:42–44).

The implication that the spirit is more important than the body is the reason why an answer of "true" to any question in our quiz is incorrect. James warns us that "pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world" (James 1:27). However, don't make the mistake that believing the converse is true either, that the body is more important than the spirit. Both have equal importance in the eyes of God. Paul said, "Whether . . . you eat or drink or whatever you do [including praying and sharing the gospel], do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). So let's glorify God by correcting any warped ideas that our minds—the spiritual part of us—are more important than matter—the physical part of us. 

 http://www.insight.org/resources/articles/church-history/mind-over-matter.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/#sthash.uTvA9jgF.dpuf

 

The questions he refers to were asked at the beginning of the article:

 

Take this simple true or false quiz.

Ready?

1. Prayer is more important than mowing your widowed grandmother's lawn.
2. Sharing the gospel is more important than taking a meal to a new mother and father just home from the hospital.
3. Doing "sacred" work, such as preaching or being a missionary, is more important than "secular" work, such as accounting or being a lawyer.

 

If you answered "true" to any of these questions, you've been deceived by the ancient heresy of Gnosticism.

 

http://www.insight.org/resources/articles/church-history/mind-over-matter.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/#sthash.uTvA9jgF.dpuf