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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Is man a 'triune' creature? | Heb 4:12 | kalos | 2206 | ||
I would not deny that man is "body, soul, and spirit," as it says in the verse you quote. But after years of reading commentary and definitions, it is still unclear to me what the distinction is between soul and spirit. I wouldn't even attempt to define the distinction between these two. Yours is a good question. When you find out the answer, share it with me, please. I, too, would sincerely like to know. | ||||||
2 | Is man a 'triune' creature? | Heb 4:12 | charis | 2294 | ||
Dear JVH0212, Sorry it took so long to get back to you on this. I wish I could say that I have been studying furiously to find a good answer, but I've just been busy with other things. I do not have 'the' answer, just 'an' answer. With all due respect to John MacArthur, I disagree with his opinion on this issue. Again I cite Hebrews 4:12, and 1Thessalonians 5:23. In addition, "At night my soul longs for Thee, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks Thee diligently; For when the earth experiences Thy judgments The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness." Isaiah 26:9 NASB. I think that man is at least two parts is obvious to all. The body, that is 'of the earth,' and perishable. Then the spirit, which is the part 'in the image of God.' Then we have the soul, a capricious part, a 'switch-hitter' that seems akin to the spirit at times, and swayed by the flesh at others. It encompasses our emotions and thoughts, and is similar to other created things (animals). This is why we can 'rationalize' sin. Hebrews 4:12 would be telling us that by rightly dividing the two, we can 'pull' the soul toward God. Satan would like to allow our souls to be more affected by the flesh, so creates lies that deceive our 'unstable' portion. In answer to another question, this would mean that prior to salvation, our spirit is lost, but our spirit is 'born again' to new life in Jesus. I don't think that we are 'spirit-less,' and then given one. Rather, the spirit that was fallen by the sin of Adam, was regenerated. Though I am sure there are 'academic' problems with this scenario, it does solve many weak areas of 'pure theology.' Let me know what you think. (without 'blowing a gasket' :-) In Christ Jesus, charis |
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3 | Is man a 'triune' creature? | Heb 4:12 | inHzsvc | 2296 | ||
charis, this is the position I used to hold. the thing that gave me problems is, after man is saved, this theory would make him have body, soul, spirit, and Holy Spirit--4 parts. i do agree that man died in the fall and must needs be regenerated. you departed from the "i believe" and "i think" language that I used. you went to the "i am sure" and "I don't think" language. isn't it funny how we can't seem to get away from that. God bless. |
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4 | Is man a 'triune' creature? | Heb 4:12 | charis | 2310 | ||
Dear inhzsvc, Because we cannot 'know' until we meet Him, we can only believe. Even the best of Bible scholars have no recourse but to say, "I believe," or "I think" on many issues. Now, about your system, though the theology sounds right, the reality is hard to reconcile. If I am correct, you are saying that unsaved men are body and soul-spirit. Then, upon salvation they are body, soul-spirit, and Holy Spirit. Even in saved people, emotions and rationality are too fickle to be called 'perfected' or regenerated. "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..."" Genesis 1:26 This 'image' and 'likeness' must be our soul and-or spirit, because God is not flesh. The spirit of man, regenerate or degenerate could still speak of this image. However, the soul, the emotion, the rational-irrational part does not seem like God at all! Saved or unsaved. My 'system' would explain the situation of a saved church, but all men sin. This would explain the battle that Paul waged within himself, as we also do. Our spirit is regenerated in Christ Jesus, but our soul is not totally under the authority of the Spirit of God. Regarding the 4-part man, the Holy Spirit is a 'Helper' to our spirit. In fact, the two are almost as one. I say almost, because, though we may be like Jesus, we will not become God. In any case these are my thoughts. It is different from what you proferred, and quite different from JVH0212 and John MacArthur. Mine is simpler and more elegant (neat), though the Bible does not say, "The soul and the spirit of man are seperate, dummy!" I think that much of the confusion comes from the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament. I does seem that the two are used interchangeably and arbitrarily. This could be because of the diference in the relationship between God and His people(?) However, in the New Testament the differences between soul and spirit are more evident, especially in the understanding of regeneration, the born again experience. Well, I am getting groggy. If I write any more, I may fall into stupidity. Good night. In Christ Jesus, charis |
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5 | Is man a 'triune' creature? | Heb 4:12 | kalos | 2323 | ||
Dear Charis: I do respect what you wrote to inhzsvc. Honestly, I think the closest one could come to making a factual disctinction between soul and spirit would be: To look up the original Greek and Hebrew word(s) translated "soul", and the one(s) translated "spirit". Then read what each original language word means, how it is used, and the different English words used to translate the orginal Heb or Gr word throughout the same Bible version. This might shed some light on the subject. Yours, JVH0212 (not dummy, just a little forgetful :-) ) | ||||||