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NASB | Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. |
Bible Question:
Fellows, Why must we divide soul and spirit? How does this apply to our thoughts and intentions of the heart? In Christ Jesus, charis |
Bible Answer: It is my understanding that this "division of spirit and soul" has to do with death. In Ecclesiastes 12:7 states that "then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it." When we become "saved", we undergo a renewal of our mind, or another way of putting it is that we become "born again of the Spirit". When a believer dies, their body returns to dust, and both their soul and spirit go to be with God in heaven, because the soul (mind, thoughts, inner man) has been rejuvenated or born again into God's family. When an unbeliever dies, his body returns to dust, and his spirit 'returns to God who gave it', but his soul... because it has not been "made new", born again of the Spirit... cannot enter heaven. Only God can divide the soul from the spirit of man, which is necessary at the death of an unbeliever. Probably why Paul says "Let us be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience" Heb. 4:11. |