SOUL and SPIRIT - Huh???

In recent discussion in class regarding the keeping of the SOUL, we have gone in depth to discuss WHAT the soul is. In general and brief description, it is the eternal part of us that God put into us at the point of creation. Yet, in the process of this discussion, arose the question - Is there a difference between the soul and the spirit?

Essentially, there are three terms in the scripture that are used when referring to what God has placed into man. 

• Hebrew - Nephesh (SOUL) means a breathing creature, that is, animal or (abstractly) vitality;
• Greek Pneuma (SPIRIT) a current of air, that is, breath (as a blast) or a breeze; by analogy andfiguratively a spirit, that is the rational soul,or vital principle, mental disposition, etc.,
• Greek Pseuche (SOUL)  breath, that is, (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely - the sentient principle of vitality; thus distinguished from Pneuma which is the rational and immortal. This word is more akin to the original Hebrew word used in Genesis, where man became a living animated being.

This can be confusing, especially when you have three words that are used for what is to us the same thing. What is best to understand at this point, is that we are trying to put into words and define something that is what Job describes, "Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. (Job 42:3)." It is like John in writing the Revelation, trying to put into words scenes that were beyond human description. These same words are used of the creative power of God in Genesis when the

world was made. When God "breathes" into man, it is the variation of the same word used for what he breathes into man and makes man a soul. When the essence of God creates in Genesis 1 and the "Spirit" of God moves, it is the word RUACH which is literally translated breath or wind, but in this instance this word is used because of the force of the wind. Yet, it is described as the creative essence of God. How do we describe something too wonderful, too powerful for us to even imagine? How do we describe in words the force that it would take to make a sun, a universe, life? Therein, is the difficulty and the fault of human language.

But, what about the human soul? 

Are the soul and spirit different? 

How do you describe that integral part of us that God put in us, yet, has no substance and we cannot see?  This is not to say that man has not been inventive. In 1907, Duncan McDougall undertook experiments of dying people to determine if the soul had weight or mass. His findings were published in the New York Times, March 11, 1907. Even then, the "soul" defied description. When appearing to Thomas after the resurrection, Jesus tells us that, "a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.(Lk.24:39)" This is why the term "breath" is used. It is not a tangible thing, but to describe it, we can only describe it as wind, breath, air.  We know it exists, but we cannot define it. There are other variations and adjectives that can be used to "type" it. The scriptures use the term "evil" spirit, a "new" spirit., etc. But, it all boils down to two particular things regarding the human "soul." One seems more descriptive of what is inside of us, the other used to manifest what comes forth from us. Soul, seems to be used to describe what God breathed into us and what we became. The word Spirit seems to be used more indicatively of describing what is being projected out of us from that source.  This seems implied of Lk.9:55 when Jesus rebukes James and John for their demeanor in wanting to call fire down from heaven upon people. 

Soul and spirit are not different parts of what God breathed into us, they are simply two

words trying to describe the same thing in a different way. Is it hard to understand? Yes. Can you touch it? No Is it flesh and blood? No. But - it is who we are. It is our strength, might, heart existence all rolled up into one thing, that when this body dies, it will live on. 

Now the question is...what will live on. What is there in me, living in my heart?  If we accept the Bible's terms for godliness, then is what is within us clean or unclean as the Bible would describe? 

From this, there are three things that are apparent from the scripture:

1. God sent his Son to die, so that what God has given me, I might give back to God clean, pure, and whole (Jn.3:16; 2 Pet.3:14)
2. The Soul of man has a destiny, and how I use the Spirit God breathed into me, is my choice. We just have to understand that choices have consequences (Mt..25:31-46; Heb.6:1-8; 10:26-30). Sin fragments the soul. When God created us, he states, "It is good." When sin is in and is left in the soul, the soul is no longer "Good." That is why the soul needs a redeemer (1 Cor.6:20) and while living life, it needs a Shepherd (Psa.23).
3. Don't misunderstand. God's word can cut through hypocrisy (Heb.4:12). It is able to pierce and cleave between the soul and the spirit. In Mt.23:7 Jesus criticized the Scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy - appearing on the outside to be one thing, yet inside another.  God's word can do that with us too! Don't think you can change your destiny by pretending. Even our innermost thoughts can be discerned by God.

So, what does your SOUL - your SPIRIT say about you?

Jim