One of the first doctrines we should look at is that man is a triune being, consisting of a spirit, soul and body/flesh. Most Christians and churches agree on this one, so let’s try and confirm it in the word.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Samuel 1:15
But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
So man is indeed spirit in a body/flesh that has a soul. Let’s just look a little closer and try to discern between the three. And this is where people differ in opinion. To understand it more clearly we need to look at the original language of both the Hebrew and the Greek. So for today all we need to establish is that we are indeed a triune being, and what the three different parts are called in the original word, and what the functions are of each.
Hebrew
Spirit – rûach
Soul – nephesh
Flesh – bâśâr
Greek
Spirit – pneuma
Soul – psuchē
Body/flesh – soma/sarx
Understanding the role and function of each part helps us to understand the doctrine.
Spirit
Gives life, and the body without the spirit is dead
John 6:63
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
James 2:26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Soul
The word “soul” is used 749 times in the Old Testament and 105 times in the New Testament. In all of those instances it is used to describe a certain aspect of people’s lives like will, character and intelligence. In short our souls are who we are as individuals.
Body
Our bodies are the fleshy vessels that carry us. But we have to be careful here as there is a distinction between body(soma) and flesh(sarx) in the Greek. It works like this our body or “soma” is the whole of us or us in our fullness, which includes our spirit and soul. Whereas flesh, or “sarx” is just our physical flesh or meat. In the Hebrew it never makes mention of a body but mostly speaks of different aspects of it. Like bones, belly etc but mostly when it speaks of the body it speaks of flesh (bâśâr)
Next time we will look at some of the erroneous doctrines concerning these three parts and their functions.
Till then God bless
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