Part 3: The Doctrine of Man (Continued)
In our previous discussion on the Doctrine of Man, we established humanity as God’s unique creation, made in His image, as male and female, and as living persons. We now delve deeper into the nature of this “living person,” exploring a fundamental question: Is man a dichotomy or a trichotomy? That is, is humanity composed of two parts (a material body and an immaterial soul/spirit), or three distinct parts (body, soul, and spirit)?
To address this, let’s examine the key terms involved and their biblical usage:
Key Words:
- Body (Heb. basar; Grk. sōma): Refers to the physical, material aspect of a person.
- Soul (Heb. nephesh; Grk. psychē): Commonly translated as “inner self,” “life,” “person,” or “living thing.” It speaks to the essence of life, conscious being, and individuality.
- Spirit (Heb. ruach; Grk. pneuma): Refers to wind, breath, or a supernatural being; in relation to man, it denotes the vital principle, disposition, courage, and the capacity for spiritual awareness.
Dichotomy or Trichotomy?
The debate over man’s constitution often centers on a few key biblical passages. While one verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, lists “spirit and soul and body,” suggesting a trichotomous view, many other scriptures appear to support a dichotomous understanding, where “soul” and “spirit” are often used interchangeably to refer to the immaterial aspect of a person.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NASB 2020): “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
It’s important to note that here, Paul is not offering a precise anthropological definition of man’s makeup, but rather an earnest prayer for the complete preservation and holiness of the believer until Christ’s return, encompassing every facet of their being.
More broadly, biblical references frequently speak of man as having two main components:
Dichotomy – Body and Soul:
Psalm 31:9 (NASB 2020): “Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am in distress; My eye is wasted away from grief, my soul and my body too.”
Micah 6:7 (NASB 2020): “Does the Lord take pleasure in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give Him my firstborn for my wrongdoings, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
Matthew 10:28 (NASB 2020): “And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Dichotomy – Body and Spirit:
Romans 8:10 (NASB 2020): “If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.”
1 Corinthians 5:3 (NASB 2020): “For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.”
Man as a Two-Fold Being
The Apostle Paul consistently refers to man as having an “inner person” and an “outer person”:
2 Corinthians 4:16 (NASB 2020): “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day.”
These are not two different persons, but two aspects of the same individual. The “inner person” encompasses the spiritual and psychological dimensions:
Ephesians 3:16 (NASB 2020): “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self,”
Romans 7:22–23 (NASB 2020): “For I joyfully agree with the law of God in the inner person, but I see a different law in the parts of my body waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin, the law which is in my body’s parts.”
Paul also frequently contrasts “body” and “spirit”:
1 Corinthians 5:3–5 (NASB 2020): “For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to turn such a person over to Satan for the destruction of his body, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 7:34 (NASB 2020): “and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.”
And contrasts “flesh” (referring to the physical, often fallen, aspect) and “spirit”:
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NASB 2020): “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
James also affirms this two-fold nature:
James 2:26 (NASB 2020): “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”
Peter similarly points to an external and internal self:
1 Peter 3:3–4 (NASB 2020): “Your adornment must not be merely the external—braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on apparel; but it should be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”
And Jesus Himself emphasizes the distinction between the physical and immaterial parts:
Matthew 10:28 (NASB 2020): “And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
The Soul and the Spirit
From the multitude of biblical passages, it becomes evident that while the terms “soul” and “spirit” can be distinguished, they both describe the immaterial, inner aspect of man and are often used interchangeably.
Job 7:11 (NASB 2020): “Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.”
Isaiah 26:9 (NASB 2020): “At night my soul longs for You, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; For when the earth experiences Your judgments, The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.”
These verses demonstrate the close semantic range of the two words. However, Hebrews 4:12 suggests they can be discerned, though not separated by human means:
Hebrews 4:12 (NASB 2020): “For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating 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.”
The “division” (Grk. merismos) here implies a fine distinction, known only to God’s penetrating Word.
Therefore, rather than a strict trichotomy, a more accurate understanding is that man is a dichotomy consisting of a material body and an immaterial component, which the Bible refers to as either “soul” or “spirit,” emphasizing different facets of this same immaterial essence.
Let’s understand the nuanced emphasis of each:
- The SOUL (Heb. nephesh; Grk. psychē): This is the immaterial part of man that gives life to the body, enables self-consciousness, and allows the person to interact with the physical world. It is the seat of our personality, our “self-consciousness,” encompassing:
- Reason: The ability to think, imagine, meditate, and process information.
- Will: The capacity to make decisions and exert choice (Ephesians 6:6).
- Affection/Emotion: The ability to feel and experience emotions (Colossians 3:23; Hebrews 10:38; 1 Peter 2:11).
- Conscience: The innate sense of right and wrong, guiding our moral judgments (1 Peter 1:22; 2 Peter 2:8).
- The SPIRIT (Heb. ruach; Grk. pneuma): This is the immaterial part of man that gives the person an awareness and longing to connect with God and the spiritual world. It is man’s “God-consciousness,” the faculty through which we:
- Connect with God: Enabling communion and relationship (Romans 8:16; Romans 1:9).
- Communicate with God: Through prayer and worship (1 Corinthians 14:14–16).
- Receive understanding from God: Through revelation and spiritual discernment (1 Corinthians 2:11–13).
The Natural Man and the Spiritual Man
This understanding of soul and spirit helps us grasp Paul’s distinction between the “natural man” (Grk. psychikos) and the “spiritual man” (Grk. pneumatikos).
1 Corinthians 2:14–16 (NASB 2020): “But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. But the one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is discerned by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
The natural man (psychikos) refers to the unconverted person, who is primarily driven by their soul’s inclinations, often influenced by the “flesh” or fallen nature. They are unable to comprehend or accept spiritual truths because these require spiritual discernment.
The spiritual man (pneumatikos) refers to the Christian, who, through conversion and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, is now capable of being led by their spirit to the realm of God’s Spirit.
Romans 8:4–9 (NASB 2020): “so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”
Conclusion
Man is indeed God’s most unique creation, designed with a multifaceted being that reflects His divine image. A true Christian, converted and born of the Spirit, inherently desires to walk in accordance with the Spirit. Their spirit has been set free from spiritual bondage and guilt, having been introduced to the glorious realities of the spiritual realm. Now, redeemed believers long to connect with God and be continually led by the Spirit of God, fulfilling the very purpose for which they were wonderfully made.
