What is the difference between the soul and the spirit?

[Armour of God]

What is the difference between the soul and the spirit?

I don't think I fully understand it and I keep reading different opinions on it.
Are they the same thing?
Do they both live on after our death?
Do they remain together after our death?
Which one goes to heaven? Both?

I'm interested to hear/read what people have to say about this. Hopefully I can get a better understanding of it

 

[Lambano]

My understanding is that a "spirit" is a non-corporeal sentient being. A "soul" is the essence of who and what a person is. A lot of people use the terms interchangeably. I'm not sure that's correct.

 

[Lambano]

Which one goes to heaven? Both?

Neither. A person is resurrected on the New Earth under the New Heaven, where God makes His home with men. We don't "go to Heaven"; Heaven comes to us. Revelation 21:1-5.

It is sown a psuchikon body; it is raised a pneumatikon body. There is a psuchikon body, and there is a pneumatikon body. - 1 Corinthians 15:44

While the terms highlighted are usually translated "physical" and "spiritual", in his book Surprised by Hope, NT Wright points out that these terms carry the sense of "governed by the soul" (psuche) and "governed by the spirit" (pneuma). I'm not sure exactly what "governed by the soul" means (I was once accused of being too "soul-ish"), but I think it's relevant to the discussion.

 

[quietthinker]

My understanding is the soul is as Lambano has quoted (Genesis 2:7)

....and the spirit is the attitude, the consciousness in/ with which a person operates. At death both cease to be until called forth at the resurrection of which the scripture tells are there are two.

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

@Armour of God

We are:
Body, soul and spirit. This view is called “Trichotomy”, where the soul and spirit are two distinct entities. The soul is said to be the mind, will, and emotions where we think and feel. Whereas the spirit gives us the ability to have an intimate relationship with God and is made alive and perfect the moment, we are born again.

“Dichotomy”, is the view that the spirit and soul are synonymous to each other and that soul is just another word for spirit.
> I don't think so.

Matthew 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
> All people have bodies and souls. But do they have a spirit?
Tha part of them seems to be dead until they are "born again".
Jesus said, "receive my spirit". Stephen said "receive my spirit". So in this passage, souls are judged.

Luke 1:46-47 “And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,”
Soul is expressed as your consciousness apart from GOD.
Spirit is expressed as your new spiritual consciousness having been separated from your old self.

> In this key verse, we see this separation between the soul and the spirit. When does it happen? What causes it to happen? The Word.

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
> Though we have been born again ( a new spirit/ creature), now the sanctification of soul and body is included in this life-long process.

Mark 12:30 “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'
> We had a heart of stone. Now we have a heart for God. This likens the spirit with the heart, The old self ( heart of man) dies and the new creature ( new heart) is generated.

Another passage used to support Trichotomy is from 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
> Here again we have the whole person ( after being born again) being sanctified. Obviously our spirit being in unity with the Spirit, begins to change our minds (renewing of mind), thoughts and actions, with respect to our bodies as well.

The other common belief with Trichomoty is that the spirit only becomes alive when you receive Christ. The passage is taken from Romans 8:10 “But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” In other words, the implication is that all people have souls, but only Christians have spirits that are “alive”.

Deuteronomy 2:30 “But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day.”
> Kings are appointed by God and so directed by God. This is a statement of fact. God hardened Pharoah's heart in the same way to a complish His plan. God is in control regardless of whether people are in Christ or not.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 says “and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” This refers to the body and spirit.
> Here again, Solomon, a wise King, is a prophet as well and spiritually connected to God, communed with God. Whoever God gives a spirit of life to, this spirit returns to God. This does not imply that all souls return to God.

Hebrews 6:19 refers to our soul; saying, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, "
> Our belief, faith and hope is our anchor of our souls. This is generated from God through our spirits.
Romans 8:16 refers to our spirit; saying, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,”

1 Peter 1:22 says “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,”
> An active lifelong sanctification (which we have something to do with - concerning our souls). But our spirit is purified/sanctified by God only.

By looking at these examples, we can see that the spirit can do everything that the soul can do and vice versa—even in terms of thinking, feeling, deciding, knowing, and perceiving:

• In Acts 17:16, Paul’s spirit was provoked within him

• In John 13:21 Jesus was troubled in spirit

• In Mark 2:8 Jesus perceived in his spirit

• In Romans 8:16 The Holy Spirit bears witness to our spirit

• In Isaiah 29:24, those who go astray in spirit will come to understanding
> Why? Our heart was changed, which in turn changed our perspective, our consciousness and in turn changes our behavior.

Finally, many other scriptures support the fact that various terms are used to describe our physical and immaterial being, for example:

• Matthew 10:28 talks about the body and soul

• Romans 12:1-2 talks about the body and mind

• 1 Corinthians 7:34, James 2:26 talks about the body and spirit

• 1 Corinthians 5:5 talks about the flesh and the spirit

• Romans 2:28-29 talks about the flesh and heart

• 2 Corinthians 4:16 talks about the outer man and the inner man

> We are fearfully made, body, soul and spirit, highly integrated so much so that we cannot distinguish between them. But the Word intervenes and divides soul and spirit.
Our new self, when we die separates for good from all that is and was evil, sinful. Our spirit is our new invisible self ( all that is good about us) that ascends to be with God when we die or are translated.

 

[Wrangler]

SOUL = SPIRIT + BODY

These equation explains why equivalent expressions of a ship that sunk are:

• all hands (body) were lost.
• all souls were lost.

 

[Taken]

What is the difference between the soul and the spirit?

I don't think I fully understand it and I keep reading different opinions on it.
Are they the same thing?
Do they both live on after our death?
Do they remain together after our death?
Which one goes to heaven? Both?

I'm interested to hear/read what people have to say about this. Hopefully I can get a better understanding of it

The body is Formed by God.
- it’s life is Blood.
- it is the mans to do with as he chooses.

The soul is a life that belongs to God.
It’s life is Gods Breath.
It is imparted into a body at its birth, separation from it mother.
It provides the human with a means for “communication” via human body parts.
- ears - hear
- eyes - see
- nose - smells
- mouth -utters sounds
- tongue -tastes
- flesh - feels touch

The “natural spirit”, is a humans “truth” in his “hearts thoughts”
(Such thoughts can BE the same or complete opposite of the mans “minds thoughts”.)

* God requires the Death of ALL “bodies”.
Some body’s shall be “glorified” cleansed, forgiven for having HAD unbelief in God, and MADE perfected, void of sin, and forever brought to a restored life.
* God offers a Way for mans body to become MADE restored and evade a permanent “death and destruction.”

* God offers a Way for a mans “soul” to evade its “death and destruction”.

* God offers a WAY for a mans “natural spirit” to become MADE a new everlasting spirit…
Via receiving Gods SEED, which is the SEED and POWER and AUTHORITY that can “rebirth” a “willing mans” / spirit.

The mans body, soul, spirit…all / each are identified by the man’s Name and the mans personal “possessive pronouns”…
I, me, my, mine.

Triune man… Body, Soul, Spirit…
in the Triune Likeness of the
Lord God Almighty.

Glory to God,
Taken

 

[Jericho]

There's a lot of overlap between the two, and there isn't really a consensus on the distinction. Ask different people, and you will get different responses. Mostly because I don't think anyone fully understands it. In general, I'd say the soul is your inner being, your thoughts, emotions, memories, and free will. The spirit is that spark of life bestowed by God. They appear to be two halves of a whole. Do they continue on after death? Here again you will get different responses, but I believe they do.

 

[Taken]

@Armour of God ~

A sanctified soul is “saved” / ie. keeps its “Gods breath of Life Forever” / only After the BODY is “accounted”(according to Gods “records”)
AS DEAD.
* Physical mortal Death
Or
* Crucified with Jesus’ Body.

Men can Heartfully Believe, without Confessing their belief.
At the time of their mortal death, God searches their heart for their truth… if they Heartfully believed.
God shall save their soul then.

There is a caution with this choice…Being that…demons, governing men have powers greater than average men. Also, parents, friends, teachers. Celebrities, scientists, etc. can (anti-godly can have influence) to promote anti- Christ beliefs), that men encounter and have to deal with, that they live however long Not deflecting from belief.

Once a man Heartfully CONFESSES, his (crucified with Jesus’ body is accepted), and such man…THEN receives his souls Salvation and spirit rebirth (while still physically alive) spiritually LIVES IN Christ Jesus Risen Body (called saved, quickened, IN Christ)… until their own body is risen glorified.
And is “sanctified” ie. “Set apart”, ie. “Justified” to be redeemed by Christ Jesus…
ie. timing…—->Rapture.

(All dying in “unConfessed” Heartful belief…
Redeemed —->First Resurrection.)

Glory to God,
Taken

 

[Riven]

As I understand it, they are all connected. When we die, both the body and soul dies because they are one. Of course, there is much debate surrounding this concept, but it is what I choose to believe based on the physical evidence that exists in our world.

 

[Hillsage]

What is the difference between the soul and the spirit?

I believe I am a spirit, I have a soul, and I live in a body of flesh. Or, as Paul said; "this earthly tent that I live in."

1. The greek word for SPIRIT is pneuma): In the KJV pneuma is interpreted as spirit 257x, Ghost 92x, wind 1x, life 1x

I believe these scriptures confirm that the spirit/ pneuma is the animating life force of a human being. The following scriptures associate physical death or resurrection with the departure, or return, of the human spirit.

JAM 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead,....
LUK 23:46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. (Or expired)
ACT 7:59-60 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
LUK 8:55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

In this last verse, scripture clearly says it was her spirit, which restored life to her, and not her soul.

2. The Greek word for SOUL is Psuche: In the KJV it is interpeted as Soul 48x. But it is also translated as mind 3x, life 36x, lives 5x, heart 1x.

English words like psychology, psychiatric come from this Greek root word. Words we associate with a 'functioning brain'.

I believe your soul (functioning brain) generates the motivating life force of a human being. SOUL is often defined as your ‘mind/THINK, will/DESIRE, emotions/FEEL’.

The spirit animates your body to be able to 'move and do'. The soul motivates or determines 'if, when or where' you do something with your body.

I don't think I fully understand it and I keep reading different opinions on it.
Are they the same thing?

Don't feel bad. I've heard a lot of pastors who didn't have a good understanding. In the sermon they would use them interchangeably. And, as you can see, translators did not help us when they translated both spirit and soul as "life".

Do they both live on after our death?

I believe when you die it's because your spirit has left your body and you no longer have the life force (may I say electricity) to make your body function including the contraction of your muscles...like the diaphram which controls breathing air in. Subsequently you expire and breath your last.

Do they remain together after our death?

No, all spirits return to God who made them in the first place. Even Jesus sent his spirit to the father from the cross and then he died.

ECC 12:7 Then shall the dust/BODY return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Where were the dust/body and soul of Christ? They were in the grave of hell, for 3 days.

ACT 2:31* He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

In this verse you see his soul and flesh/BODY were left both in the tomb or grave of hell, but not long enough to see "corrruption". the Greek word for corruption is 1312 diaphthora: and is literally defined as "decay'.


So the answer to your question simply is; the dead body and non functioning brain/souls are in the grave/tomb/pit/hell.

Which one goes to heaven? Both?

I'm interested to hear/read what people have to say about this. Hopefully I can get a better understanding of it

I agree with @Lambano and his #3 post.

 

[Soyeong]

What is the difference between the soul and the spirit?

I don't think I fully understand it and I keep reading different opinions on it.
Are they the same thing?
Do they both live on after our death?
Do they remain together after our death?
Which one goes to heaven? Both?

I'm interested to hear/read what people have to say about this. Hopefully I can get a better understanding of it

There are five different Hebrew words that get arbitrarily translated as either "spirit" or "soul", none of which are adequately translated by either of them.

 

[markalan]

I believe we are the same person after we die that we were while alive ...the same personality & character but without sin. God does a lot of work on us to shape our character & personality during our earthly existence. These mental aspects of the self are often called the soul.

The deeper spiritual aspect of a person (often called the spirit) is where we are born again, when our spirit unites with the Holy Spirit, and thus we have eternal life.

 

[Lambano]

I believe we are the same person after we die that we were while alive ...

I was kinda hoping I'd be better than I was.

 

[Riven]

I was kinda hoping I'd be better than I was.

You might be worse than you were. Who knows?

 

[Lambano]

 

[Hillsage]

I believe we are the same person after we die that we were while alive ...the same personality & character but without sin. God does a lot of work on us to shape our character & personality during our earthly existence. These mental aspects of the self are often called the soul.

I sure hope you're wrong. Because there are 'personalities' and 'characteristics' here; if they don't get 'changed', will make His kingdom no better than it is here on the forum.

HEB 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,

I personally believe that whatever doesn't go to our cross here on earth, doesn't go to the Lord's heavenly realm in the hereafter. But you'll still be a giggling 'half wit'.

The deeper spiritual aspect of a person (often called the spirit) is where we are born again, when our spirit unites with the Holy Spirit, and thus we have eternal life.

I don't believe spirits die. So when you say 'eternal life' are you talking about a 'quality of time' in life. Or a 'quantity of time' alive