Does Paul teach that we have a spirit separate from our body?
Read Time: 2 min
Human beings are very complex and wonderfully created. Sometimes, to grasp the different aspects of our being, we talk about different parts of us. The apostle Paul does this when showing how the sanctifying work of God works “completely” on our “whole” being. To illustrate how much of our lives are touched by the Lord, he speaks of the “spirit, soul, and body.”
The Greek word for “spirit” used here is pneuma, which comes from the word for “breath.” It is used to not only describe the life of a person (Luke 8:55), but also our mind and intelligence. Notice how Paul writes, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). The Holy Spirit speaks to our minds and shares truth with us.
The word “soul” in this passage comes from the word psuche, from which we get our word psychology. More than our intelligent thoughts, this word seems to speak of our emotions and desires. Today we might use the word “heart” to capture this concept. It’s less about thinking and more about feelings and even instincts. This part of our lives is also touched by the Spirit and is where David desires God’s law to be written (Psalm 40:8).
Even our “body” is important to God, our very flesh and bone. When the Lord works on our minds, we are not driven by our lower nature. We desire to take care of our entire beings for His glory (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20). But these different parts do not exist separately any more than trying to take a person’s brain from their skull and setting it aside.
The message of this passage is not to emphasize the different parts of our being as separate items, but the work of God on our whole being. We do not exist in separate entities and neither is the Spirit interested in just working on one aspect of our lives. God works completely!
Key Bible Texts
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV)