Paul the apostle in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 makes an interesting statement about the human makeup that appears to be more pagan Greek than biblical Hebraic in nature.
And the very Elohim of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray Elohim your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. (emphasis added)
In the highlighted phrase above, each of the words body, soul and spirit are separated by the word and. This same grammatical construction exists in the biblical Greek as well: “spirit and [Gr. kai] soul and [Gr. kai] body.” This shows the deliberate separateness of these three components of a person’s makeup. In Paul’s mind, the soul and spirit of man were two separate entities. While the ancient Greek philosophers had a clear understanding of this, the Hebraic Bible writers seemed to have often conflated the idea of the soul and spirit of mans; that is to say, they didn’t clearly distinguish between the two. This doesn’t, however, mean that they didn’t understand the uniqueness of man’s spirit, as opposed to his soul, as we will soon see. What are we to make of this?
If we are to believe Paul, man is a tripartite being composed of a body, a soul and a spirit. In biblical Hebraic thought as presented in the Tanakh (Old Testament), the soul and spirit are virtually indistinguishable and the terms nephesh (soul) and ruach (spirit) are sometimes even used interchangeably. Paul, however, in his letter to the saints at Thessalonica puts a finer point on the differences between the soul (or the mind, will and emotions of a person, or their unique personality) and spirit of man (or that divine spark in each person that, when spiritually energized by the Spirit of Elohim, is what connects a person to Elohim, who is a Spirit) by differentiating between the two. Additionally, the separateness of man’s soul and spirit is specifically referred to in Hebrew 4:12 where we read,
For the word of Elohim 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. (emphasis added)
The fact that Paul mentions the spirit first in 1 Thess 5:23 seems to suggest that YHVH created the spirit of man first, then his soul, and then placed both of them in a physical body.
Bible Scriptures That Speak of the Personal Spirit of Man
While ostensibly the writers in the Tanakh may not have made as clear a delineation between the soul and spirit of man as the Greek philosophers or as Paul and the writer of Hebrews did, there are several biblical passages that clearly show that they understood that the spirit of man was different than his soul or mind, will and emotions. In fact, even Job, the author of perhaps the oldest book in the Bible, as did Moses, the author of the Torah, and Solomon understood this fact long before the Greek philosophers. Against this biblical contextual backdrop, and from the following Bible verses, we can see that Paul’s statement in 1 Thess 5:23 no longer seems so out of place.
But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. (Job 32:8)
And they fell on their faces and said, “O Elohim, the Elohim of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?” (Num 16:22)
And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to Elohim who gave it. (Eccl 12:7)
The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts. (Prov 20:27)
The burden of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: Thus declares the Lord, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him. (Zech 12:1)
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of Elohim… (Rom 8:16)
But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. (1 Cor 6:17)
Elohim is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)
Now may the Elohim of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. (1 Thess 5:23)
For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of Elohim except the Spirit of Elohim. (1 Cor 2:11)
For the word of Elohim 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. (Heb 4:12)
And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. (1 Cor 14:32)
Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? (Heb 12:9)
They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Yeshua, receive my spirit!” (Acts 7:59)
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. (2 Cor 4:6)
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. (Jas 2:26)
The Lord be with your spirit. (2 Tim 4:22)
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to Elohim the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect. (Heb 12:23)
Our Spirit Is Activated at the Time of the New Birth
Even though every human is born with a personal spirit that acts as a sort of spiritual compass to guide him in a basic understanding of what is right and wrong, (Rom 2:14–16), the Bible reveals that one’s spirit man is not activated in a major spiritual way until they receive the Spirit of Elohim at the time of their initial salvation.
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:17)
But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. (Job 32:8)
The spirit of man is the candle of YHVH, searching all the inward parts of the belly. (Prov 20:27)
When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness. (Job 29:3)
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of Elohim. (Rom 8:16)
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. (Eph 3:16)
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.…But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:20, 27)
Hereby know ye the Spirit of Elohim: Every spirit that confesseth that Yeshua the Messiah is come in the flesh is of Elohim: And every spirit that confesseth not that Yeshua the Messiah is come in the flesh is not of Elohim: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:2–3)
But Elohim hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of Elohim. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of Elohim knoweth no man, but the Spirit of Elohim. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of Elohim; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of Elohim. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of Elohim: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Cor. 2:10–14)
The Defilement and Purification of One’s Personal Spirit
In two passages in the Testimony of Yeshua, Paul discusses how one’s inner man or personal spirit must be renewed spiritually.
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (2 Cor 4:16)
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind, (Eph 4:23)
What in us has to be renewed? It is true that each of us was born in sin or was born sinful (Ps 51:5), and that our soul (i.e. our mind, will and emotions) is the part of us that actually sins (Ezek 18:4). So what has to be renewed again if our soul was sinful from the beginning of our life?
Evidently YHVH created something sin-free in us that became defiled along the way and needs to be renewed. If it is not our soul, than what is it ? It must be our personal spirit, which is the candle of YHVH (Prov 20:27) that must be renewed in the knowledge of Elohim due to its being tainted by the soul of man, which has been influenced and corrupted by the world, the flesh and the devil, and which needs to be made perfect, completed, finished or brought to the end goal (Heb 12:23).
The tainting of man’s personal spirit is indicated in 1 Thess 5:23, which states that man’s spirit must be “preserved blameless.” Preserved is the Greek word tereo meaning “to guard, to keep, one in the state in which he is, to observe, to reserve: to undergo something.” This means that one’s personal spirit can be tainted, defiled or dirtied. Moreover, Job 7:11 speaks about the “anguish [or distress, narrowness, tightness] of my spirit” and “the bitterness of my soul.” Obviously, man’s personal spirit can be distressed, wounded, hurt, oppressed or constrained by the negative influences and trials of life. It seems that Job 7:11 indicates we can have negative emotions in both our soul and our spirit. It is highly likely that anguish in our spirit could degenerate into bitterness in the soul. This probability indicates to me that both our soul and our spirit need cleansing, healing and forgiveness. The fact that man’s spirit can be adversely affected or negatively influenced, or even defiled by one’s sinful soul is further corroborated in 2 Cor 6:18–7:1.
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse [Gr. katharizo] ourselves from all filthiness [or defilement] of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of Elohim. (emphasis added)
It is for these reasons that the spirit of man needs to be “renewed” (Col 3:10), “made perfect” (Heb 12:23), and “preserved blameless” (1 Thess 5:23).
Does the Spirit of Man Live on After Physically Death?
So what happens to man when he dies? Does his spirit live on? Is it conscious after death? This seems to have been as much a question to the ancients as it is today. For example, we read,
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (Ps 90:10, emphasis added)
What is this verse supposed to mean? What did the psalmist have in mind when he wrote it? Did he know something that we don’t? The Hebrew word for fly away (Heb. uwf) literally means just that.
Even to Solomon, a man of no mean intelligence, wondered what happens to man after he dies.
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? (Eccl 3:21)
If man, in some state of existence, exists after his physical death, while awaiting the resurrection of his physical body, James the apostle seemed not to be aware of it when he wrote,
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (Jas 4:14)
If Peter the apostle was aware that man continued to live in some spirit-state of existence after his death, he certainly gave us no clue of it when he wrote,
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.…For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand… (Acts 2:29, 34)
Even Solomon’s affirmative statement about the spirit (Heb. ruach) of man “returning to Elohim who gave it in Eccl 12:7 gives us no clue as to the state of man’s existence after his physical death. In this verse, the Hebrew word for spirit, ruach, is so generic in its meaning that one can read just about any meaning one wants into this verse. In light of the fact that the same author earlier in the same book ponders the perennial question regarding man’s fate after his death without answering his own question, we can’t assume that he had the answer.
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? (Eccl 3:21)
What then is the bottom line of this whole discussion? The Bible reveals that the ancient biblical sages and holy men weren’t aware of the exact state of man’s existence after his physical life, and neither can we. It was a mystery then, and it still is today. Perhaps this is because YHVH Elohim doesn’t want us to be focused on what happens to us after we die, but rather on living out our physical life here and now in a manner that is pleasing to him, and the rest will take of itself. This is the essence of our faith walk. YHVH gifted us with life, and will ensure that the righteous saints will be justly cared for in the future. Period.
My favorite part…”the bottom line:<)"
It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh (h, self) profits nothing, an interesting verse, however Scripture teaches us that the dead know nothing Eccl 9:5, yet in Rev6:9-10 talks about the “souls under the altar” and they cry out! So because I don’t want to “cherry pick” I’m going to say I’m just ecstatic that He has it all under control and since He is in control I am in a controlled environment!
Me too Carol, me too. But, just a thought that may or may not have merit….Rev is a vision and as such, it (that particular sight) may have been there more as a teaching tool than an actuality…? Sorta like when Yeshua told his disciples not to tell anyone about the vision they had seen…Moses and Elijah were not really there, it was according to Yeshua….a vision. Anyway…yes…controlled environment. I love that:<)
Thanks drbestill, all glory to YHVH, here’s another thought on the “souls n=under the altar, Rom 8:26 is one and how our spirits groan with His? Or perhaps it’s a clue as to the death we may suffer per: beheadings as they did per Islamic militants. Well, you can’t put a crown on a headless body, we will get it back so we can lay our crowns at His feet!
Souls under the altar (Rev 6:9), in biblical Hebraic thought, is another way of saying that when you die, your soul dies too and goes into the grave of the earth or ground along with your body awaiting the resurrection when your body and soul (i.e. your personality—your mind, will and emotions) will be reunited with your personal spirit or divine essence that goes back to heaven when you die. The altar is a poetic metaphor for the earth. Remember that the Bible says that heaven is Elohim’s throne and earth is his footstool (Isa 66:1; Matt 5:35; Acts 7:49). For example, the altar in the tabernacle was constructed of a pile of rocks placed on the bare earth and the blood of sacrificed animals was poured out on the earth. To me, the phrase “under the altar” (Rev 6:9) speaks of the human body being buried under or in the earth when they die where they await the resurrection. We know that souls are not immortal; they don’t go to heaven when a person dies, contrary to what the church teaches—a false teaching they picked up from the Greek philosophers, not from the Tanakh! On the contrary, the Tanakh tells us that the soul that sins dies (Ezek 18:4) and goes into the grave (Ps 16:10). Yeshua’s soul died when he went into he grave (Ps 16:10; Isa 53:12), but his spirit (his breath and his personal spirit) went up to heaven to be received of his Father (Luke 23:46) as did Stephen’s (Act 7:59). The same is true for all humans (Eccl 12:7). The idea that the altar is the earth is further corroborated in Jewish thought. The Jewish sages teach us that the four horns on the four corners of the altar of sacrifice in the tabernacle symbolically represent the four corners of the earth. “[T]he expanse of the earth is more than a huge altar, dedicated to God” (The ArtScroll Tehilim/Psalms Commentary on Ps 118:27), and at death, the soul is not immortal, but simply goes into the grave with the body awaiting the resurrection (Pss 16:10; 49:15; Ezek 18:4). If the soul were immortal, than the lie the serpent told the first humans about not dying after going against Elohim’s instructions (i.e. committing sin) would be true wouldn’t it (Gen 3:4)?
Wow! I never saw the 4 horns on the altar as representing the 4 corners of the earth. and yes I do know the soul isn’t immortal. but I didn’t realize the metaphors of the poetic nature of that verse, and thanks for the Scripture references as well. Agape, Carol!
Spirit, soul, body. Watchman Nee is one of the very very few who wrote in line with all of Yahweh’s Word/ Torah/ Scripture Revealed by the Father in Heaven to men. Religion has corrupted so much, UNlearning is one of the largest obstacles, making it impossible , seemingly, for anyone to be saved any more… but Yahweh, He IS Merciful, right ? …. He Reveals Salvation to little children delightedly , freely, extravagantly generously ! TODAY !