The spirit and soul are most times used interchangeably but they are not entirely the same. The spirit and soul are also being mistaken for each other; as some use spirit instead of soul and vice versa. It can be confusing but there is difference between both.

The spirit is the air that we breath. It was given to us by God during the creation of man and at birth. We share the same spirit with God (Job 27:3). The spirit is the “breath of life” God breathed into the nostrils of Adam in the time of creation and as the scripture recorded, Adam became a living soul (Genesis 2:7). The Bible says: And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7). The breath of life used in the context is the spirit of man and the God given air we breath.

Since it is God from whom we share the same spirit, the spirit of man depart man at death and returns back to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Just as it is written in Ecclesiastes 12:7, which says: “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”. The dust here refers to the body from which it was taken (Genesis 2:7), and the spirit refers to the breath of life given to man temporally on earth (Genesis 6:3) at the time of creation and birth. Other names for spirit are: the breath of God, breath of man or breath of life.

The soul on the other hand is the inner being of man. It is the eternal and spiritual part of man that leaves the human body after death and continue living for eternity either in heaven or in hell. Jesus says in Mark 8:36: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” What Jesus mean here is what will a man gain if he gains the whole world to himself but yet, loose his own soul to hell.

The spirit and soul are use in the scripture differently; as meaning may not always portray the meaning explained above. It all depends on the context of the usage. For example spirit can also mean wind or breeze as used in Job 4:15 KJV: Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:.

On the other hand, soul means person or creature in Genesis 2:7.

https://www.gospelandtruth.com/2017/12/the-difference-between-spirit-and-soul.html?m=1

now I understand better.

rosy1992:
now I understand better.

Thank God you have. If you have any further question, you can always ask my dear friend

OP, but the spirit and soul where passed into man after God breathed the breathe of life into man(clay) in Genesis 1. To me they are hard to differentiate.
One thing though, if the soul connotes the intellectual/emotional man, how does the soul help norture the spirit?

Desyner:
OP, but the spirit and soul where passed into man after God breathed the breathe of life into man(clay) in Genesis 1. To me they are hard to differentiate.
One thing though, if the soul connotes the intellectual/emotional man, how does the soul help norture the spirit?

The spirit was not passed into man after God breath the breath of life into man because the “breath of life” itself is the spirit. As it is written in Genesis 2:7 KJV: And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

It's truly hard to differentiate. God is infinite and no man can completely comprehend his works (Isaiah 55:9).

Ecclesiastes 11:5 KJV
As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

The soul is large and contains our mind, emotions, will, intellect etc. It is a realm on its own. The soul and the spirit will not die. The soul was created before the body, it was created first (Genesis 1: 26-28). The spirit was gotten directly from God just like you said. Nice write up.

From my little knowledge about this subject. The only thing that can separate both (Soul & Spirit) is the word of God (Hebrews 4 : 12). The truth is many won't be able to achieve this until the word dwells in them over time. Jesus said the words that I speak are Spirit and Life... Prov 4:20-22 says if you pay attention to my words and keep them in the midst of your heart, They are Life to them that finds it. The word of God brings alive your Spirit man coupled with fastings and genuine Love towards others.

Secondly, it is important to note that some of things God created in the beginning were made manifest first in the Spirit before they manifested in the physical. E.g the plants herbs and trees didn't come out until (Gen 2:5) while (Gen 1:24,29-30) said it came forth. Likewise man was made manifest in the Spirit first Gen 1:26-28 before he was made manifest in the physical from clay (Body).

So what then is the soul? The soul is the seat of knowledge intellect emotions etc

Thirdly, God breathe (Rohr) into man... And he became a living being or Soul. From my little knowledge at this point Adam began to operate at the thinking and operational level of God... He could name all the animals and carry out things according to the mind and intention of God.

Furthermore, when Adam sinned his soul died! Then his body would follow but not immediately. That is why it says the soul that sinneth shall die. Adam couldn't operate at the level God intended again because of disobedience *the fruit ( Knowledge between Good and Evil). So by the fourth or fifth generation from Adam.. Man started writing on stones. Then God had to reinstall his mind intentions to us via his spoken word to have us regenerated back to him.

Lastly, to cut the story... Paul says let the mind of Christ be in you... How can that mind be in us ?? Answer: Let the word of Christ (God) dwell in you RICHLY! Col 3

Nice write ups from all... So what are we?

Are we a body with a soul or a Soul with a body?

karli4nia:
Nice write ups from all... So what are we?

Are we a body with a soul or a Soul with a body?

Man is a spirit and the spirit has a soul and dwells in a body.

The body allows us to live and do our things on earth because our body is only relevant here on earth. Our spirit and soul is separated from the body when we die on earth but the spirit and soul lives on for an unending eternity.

Know this very well, the spirit and soul were never complete unless they are in a body. That is the truth behind resurrection of man.

***Jesus Christ is the first to have this resurrected body.... ***

Our body is an earthly body otherwise known as terrestrial body while that of Angels is celestial body (1Cor 15.....) So Angelic beings also function in a body even God Almighty! That tells me that spirit and soul are ineffectual without body.

beejaymoore:
From my little knowledge about this subject. The only thing that can separate both (Soul & Spirit) is the word of God (Hebrews 4 : 12). The truth is many won't be able to achieve this until the word dwells in them over time. Jesus said the words that I speak are Spirit and Life... Prov 4:20-22 says if you pay attention to my words and keep them in the midst of your heart, They are Life to them that finds it. The word of God brings alive your Spirit man coupled with fastings and genuine Love towards others.


Secondly, it is important to note that some of things God created in the beginning were made manifest first in the Spirit before they manifested in the physical. E.g the plants herbs and trees didn't come out until (Gen 2:5) while (Gen 1:24,29-30) said it came forth. Likewise man was made manifest in the Spirit first Gen 1:26-28 before he was made manifest in the physical from clay (Body).

So what then is the soul? The soul is the seat of knowledge intellect emotions etc

Thirdly, God breathe (Rohr) into man... And he became a living being or Soul. From my little knowledge at this point Adam began to operate at the thinking and operational level of God... He could name all the animals and carry out things according to the mind and intention of God.

Furthermore, when Adam sinned his soul died! Then his body would follow but not immediately. That is why it says the soul that sinneth shall die. Adam couldn't operate at the level God intended again because of disobedience *the fruit ( Knowledge between Good and Evil). So by the fourth or fifth generation from Adam.. Man started writing on stones. Then God had to reinstall his mind intentions to us via his spoken word to have us regenerated back to him.

Lastly, to cut the story... Paul says let the mind of Christ be in you... How can that mind be in us ?? Answer: Let the word of Christ (God) dwell in you RICHLY! Col 3

I prefer your approach to the @ops........

May the Lord grant us wisdom in knowing His word

joshnes:
The soul is large and contains our mind, emotions, will, intellect etc. It is a realm on its own. The soul and the spirit will not die. The soul was created before the body, it was created first (Genesis 1: 26-28). The spirit was gotten directly from God just like you said. Nice write up.

Thank you very much for the commendation

karli4nia:
Nice write ups from all... So what are we?

Are we a body with a soul or a Soul with a body?

How do you mean? Is there suppose to be any difference between both?

Man comprises body and soul and vice versa

beejaymoore:
From my little knowledge about this subject. The only thing that can separate both (Soul & Spirit) is the word of God (Hebrews 4 : 12). The truth is many won't be able to achieve this until the word dwells in them over time. Jesus said the words that I speak are Spirit and Life... Prov 4:20-22 says if you pay attention to my words and keep them in the midst of your heart, They are Life to them that finds it. The word of God brings alive your Spirit man coupled with fastings and genuine Love towards others.

Secondly, it is important to note that some of things God created in the beginning were made manifest first in the Spirit before they manifested in the physical. E.g the plants herbs and trees didn't come out until (Gen 2:5) while (Gen 1:24,29-30) said it came forth. Likewise man was made manifest in the Spirit first Gen 1:26-28 before he was made manifest in the physical from clay (Body).

So what then is the soul? The soul is the seat of knowledge intellect emotions etc

Thirdly, God breathe (Rohr) into man... And he became a living being or Soul. From my little knowledge at this point Adam began to operate at the thinking and operational level of God... He could name all the animals and carry out things according to the mind and intention of God.

Furthermore, when Adam sinned his soul died! Then his body would follow but not immediately. That is why it says the soul that sinneth shall die. Adam couldn't operate at the level God intended again because of disobedience *the fruit ( Knowledge between Good and Evil). So by the fourth or fifth generation from Adam.. Man started writing on stones. Then God had to reinstall his mind intentions to us via his spoken word to have us regenerated back to him.

Lastly, to cut the story... Paul says let the mind of Christ be in you... How can that mind be in us ?? Answer: Let the word of Christ (God) dwell in you RICHLY! Col 3

Thanks for your contribution

Zenithpeak:



Man is a spirit and the spirit has a soul and dwells in a body.

The body allows us to live and do our things on earth because our body is only relevant here on earth. Our spirit and soul is separated from the body when we die on earth but the spirit and soul lives on for an unending eternity.

Know this very well, the spirit and soul were never complete unless they are in a body. That is the truth behind resurrection of man.

***Jesus Christ is the first to have this resurrected body.... ***

Our body is an earthly body otherwise known as terrestrial body while that of Angels is celestial body (1Cor 15.....) So Angelic beings also function in a body even God Almighty! That tells me that spirit and soul are ineffectual without body.

In other words- from your lpost and expatiation I can deduce the sinple answer to my question is that we are a Soul living in a temporary physical body with a personality.
The body was loaned to us to experince life in the physical realm. And as such, Soul can always live on its own outside the physical body when it departs the physical realm. Am i right or am I wrong Sir?

FaithfulServant:


How do you mean? Is there suppose to be any difference between both?

Man comprises body and soul and vice versa

Yes, I think there is supposed to be. This is because from the way our religion has been structured, many people don't have an idea what they really are..they wrongly assume thy are their body and forget the real thing- Soul.

Ok...contemplate this analogy.. The nice suit that one puts on to work...is just the covering or cloth they need for that purpose. It is not them. Its a dress that wld be pulled off outside that purpose. So in essene , in this analogy, the person comes first... Then his suit.

So also..this makes it wise to say- we are a Soul with a physical body and not the other way round. Am I wrong Sir?

karli4nia:


In other words- from your lpost and expatiation I can deduce the sinple answer to my question is that we are a Soul living in a temporary physical body with a personality.
The body was loaned to us to experince life in the physical realm. And as such, Soul can always live on its own outside the physical body when it departs the physical realm. Am i right or am I wrong Sir?

Good day brother.

@bolded

1. Man is a SPIRIT but can not function without a SOUL and the two must be together in a body so as become a complete beign. Just as a cell cannot function without nucleous.

2. Our body is not loaned to us......... it is not temporal.....

The spirit and soul needs body to achieve its complete status.

Few things that must always remain in our consciousness is that,

1. Death causes a separation between the body and the spirit. (soul is a component of the spirit, therefore they are inseparable physically)

Note: The Spirit is a resident of heaven while the body originally came from earth. For the things of heaven to be able to dwell comfortably on earth there must be earthly container to accommodate it; and that is exactly what our body is to our spirit.
Therefore, at death, Spirit will return to its original source (God) and body also to its original source (dust) waiting for the appointed time of God to restored the earth to His Genesis intention to be fused together again.

2. Death is not in the mind of God for man at creation.

3. Death is a natural response to the fall of man in Eden. The corruption affected the spirit & automatically soul is corrupted as well as the body. There is need for separation to set in between the components to allow for complete redemption process to take place. Later our body will be reunited with our spirit /soul.

4. Death is our enemy .......

So many points on my mind but it is needless to bother you with long epistle but I believe this will be of help.

Thanks.

The Soul was birthed when God inputed His spirit into the Body..

The Spirit is from God, the Body is from the Earth and the Soul is a Divine being. If you Check the meaning of divine, you will discover it says God, Superhuman, Eternal, etc that is to give you a glimpse of what Man is. The scripture once says "ye were god but ye will die like men"

But at the developmental stage of this Soul, it became corrupted by the forbidden fruit it ate and its proficiency and excellency was greatly reduced and became redundant and we became mere men.


The ability of the Soul is great and marvelous, it can operate in the physical and in the Spiritual at the same time. Remember Jesus didn't come in the way of the corrupted soul, so He can change to His divine being at anytime even in the physical, example is the transfiguration on the mount of olives, and Peter James and John saw him and were astonished. Don't forget the scripture says he grew in obedience, His soul grew with the Spirit of God in obedience.

karli4nia:


Yes, I think there is supposed to be. This is because from the way our religion has been structured, many people don't have an idea what they really are..they wrongly assume thy are their body and forget the real thing- Soul.

Ok...contemplate this analogy.. The nice suit that one puts on to work...is just the covering or cloth they need for that purpose. It is not them. Its a dress that wld be pulled off outside that purpose. So in essene , in this analogy, the person comes first... Then his suit.

So also..this makes it wise to say- we are a Soul with a physical body and not the other way round. Am I wrong Sir?

I get your point. Yes, the soul is important; so the body is also. Though for now, the body is dead because of the adamic sin and disobedience (Romans 8:10; Romans 5:12) but in the later end, this our present body that is prone to death will be changed and replaced with a new body that will never die (Philippians 3:20-21).

1 Corinthians 15:52-53 KJV
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Tosinex:
The Soul was birthed when God inputed His spirit into the Body..

The Spirit is from God, the Body is from the Earth and the Soul is a Divine being. If you Check the meaning of divine, you will discover it says God, Superhuman, Eternal, etc that is to give you a glimpse of what Man is. The scripture once says "ye were god but ye will die like men"

But at the developmental stage of this Soul, it became corrupted by the forbidden fruit it ate and its proficiency and excellency was greatly reduced and became redundant and we became mere men.


The ability of the Soul is great and marvelous, it can operate in the physical and in the Spiritual at the same time. Remember Jesus didn't come in the way of the corrupted soul, so He can change to His divine being at anytime even in the physical, example is the transfiguration on the mount of olives, and Peter James and John saw him and were astonished. Don't forget the scripture says he grew in obedience, His soul grew with the Spirit of God in obedience.

Thanks for the educational piece. We keep learning everyday, and I have learnt a lot from this. Thanks