What is the difference between soul and spirit?

[Nick Moser]

“For the word of God 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.” ~Hebrews 4:12.

 

[ChristianGirl_96]

None as far as I can tell.

 

[RDKirk]

It's not perfectly clear, but in my reading the "soul" appears to be the combination of the mind and the body in operation alone, lacking operation of the spirit.

As I read it, the natural condition of the unsaved is to operate purely as "souls." With their spirits being un-quickened--comatose, say--the only input to the mind is through the body. The only realm the mind has input from is the material realm.while the saved have quickened spirits as well.

With salvation, the spirit is quickened and can receive the input from the spiritual realm, which the mature Christian mind can grow to accept and contemplate above the input of the body.

Edit: Oops. I was speaking in the wrong forum. Sorry.

 

[Lukaris]

Isn’t the soul the spirit of the individually created human while the created spirit could be something else ( primarily, angels)?

 

[ArmyMatt]

depends on which Father you are talking about

 

[Nick Moser]

depends on which Father you are talking about

examples?

 

[Nick Moser]

None as far as I can tell.

What is the difference between soul and spirit? Hebrews 4:12 commentary.

 

[buzuxi02]

depends on which Father you are talking about

This is accurate. In the semitic culture which included the Syrian Father's such as St. Ephraim and Isaac and even St. Paul, the spirit of man is the direct spark from God and returns back to Him upon death. While the soul is the pilot of its vessel. The body and soul are inseperable . The body cannot function without it's soul and the soul cannot act apart from its body. The Spirit on the other hand is the part of man that yearns for God and upon death ascends to God.
It seems to be the equivalent to Nous used by the Greek Father's.

 

[honey badger]

the spirit is the light/life of the soul and the soul is what what reflects or measures this life/light ...

 

[Goodhuman]

The spirit is projection of the body and is part of the soul, they are one. Тhe soul is the particle of God in us.

 

[honey badger]

The spirit is projection of the body and is part of the soul, they are one. Тhe soul is the particle of God in us.

yes they are one but referenced in the scripture as masculine and feminine

 

[honey badger]

For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even as far as the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrows, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Do not think that I came to bring peace to the earth; I came not to bring peace, but a sword.

Do you think that I came to give peace on the earth? No, I say to you, but rather division.

 

[TexFire316]

Best that I can explain it is this way:
The soul is what makes each of us unique. It includes our personality traits, both the ones that we were born with and the ones that we picked up along the way.
The spirit is that part of us that was breathed into us by our Maker at the time of our birth. This part is the part that is able to commune with God.

Problem is, the wicked might think they are communing with Someone, but without the atonement of the SOn, the Father can't hear them It is blocked by sin. The followers and worshippers of God are able to speak to Him any time and any place.

 

[honey badger]

Best that I can explain it is this way:
The soul is what makes each of us unique. It includes our personality traits, both the ones that we were born with and the ones that we picked up along the way.
The spirit is that part of us that was breathed into us by our Maker at the time of our birth. This part is the part that is able to commune with God.

Problem is, the wicked might think they are communing with Someone, but without the atonement of the SOn, the Father can't hear them It is blocked by sin. The followers and worshippers of God are able to speak to Him any time and any place.

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.

 

[DebbieJ]

Soul - You, the person.
Body - The vessel.
Spirit - The life.

Upon death, the spirit leaves the body. The body dies. The soul (you) leaves the body, and goes either to Hades or paradise. You still retain your physical form, but can no longer interact with the physical realm. You can still talk, feel pain and torment. (Ex. Rich man and Lazarus). I imagine the soul to be a negative film. The positive film is the physical body, the negative film is the soul.

Upon resurrection, the Holy Spirit turns your body to an immortal glorified body in an instant, in a twinkling of an eye, and your soul returns. This body is a new creation. The old Adamic body is gone forever. This now becomes:

Soul - You, the person.
Immortal glorified body - The vessel.
Spirit - The Holy Spirit himself.

 

[ArmyMatt]

examples?

This is accurate. In the semitic culture which included the Syrian Father's such as St. Ephraim and Isaac and even St. Paul, the spirit of man is the direct spark from God and returns back to Him upon death. While the soul is the pilot of its vessel. The body and soul are inseperable . The body cannot function without it's soul and the soul cannot act apart from its body. The Spirit on the other hand is the part of man that yearns for God and upon death ascends to God.
It seems to be the equivalent to Nous used by the Greek Father's.

this. and it depends on if you articulate man as being bipartite or tripartite.

 

[colen]

“For the word of God 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.” ~Hebrews 4:12.

Body+Spirit= Living Soul/Living Being

 

[BrotherJJ]

For the word of God 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.” ~Hebrews 4:12.

OP question: What is the difference between soul & spirit?

Man is spirit with a soul that lives in a body

1 Thes 5:23 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.
(NOTE: We are spirit, soul & body)

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the "dividing asunder of soul and spirit", and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart..
(NOTE: Man can't physically see nor separate soul & spirit, GOD CAN)

Your soul is your thoughts & emotions that direct the actions we take. And functions only, in relation with our body. Our spirit is the eternal part of each of us. Your body, well look into a mirror.

God is Spirit: John 4:24. A spirit doesn't have flesh and blood. Luke 24:39

God who is Spirit. Breathed His life giving spirit into mans body:

Gen 2:7. And man became a living soul.
(NOTE: It's only a "living soul" in relation to & in conjunction with the body. When the body dies & the two are no longer one. Yet, the spirit continues to lives on.

Matt 16:26 & Mk 8:36 What would it profit a man. To gain the whole world & lose his soul. (NOTE: A soul can be lost).

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

Our choices in this life will determine whether our spirit spend eternity in the presents of God our creator with our soul intact. Or eternity separated from God our creator with our soul being lost.
MORE HELP:

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words Topic: Soul, "nepes" noun- self, will, emotions, mind person.

Topic: Spirit,"pneuma" noun, signifies (a) "breath, the breath of life," (b) "wind," "spirit," "breath." See GHOST, LIFE, SPIRIT, WIND.

Post is My Opinion Only.

 

[Nick Moser]

thanks for answering my query everyone

 

[Nick Moser]

This is accurate. In the semitic culture which included the Syrian Father's such as St. Ephraim and Isaac and even St. Paul, the spirit of man is the direct spark from God and returns back to Him upon death. While the soul is the pilot of its vessel. The body and soul are inseperable . The body cannot function without it's soul and the soul cannot act apart from its body. The Spirit on the other hand is the part of man that yearns for God and upon death ascends to God.
It seems to be the equivalent to Nous used by the Greek Father's.

I thought the spirt is the life force that all living beings have while the soul is a spiritual connection with God........

24: Soul vs. Spirit - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix.

Forming the Soul – Spirit, Soul and Body