By Dr. Jack Cottrell
QUESTION: Can you explain to me the difference between soul and spirit? I know the word “soul” is used in different ways, and means life or living being; and I know we have a spirit by means of which we relate to God (in prayer, worship, etc.). I know that they are connected but are not the same—so what is the difference?
ANSWER: It is important first of all to distinguish between the WORDS “soul” (Heb. nephesh; Grk. psyche) and “spirit” (Heb. ruach; Grk. pneuma) on the one hand, and the metaphysical ENTITY or aspect of human nature to which these words apply, on the other hand.
In both the OT and the NT the words translated “soul”—nephesh and psyche—have three major connotations, only ONE of which refers to the spiritual side of our metaphysical nature. In some contexts these words refer to the whole person or individual or self, and not to just one part of his or her nature. An OT example is Gen. 2:7closeGenesis 2:7 7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. (ESV) closeGenesis 2:7closeGenesis 2:7 7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. (ESV) 7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. (ESV) , which says that God’s breathing into the nostrils of the clay figure was the means by which the latter became a living “nephesh,” namely, a living individual or living person. The reference here is not to just one part of the person, but to the person as such. A NT example is Rom. 13:1closeRomans 13:1 Submission to the Authorities 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (ESV) closeRomans 13:1closeRomans 13:1 Submission to the Authorities 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (ESV) Submission to the Authorities 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (ESV) , which says that every “psyche” must be subject to governing authorities. Here the word applies to the whole person, not to any one part of the person.
A second connotation of the words usually translated “soul”—nephesh and psyche—is the characteristic or attribute of LIFE as such as possessed by any living individual. This does not refer to the person as such, nor to any metaphysical part of the person; but to the life or livingness present in that person (or animal). See Lev. 17:14closeLeviticus 17:14 14 For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off. (ESV) closeLeviticus 17:14closeLeviticus 17:14 14 For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off. (ESV) 14 For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off. (ESV) ; Matt. 6:25; John 10:11; 15:13closeJohn 10:11 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 15:13 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (ESV) closeJohn 10:11closeJohn 10:11 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (ESV) 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 15:13closeJohn 15:13 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (ESV) 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (ESV) .
The third connotation of these words is that the nephesh or psyche is an aspect of man’s metaphysical nature, or part of the stuff out of which we are made. It applies to our SPIRITUAL nature, as distinct from our PHYSICAL nature. E.g., Ps. 63:1closePsalm 63:1
My Soul Thirsts for You
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
63:1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (ESV)
closePsalm 63:1closePsalm 63:1
My Soul Thirsts for You
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
63:1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (ESV)
My Soul Thirsts for You
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
63:1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (ESV)
says, “My soul [nephesh] thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you” (ESV); see Ps. 84:2closePsalm 84:2
2 My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God. (ESV)
closePsalm 84:2closePsalm 84:2
2 My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God. (ESV)
2 My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God. (ESV)
. This meaning is clearly seen in Matt. 10:28, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul [psyche]. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul [psyche] and body in hell.” Rev. 6:9closeRevelation 6:9
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. (ESV)
closeRevelation 6:9closeRevelation 6:9
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. (ESV)
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. (ESV)
speaks of the souls [psyche] of martyrs who exist without their bodies in the angelic heaven in the presence of God.
Note carefully: neither of the first two connotations is relevant to our question here. We must be aware of them, however; and we must be careful to discern when these connotations are present so that we do not apply such verses to the metaphysical question. Many false theological conclusions have been drawn by applying texts where nephesh or psyche refers to the PERSON rather than to the SPIRITUAL PART of the person.
Now the question is this: what is the relation between that part of our nature called the SOUL in this third sense, and the part of our nature called the SPIRIT (e.g., Luke 23:46closeLuke 23:46 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (ESV) closeLuke 23:46closeLuke 23:46 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (ESV) 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (ESV) ; Acts 7:59; 1closeActs 7:59 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Acts 7:1 Stephen's Speech 7:1 And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” (ESV) closeActs 7:59closeActs 7:59 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (ESV) 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Acts 7:1closeActs 7:1 Stephen's Speech 7:1 And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” (ESV) Stephen's Speech 7:1 And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” (ESV) Cor. 2:11closeERROR: No results were found for your search.closeERROR: No results were found for your search.; Heb. 12:23)? Here is the bottom line: THEY ARE THE SAME THING; THERE IS NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN THEM. Human beings are made of TWO kinds of metaphysical stuff: physical and spiritual. The former is called “body,” “flesh,” and “outer man”; the latter is called “spirit,” “soul,” “heart,” and “inner man.” The soul IS the spirit. This view of man is called (anthropological) dualism, and sometimes dichotomy. It is the Biblical view.
It is commonly believed, though, that man is three parts (trichotomy), with the soul and the spirit being distinguished. I have concluded that this is false. The Bible overwhelmingly speaks of human beings as composed of two parts (see “The Faith Once for All,” 138-140), and the same spiritual activities are applied to our spiritual nature whether it is called “soul” or “spirit.” I.e., where “soul” and “spirit” are referring to a part of man’s nature, they are synonymous and interchangeable. For example, both terms are used to refer to that part of man that survives death, i.e., the disembodied element in the intermediate state: soul (Matt. 10:28; Rev. 6:9; 20:4closeRevelation 6:9
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.
Revelation 20:4
4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (ESV)
closeRevelation 6:9closeRevelation 6:9
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. (ESV)
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.
Revelation 20:4closeRevelation 20:4
4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (ESV)
4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (ESV)
), spirit (Heb. 12:23). Both terms are used for that part of man that departs at the moment of death: soul (Gen. 35:18; 1closeGenesis 35:18
18 And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
Genesis 35:1
God Blesses and Renames Jacob
35:1 God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” (ESV)
closeGenesis 35:18closeGenesis 35:18
18 And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. (ESV)
18 And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
Genesis 35:1closeGenesis 35:1
God Blesses and Renames Jacob
35:1 God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” (ESV)
God Blesses and Renames Jacob
35:1 God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” (ESV)
Kgs. 17:21), spirit (Ps. 31:5closePsalm 31:5
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. (ESV)
closePsalm 31:5closePsalm 31:5
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. (ESV)
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. (ESV)
; Luke 8:55; 23:46closeLuke 8:55
55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat.
Luke 23:46
46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (ESV)
closeLuke 8:55closeLuke 8:55
55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. (ESV)
55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat.
Luke 23:46closeLuke 23:46
46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (ESV)
46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (ESV)
; Acts 7:59closeActs 7:59
59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (ESV)
closeActs 7:59closeActs 7:59
59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (ESV)
59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (ESV)
; Jas. 2:26).
This interchangeability is also seen in the fact that the highest spiritual activities of man are experienced by both the soul and the spirit (see John Murray, “Writings,” II:25-27). This is significant because for most trichotomists, man’s spirit is supposed to be THE seat of God-consciousness and spiritual experience (such as prayer and worship), with the soul being the seat of baser passions. But this distinction is not found in the Bible. For example, religious sorrow or spiritual grief is attributed to Jesus’ spirit (Mark 8:12closeMark 8:12
12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” (ESV)
closeMark 8:12closeMark 8:12
12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” (ESV)
12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” (ESV)
; John 11:33closeJohn 11:33
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. (ESV)
closeJohn 11:33closeJohn 11:33
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. (ESV)
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. (ESV)
; 13:21) and his soul (Matt. 26:38; John 12:27closeJohn 12:27
The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up
27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. (ESV)
closeJohn 12:27closeJohn 12:27
The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up
27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. (ESV)
The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up
27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. (ESV)
). See Ps. 77:2-3closePsalm 77:2-3
2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
my soul refuses to be comforted.
3 When I remember God, I moan;
when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah (ESV)
closePsalm 77:2-3closePsalm 77:2-3
2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
my soul refuses to be comforted.
3 When I remember God, I moan;
when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah (ESV)
2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
my soul refuses to be comforted.
3 When I remember God, I moan;
when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah (ESV)
. Also, in poetic parallelism Mary expresses spiritual joy and praise to God in both her soul and spirit (Luke 1:46-47closeLuke 1:46-47
Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, (ESV)
closeLuke 1:46-47closeLuke 1:46-47
Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, (ESV)
Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, (ESV)
). Contrary to the lower position trichotomy usually gives to the soul, the Bible pictures it as the subject of the highest exercises of devotion toward God. “At night my soul longs for You, indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently” (Isa. 26:9closeIsaiah 26:9
9 My soul yearns for you in the night;
my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.
For when your judgments are in the earth,
the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. (ESV)
closeIsaiah 26:9closeIsaiah 26:9
9 My soul yearns for you in the night;
my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.
For when your judgments are in the earth,
the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. (ESV)
9 My soul yearns for you in the night;
my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.
For when your judgments are in the earth,
the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. (ESV)
). In Phil. 1:27closePhilippians 1:27
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, (ESV)
closePhilippians 1:27closePhilippians 1:27
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, (ESV)
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, (ESV)
Paul exhorts us to stand firm in one spirit and strive together with one soul (psyche). Love for God, the highest virtue, comes from the soul (Mark 12:30closeMark 12:30
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.’ (ESV)
). Hope is an anchor for the soul (Heb. 6:19closeHebrews 6:19
19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, (ESV)
closeHebrews 6:19closeHebrews 6:19
19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, (ESV)
19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, (ESV)
). We should obey God’s will from the soul (psyche, Eph. 6:6).
John Laidlaw says that such passages as these “render it impossible to hold that ‘spirit’ can mean exclusively or mainly the Godward side of man’s inner nature, and ‘soul’ the rational or earthward. The terms are parallel, or practically equivalent, expressions for the inner life as contrasted with the outer or bodily life” (“The Biblical Doctrine of Man,” 90).
But what about the biblical passages that seem to teach trichotomy? These are actually very few (mainly Gen. 2:7; 1closeGenesis 2:7 7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. Genesis 2:1 The Seventh Day, God Rests 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. (ESV) closeGenesis 2:7closeGenesis 2:7 7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. (ESV) 7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. Genesis 2:1closeGenesis 2:1 The Seventh Day, God Rests 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. (ESV) The Seventh Day, God Rests 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. (ESV) Thess. 5:23close1 Thessalonians 5:23 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. (ESV) close1 Thessalonians 5:23close1 Thessalonians 5:23 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. (ESV) 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. (ESV) ; Heb. 4:12), and may be readily understood in harmony with dualism (see “The Faith Once for All,” 141-142).
In recent theological discussion, the difference between dichotomy and trichotomy does not receive much attention, and I do not make a big deal of it since not much is at stake here. The biggest problem is that some people waste a lot of time combing Scripture for a perceived distinction between soul and spirit, and trying to apply this distinction to all sorts of human activities. The much bigger issue is the distinction between dichotomy or DUALISM on the one hand, and anthropological MONISM on the other. The tendency today, even among many evangelicals, is to deny the existence of a true spiritual aspect in human beings and to limit us to body only. This is a really serious false doctrine and must be vigorously opposed.
For more information about and from Dr. Jack Cottrell, please visit College Press for his published works or his store front at Cincinnati Christian University.
