Type of Doctrine: Tertiary
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
-Matthew 10:28 ESV
Why Does It Matter?
How many parts are there to humans? Few would disagree about the fact that we have bodies, but is there more to us than mere physical bodies? Do we also have a soul? What about a spirit? Or is one's "soul" the same as "spirit" biblically? Scripture speaks on this subject in numerous verses, so how should we interpret them?
Significantly, Jesus says: “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” (Mark 12:30). We must interpret this verse to understand and answer this question: how am I supposed to love God? In other words, is my soul the same as my heart and mind or is it something else? This is one example on how this topic is relevant. Thus, this article will address four different views on the subject of how many parts in which humans are composed.
This is typically considered a tertiary issue. Usually Christians don't have any trouble disagreeing with each other on this topic and remaining within the same church.
What Is It?
How many parts are there to humans? Some say there are two (i.e., dichotomists; body and soul/spirit). Others say there are three (i.e., trichotomists; body, soul, and spirit). Some, usually not Evangelicals, say there is only one (i.e., monists; only a physical body, and soul/spirit are other references to the whole person). Still others say that perhaps humans are highly complex with many more parts (see Mark 12:30 or the chart below).
Some say humans are composed of one part, some say two parts, others say three parts, and still others say it may be more.
According to the Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, "soul" is defined as the "spiritual nature, life, being or essence of the individual human (the unique 'person') often thought to survive after death. Theological debates have focused on whether the human person consists of spirit and body in addition to soul, whether the soul is an entity in distinction from the body or whether soul simply refers to the single embodied person as a whole" (108).
In other words, the soul is often thought to be the immaterial part of a person that survives when the body dies. Theological debates center around whether humans are one part (body), two parts (body and soul/spirit), three parts (body, soul, and spirit), or more parts.
Here are a few of the key Scriptures on this subject:
1 Thessalonians 5:23 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.
Hebrews 4:12 ESV | 12 For the word of God 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.
Matthew 10:28 ESV | 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Romans 8:5-6 ESV | 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Mark 12:30 ESV | 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.'
Philippians 3:3 ESV | 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh--
2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV | 1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
1 Corinthians 7:34 ESV | 34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.
Luke 1:46-47 ESV | 46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
The 4 Main Views
The view highlighted in gray is not common among Evangelicals, while the other views tend to be more common among Evangelicals.
View | Description |
Dichotomy | People are composed of two parts: body and soul (or spirit). The words for "soul" and "spirit" in the original languages have distinct nuances, but the words are typically thought of as the same thing (the immaterial part of a person). |
Trichotomy | People are composed of three parts: body, soul, and spirit. Typically, the soul includes the mind, the emotions, and the will. Many argue that humans have a spirit that comes alive when they become a Christian. (Though this is a popular view among many Bible teachers, there are not many modern scholars who hold this position according to Wayne Grudem [Systematic Theology, 600]) |
Complex | Perhaps, people are complex, and they are composed of many different parts (see Mark 12:30 which lists heart, soul, mind, and strength). |
Monism | People are composed of one part since they cannot exist outside of a body. "Soul" and "spirit" are used in Scripture to refer to the whole person. |
Application
While animals have bodies and angels are spirits, humans have been made uniquely. People are made with a physical body and a soul/spirit (immaterial part). We should thank God for making us in this way.
Also, we should consider how this gives us hope. When our physical bodies die, our souls will live on (see Luke 23:43). One day God will reunite our disembodied souls with new, indestructible bodies in his new heavens and new earth (Rev. 21-22).
Meanwhile, we live on an earth filled with sin, suffering, and Satan. We should be mindful of taking good care of our bodies and our souls.
Where Can I Learn More?
Bibliography:
-Grenz, Stanley J., David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms: Over 300 Terms Clearly and Concisely Defined. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 1999.
-Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2020.