Spirit, Soul, and Body

[Thy Geekdom Come]

We have some concerns with trying to understand the relationship between spirit, soul, and body. We know that there are body and soul, but we cannot tell whether the spirit is a third part or an attribute of the soul.

If it is a third part, then why do we say that humans are body and soul?

If it is an attribute, then why do we add "spirit" instead of just saying "body and soul" or even "body and spiritual soul"?

If soul is to spirit as body is to matter, then why don't we say, "soul, spirit, body, and matter," rather than, "spirit, soul, and body"?

[StColette]

lol anyone got anything about this?

I remember reading something a few days ago that talked about this and how it was designed this way to reflect the Trinity. But now I can't find where I read it. I'm still lookin though

[StColette]

Okay no Trichotomy allowed

one of the earliest widespread forms of error among Christian writers -- the doctrine of the Trichotomy. According to this, man, perfect man (teleios) consists of three parts: body, soul, spirit (soma, psyche, pneuma). Body and soul come by natural generation; spirit is given to the regenerate Christian alone. Thus, the "newness of life", of which St. Paul speaks, was conceived by some as a superadded entity, a kind of oversoul sublimating the "natural man" into a higher species. This doctrine was variously distorted in the different Gnostic systems.

Okay lol I get it now lol

[phatcatholic]

where did u learn this? (just curious)

[StColette]

[quote name='phatcatholic' date='Aug 22 2005, 06:58 PM']where did u learn this? (just curious)
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learn what? lol

what I posted about Trichotomy came from NewAdvent [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14153a.htm"]http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14153a.htm[/url]

[Thy Geekdom Come]

Wow...so that answers it, lol.

Thanks, Jen.

I your big beautiful brain...

[Birgitta Noel]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[phatcatholic]

hey don't call him "100% Pure Mushball" for nothin.....

[StColette]

No flirting in the Apo Board Threads! lol that's what Open Mic and MSN is for silly head. lol

[Guest JeffCR07]

If anything, "spirit" as a meaningful term that is distinct from "soul" in the current discussion should be understood to mean the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within man. However, "spirit" in this regard does not constitute a "part of" man, nor an essential characteristic of Man. Though regenerate man is born "of the Spirit" it is not, nor ever will be, a third "part" of man, leading to his perfection or completion. Rather, "spirit" thus understood is nothing more than the participation of Man in God.

Asserting anything more than this would be to assert that Man consists essentially of three parts, body, soul, and spirit, that together make up his person, which is not permissible.

- Your Brother In Christ,

Jeff

Edited August 26, 2005 by JeffCR07

[phatcatholic]

i was hoping u would post in here Jeff!

[phatcatholic]

check this out!!!:
[url="http://www.cts.org.au/2000/soulsandspirits.htm"]http://www.cts.org.au/2000/soulsandspirits.htm[/url]

[White Knight]

The book of Galactians chapter 5 talks about the War between Spirit & Flesh. but its up to the mind to feed and sumit to one or the other.

[phatcatholic]

[quote name='phatcatholic' date='Aug 26 2005, 08:29 PM']check this out!!!:
[url="http://www.cts.org.au/2000/soulsandspirits.htm"]http://www.cts.org.au/2000/soulsandspirits.htm[/url]
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did anyone read this article? its rather helpful, i thought

[jmjtina]

cool beans.

we had a conference this weekend and we talked about this.

haha! And some also brought up, "why can't we add atoms"?

It was a cool mini-conference that packed ALOT of punch.

I think one of the coolest things I've read on phatmass was the vegitative soul.

that's a sweet link Jennie! and Nick, I read it and it makes great reference. :

[phatcatholic]

[quote name='jmjtina' date='Aug 29 2005, 10:27 PM']I think one of the coolest things I've read on phatmass was the vegitative soul. [right][snapback]704595[/snapback][/right][/quote]

[b]Vegetative Soul[/b]
[url="http://www.cts.org.au/2000/soulsandspirits.htm"]http://www.cts.org.au/2000/soulsandspirits.htm[/url]

The vegetative soul is that which gives life to a plant. It is the lowest soul but not the lowest substantial form. The lowest substantial forms, which are not souls, are those of non-living things. The distance between vegetative life and non-living creation is infinite because it is the difference between be and be-not (and there is no middle between these). The vegetative soul is therefore infinitely superior to the substantial forms of inanimate things (e.g. water, gold, nitrogen). The vegetative soul is the root or radical principle of the plant's powers and acts: nutrition, growth and generation. The vegetative soul is formally one i.e. is one soul and virtually one i.e. has the power of one soul. The vegetative soul is intrinsically dependent on matter and returns to the potency of matter when the body fails.

[p0lar_bear]

Henri de Lubac has an essay [i]Tripartite Anthropology[/i] that discusses this. He shows how Church Fathers and theologians throughout history have interpreted this verse, including quite a number that include a tripartite understanding of the human person. I'll see if I can find which book that is in...

[p0lar_bear]

It's in [u]Theology in History[/u]

[phatcatholic]

hmmm.........that's interesting. i didn't know a tripartite understanding was acceptable. can you type out an exerpt from Theology in History? that would be helpful.

[p0lar_bear]

[quote name='phatcatholic' date='Aug 30 2005, 02:41 PM']hmmm.........that's interesting. i didn't know a tripartite understanding was acceptable. can you type out an exerpt from Theology in History? that would be helpful.
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I'll have to see if I still have my copy...