Man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7)

  Man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7)

“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). Continuing in what the Biblical says about mankind, we see he is a 'living soul (nefesh).'  In fact both mankind and the higher animals are nefesh (1:20).  I subscribe to the opinion that nefesh consists of the mind, will, and the  emotions, the place where we think, feel and make decisions.  Since the higher animals are nefesh this gives us the ability to form and experience, often significant,  relationships with them.

To the world, saying that man has a soul is meaningless. But M. Scott Peck, in his book “Denial of the soul,” chronicles how, at an early stage of his life,  he found himself at war within himself.  And who has not been at war within herself? The  secular explanation of Peck's puzzlement,  was that his ego was at war with his true self. Peck asks could the 'true self' be the soul (pp. 128, 129)?  The Bible asserts that we do in indeed have a soul, and adds a third ingredient the spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Scripture seems to be quite loose about these concepts, often using soul and spirit interchangeably,  and/or to refer to the whole person.  But soul and spirit are not the same as we see in Hebrews 4:12 where we read “the word of God is living and powerful .....  piercing even to the division of soul and spirit” The unbeliever is “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1),  and I see the spirit as the part that relates to God. The spirit then is dead in the unbeliever, but subject to resurrection as the Lord,  by His Spirit,  woes us to Himself.  We are intended to experience this connection. Indeed, “the (Holy) Spirit witnesses to our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). Tt is hardly surprising, since this witness is not present in the unbeliever, that the message  of the cross is foolishness to them (1 Corinthians 1:18).

I see body, soul and spirit as similar to the way I see Trinity. Trinity is  three not independent parts intricately interconnected,  and relating to each other. So then mankind,  being in the image of Trinity, also has three aspects in relationship with each other. We speak of psychosomatic illness for example,  those illnesses where the psyche (soul) affects the soma (body). Worry,  for example, can produce ulcers.

The nature of both God and man is something of a mystery. Mystery is something beyond logic, but not contrary to it and,  nevertheless true. The secular world wants to throw out mystery, but mystery is not so easily dismissed, as we discover such things at black holes, quirks, quarks and the like. Interestingly, there seems to be a disproportionate number of Christians among astronomers, but then “the heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1).

 Father,  I do not fully understand the mystery of who I am, but “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvellous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well” (Psalm 139:14). The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing Lord (1 Corinthians  1:18), but Lord please help me to live a life before them that will provoke them to want to know You as I know You.  And I will give you the honour and the glory and the praise in Jesus Name Amen