SOUL, SPIRIT

The word "soul" is used in several senses in the Bible. (a) It may signify an individual person (Ezek. 18:20). (b) It may be employed of mere biological life (Gen. 1:30). (c) It can have to do with that eternal aspect of man that is in the very image of God (Mt. 10:28). "Spirit" may be used in different senses as well. (a) It can depict the nature of a non-material being, e.g. God (Jn. 4:24; Lk. 24:39; cf. "Holy Spirit"), or angels (Heb. 1:14). (b) "Spirit" can be used, by way of the figure known as synecdoche (part for the whole), for a person (1 Jn. 4:1). (c) Spirit may refer the "inner man" that is fashioned in God's image (1 Cor. 5:5; 16:18; 2 Cor. 7:1; Jas. 2:26). (d) Spirit can stand for a disposition, e.g., spirit of fear, etc. (2 Tim. 1:7), or a meek and submissive spirit (cf. 1 Pet. 3:4). See MAN.

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Adapted from the book "Bible Words and Theological Terms Made Easy" by Wayne Jackson