What Is The Difference Between the Soul, the Spirit, and the Body?

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

In this regular feature, Dave and Tom respond to questions from listeners and readers of The Berean Call.Here’s this week’s question:What scripture do you use to support the idea that the soul is a separate entity from the body?Ecclesiastes:9:5For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
See All..., very clearly tells us that the dead know not anything.1 Thessalonians:4:13-18 [13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
See All..., says that the dead in Christ are asleep.

Tom:

Dave, we don’t know whether this individual who wrote to us about this, whether this is something he believes, or he is wrestling with somebody, perhaps an occult that believes in annihilation after death, and so on, but it’s a question that we can come to grips with.First of all, Ecclesiastes:9:5For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
See All..., does that mean the dead know nothing?Are we talking about someone who dies and ceases to exist?

Dave:

Well, let me deal first with the difference between soul and spirit, since that was what they asked first.

Tom:

Sure.

Dave:

The Bible does clearly distinguish.Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit—”Sounds like they are different.1 Thessalonians:5:23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
See All..., you know, I don’t remember the references but I remember what it says.Paul said, I pray God that your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless until the day of Jesus Christ.So, He’s distinguishing between the spirit, soul and body.We are tri-part beings, like the triune God who created us.So there is no question that the Bible distinguishes between the body, soul and spirit.Now, as far as the dead knowing nothing, the dead bodies don’t know anything.Actually, Solomon is talking about “under the sun” that’s the key phrase.

Tom:

Ecclesiastes:9:5For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
See All....

Dave:

“Under the sun, under the sun, under the sun” well, you’re not under the sun anymore, you have no more part on this earth, you have left—a good argument against reincarnation because you don’t come back again, you’re finished with this earth.But as far as the soul and the spirit sleeping and being unconscious, it doesn’t sound like that when Jesus talks about the rich man in hell—he lift up his eyes being in torment, it says.And he’s communing with Abraham, Abraham is there and Lazarus, the beggar.Jesus said to the thief on the cross, Today you will be with Me in paradise.It doesn’t sound like they’re sleeping.It says that Jesus preached to the spirits that were in prison who before were—this is 1 Peter Chapter 3—preached to the spirits who were in prison, who before in the days of Noah had been disobedient.Doesn’t sound to me like they are sleeping.Paul, in Philippians Chapter 1, he said, I am in a strait betwixt two—that means he’s on the horns of a dilemma here—having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.He’s got a desire to be with Christ, I mean, what’s the point of sleeping next to Christ, is Christ asleep up there?Is Paul going to be asleep?

Tom:

2 Corinthians:5:8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
See All..., presents the same problem:“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.Well, we weren’t talking about an extended presence or an extended time of thoughtlessness or ceasing to exist.

Dave:

So surely Paul didn’t want to just go to sleep, he wants to be with Christ, absent from the body, present with the Lord, I mean, present with the Lord doesn’t mean anything if you’re all unconscious.So this is not a biblical teaching at all.

Tom:

You know, and to me it really flies against, I mean it’s worse than that, it denies the very love relationship that began when we were born again in Christ.How can I look forward to a time in which I will cease to know Christ, cease to know anything?He said, I’ll never leave you nor forsake you, He’s our love, this just does great damage to that, plus, you know, it’s wrong.

Dave:

Well, then of course it would give courage to the unsaved to believe that they would be annihilated.So, if I don’t accept Christ, I can live any kind of life I want, Hitler is no worse off now than somebody who lived like a saint.Because he has been annihilated, there’s no consciousness any more.Then what are we going to do with the fact that Revelation Chapter 20 says, “I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away??And the books are open and the dead are standing before, and the dead are judged out of those things in the Book.Well, it sounds to me like dead people can stand before God in judgment.So, everything that I read in the Word of God, Jesus warned people about being cast intohell, He warned them to flee from this at all costs.What does it mean—I wouldn’t flee from it if it just means annihilation. I can’t think, I can’t feel, I’m just finished.The Bible simple does not teach that, and everything the Bible says is to the contrary.