Expert: Paul Walker - 2/12/2007

Question
From the standpoint of the Bible, what is the difference between the "soul" and "spirit"?

Answer
Dear Ronald,

And 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. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

The body is as a suit of clothes, a housing for the soul.

2 Corinthians 5:1-4 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:  3  If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.  4  For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Apparently, the spirit animates the body.

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and THE SPIRIT SHALL RETURN UNTO GOD WHO GAVE IT.
Ecclesiastes 12:7

Who knoweth THE SPIRIT OF MAN THAT GOETH UPWARD, AND THE SPIRIT OF THE BEAST THAT GOETH DOWNWARD TO THE EARTH?  Ecclesiastes 3:21

Evidently, upon the initial joining of the two the soul is formed.

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

The soul seems to be our eternal existence, what we are above and beyond our biological life form, our consciousness; that which will exist forever with the Lord or in a lake of fire.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so THEM ALSO WHICH SLEEP IN JESUS WILL GOD BRING WITH HIM.
1 Thessalonians 4:14

Revelation 6:9  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar THE SOULS of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

As with anything concerning God's word I am sure there is much debate on this subject, but I hope this helps.

Your Servant In Christ Jesus,
Paul Walker
www.aficj.org