Expert: Dean Gade - 12/19/2005

Question
hi dean gade,
i heard this saying before that says i am a spirit i have a soul and i live in a body. i would like to know where in the bible does it say that man has a spirit and also since man has a spirit where in the bible does it say that our spirit is eternal. meaning basically where does it say when you die your spirit goes to heaven or hell?

thanx,
maya

Answer
As in most languages, there are a few words used for the same part of a person.

The Greek NT uses the word pneuma for spirit.  It literaly means wind, air, spirit( as in pneumatic tires or pneumonia).

Psyche is the word for soul.  We use this word for psychology ...the study of the soul or personality(actually, persona means a mask).

These two words above are sometimes used interchangeably. However, they are also used as very separate parts of a persons makeup.  

As a theological construct we can define:

the SPIRIT of a person as that which has a connection with the spiritual world.  In the Bible it would then be that which communicates with God.

the SOUL of a person is made up of the will, the intellect and the emotion.

the BODY we now have is the soma.  It sometimes includes the flesh, (sarks) which is part of free will oppossed to God.

When a person is "reborn" they are born of God's spirit.

John 3:6-8

6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 "Do not be amazed that I said to you, "You must be born again.'

8 "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."  
NASU

Many, many passages state that WE have eternal life in Christ.  And it seems to include our whole being with some changes.  The BODY will be new because the present body is corruptable(will deteriorate) and mortal.
The SOUL will be changed so that the will and all else will be completely dedicated to God. The converted SPIRIT will go on to become the reflection of Christ's glory:

Gal 6:8

8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
NASU

THIS NEXT PASSAGE SHOWS THE SEPARATION OF HEAVEN AND HELL(BEING WITH GOD ETERNALY ...OR SEPARATED FROM HIM ETERNALY)
2 Thess 1:9

9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
NASU

1 John 5:13

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
NASU

2 Cor 3:17-18
7 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
(from New International Version)


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