12: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (He 4,12)

What does "piercing to the division of soul and spirit mean?

Are soul and spirit two different realities or are they two parts of the same reality?

Can they be separated as joints and marrow?

Thanks for your answers.

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), July 04, 2002

Answers

--@--

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), July 04, 2002.

The spirit is the expression of the soul.

-- tt (too@bad.com), July 04, 2002.

Jmj

Hello, Enrique.
I found some thoughts about this passage in two commentaries, though they may not clear the water for you:

(1) "'... even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit' -- that is, reaching through even to the separation of the animal soul, the lower part of man's incorporeal nature, the seat of animal desires, which he has in common with the brutes ... from the spirit (the higher part of man, receptive of the Spirit of God, and allying him to heavenly beings)."

(2) "Is there a deliberate and significant difference between soul and spirit ...? There is a distinction; 'The New Testament use of "pneuma" for the human spirit focuses on the spiritual aspect of man, i.e. his life in relation to God, whereas "psyche" [soul] refers to man's life irrespective of his spiritual experience, i.e. his life in relation to himself, his emotions and thought. There is a strong antithesis between the two in the theology of Paul.' (Guthrie) However, in this passage, 'Attempts to explain [these terms, soul and spirit] on any psychological basis are futile. The form of expression is poetical, and signifies that the Word penetrates to the inmost recesses of our spiritual being as a sword cuts through the joints and marrow [most hidden parts] of the body.' (Vincent)"

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), July 04, 2002.

Hi,

I have been taught that the spirit is that part of our eternal nature that responds to God, and our soul is that part of eternal nature that responds to the world. However, they are intrinisically woven together. The Word of God is "sharp" able to divide the indivisible, i.e., our soul from our spirit.

Hope that helps,

Gail

-- Gail (Rothfarms@socket.net), July 05, 2002.

Very well put John. Pysche was the Goddess of sleep which allows me think " Awaken to the glory of the Father. "

-- Jean Bouchard (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), July 05, 2002.