When we think of the Elements of Human Nature there are two schools of thought among the Baptist; (1.) The Trichotomous Theory and (2.) The Dichotomous Theory. The difference between the two are that “tri” means three and “di” means two or man has a body, soul, and a spirit; or man has a body and a soul and the spirit is the same as the soul. I am a firm believer in the Trichotomous Theory that man has three elements and that would be body, soul, and a spirit. Now I believe the scripture clearly proves that man is a Trichotomy; 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “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.” I also believe this because man was made in Gods image Genesis 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” notice the “us” and “our” speaking of the trinity of God. If man was made in Gods image or the image of the trinity then he must have been a Trichotomous being. Now we are going to separate the soul and spirit; when God made man from the dust of the ground he was simply a lifeless molded hunk of dirt, however it was when God breathed the breath of life into man he (man) became a “living soul” Genesis 2:7 "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." God gave man life or as we know it a soul and this soul cannot die but will live eternally either in hell or heaven. Matthew 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” The question here must be; if the soul cannot die then what died about man in the fall? It must have been the “spirit”. The spirit is mentioned many times over in the scriptures in relation to death by sin and quickening by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 2:1 "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;" it is also the spirit which Gods Holy Spirit works Romans 8:16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” the Holy Spirit does not work in the lost because their spirit is dead (corpse dead) to God in other words God does not work inside or in the heart of a lost or dead man. This also makes sense when we die because before the second coming and the glorification of our bodies we stand before God as spirits with souls. Now there are some that say to take 1 Thessalonians 5:23 literally that man is a Trichotomy being means man must have several elements because of Matthew 22:37 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” So here the word “mind” is added to make a fourth but in right thinking the mind would not be considered an Element of Human Nature because it is part of the body when the soul and spirit are separate elements. Or n the Christian it could mean their thinking which would include their spirit or what the scriptures calls the heart of a Christian. While the Lord has many names for the spirit (heart, inner man, and etc.) He never (I believe) combines the soul and the sprit as the same element.
While there are some that may disagree with me on this subject as well as others, I always must follow the scriptures as I see the Holy Spirit teaching me in my spirit. And the mind of my spirit tells me that man is a Trichotomous being.
This is a Landmark Sovereign Grace Baptist Blog. "Teaching The Truths Of God's Holy Script"
Meet Pastor Johnson
- Pastor Randy Johnson
- Texarkana, Texas, United States
- I am the Pastor of the Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church in Texarkana, Texas
Pastor Randy Johnson
Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church
I would like to welcome you to my blog. It is my purpose to bring glory to the glorious name of my Saviour Jesus Christ. It is my hope and prayer that you are saved from eternal damnation if not please read the following scriptures.
Acts 8:35-38 "Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. (36.) And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (37.) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (38.) And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."
Acts 16:30-31 "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (31.) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
Acts 8:35-38 "Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. (36.) And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (37.) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (38.) And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."
Acts 16:30-31 "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (31.) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."