1 Thessalonians 5:23
Some doubt the validity of man being a triune being; meaning that we consist of body, soul and spirit. However, if you take the writings of the apostle Paul as being prima facie evidence, then you must acknowledge 1 Thessalonians 5:23 as a description of man.
The body is obvious, as we all have one, whether we are happy with it or not! The soul and spirit are often linked together, but using the Bible to interpret the Bible shows us that these two are not one and the same. “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…” (Hebrews 4:12). The fact that the soul and spirit can be divided shows us that these are two distinct parts of man’s makeup.
We know that there is a difference in the natural man and the spirit man, as should be obvious, since the spirit man goes to be with the Lord upon death (2 Corinthians 5:8), while the body is placed into the ground. When the natural body dies, there is a spiritual body that lives on, as Paul states, “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:44). To see no difference between the soul and the spirit would be to see no difference between the natural body and the resurrected one.
Our consciousness of God, our surroundings and ourselves are all wrapped up in this triune nature. We share two of these three traits with animals, as they possess a body and a soul. Our body, through the use of the 5 senses makes us conscious of the world around us. Our soul, which is the seat of our emotions and affections, makes us conscious of our self, as shown in Psalms 13:2, “How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?”
That which separates us from the animal kingdom is our spirit, which gives us God-consciousness. Christ came as a “life-giving Spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:45) for each one of us, which is something that He did not do for animals. He has given us eternal life by His Spirit, placing His Holy Spirit into each one of us who believes by faith.
Paul prays that the church see God’s sanctifying peace at work in every area of their life (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The King James translation then says, “I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless”. The words, “I pray God” are italicized in the translation, meaning that the translators added the words to enhance the meaning of the passage.
Unfortunately, sometimes this actually takes away from the intent of the writer. In this case, when you remove the italicized words you are left with, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ”. Without the italicized words, Paul is not hoping that they will be found blameless; he is asserting that they most definitely will be found that way!
Christ’s finished work has assured that you will be seen as blameless and perfect in God’s eyes, not because you are living that way, but because Jesus died that way. You are blameless because Jesus took the blame. Rejoice!
Some doubt the validity of man being a triune being; meaning that we consist of body, soul and spirit. However, if you take the writings of the apostle Paul as being prima facie evidence, then you must acknowledge 1 Thessalonians 5:23 as a description of man.
The body is obvious, as we all have one, whether we are happy with it or not! The soul and spirit are often linked together, but using the Bible to interpret the Bible shows us that these two are not one and the same. “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…” (Hebrews 4:12). The fact that the soul and spirit can be divided shows us that these are two distinct parts of man’s makeup.
We know that there is a difference in the natural man and the spirit man, as should be obvious, since the spirit man goes to be with the Lord upon death (2 Corinthians 5:8), while the body is placed into the ground. When the natural body dies, there is a spiritual body that lives on, as Paul states, “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:44). To see no difference between the soul and the spirit would be to see no difference between the natural body and the resurrected one.
Our consciousness of God, our surroundings and ourselves are all wrapped up in this triune nature. We share two of these three traits with animals, as they possess a body and a soul. Our body, through the use of the 5 senses makes us conscious of the world around us. Our soul, which is the seat of our emotions and affections, makes us conscious of our self, as shown in Psalms 13:2, “How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?”
That which separates us from the animal kingdom is our spirit, which gives us God-consciousness. Christ came as a “life-giving Spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:45) for each one of us, which is something that He did not do for animals. He has given us eternal life by His Spirit, placing His Holy Spirit into each one of us who believes by faith.
Paul prays that the church see God’s sanctifying peace at work in every area of their life (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The King James translation then says, “I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless”. The words, “I pray God” are italicized in the translation, meaning that the translators added the words to enhance the meaning of the passage.
Unfortunately, sometimes this actually takes away from the intent of the writer. In this case, when you remove the italicized words you are left with, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ”. Without the italicized words, Paul is not hoping that they will be found blameless; he is asserting that they most definitely will be found that way!
Christ’s finished work has assured that you will be seen as blameless and perfect in God’s eyes, not because you are living that way, but because Jesus died that way. You are blameless because Jesus took the blame. Rejoice!
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