Solomon Lecture Series, Lecture 6: Man as spirit, soul, and body

The following post contains some highlights from the sixth lecture in the Solomon Lecture Series, presented by Dr. John Woodward. The entire lecture series is available, here, at Grace Fellowship International. If you would like to read more about this topic, I would suggest Dr. Woodward’s book entitled, “Man as Spirit, Soul, and Body: A Study of Biblical Psychology,” available here or here.

Dr. Woodward points out that some Christian theologians believe that man is just body and soul. This is called a dichotomous view of man. Dr. Woodward implied that this belief is consistent with reformed theology. He discusses monism, which is the belief that man is just one part; a biological entity. This is a humanistic world view, but it can also refer to the Hebrew model of the unity of the person. Most theologians believe that man is two parts, body and soul. The New Testament implies that we are at least two parts. There is also a multi-faceted view. GFI views trichotomy as the most accurate. In fact, Dr. Solomon believes in wholistic trichotomy, where we are 3 parts in one. The 3 parts are body, soul, and spirit. The soul/spirit distinction is not mere semantics, as it is important to our approach in biblical counseling, as will be discussed later.

Dr. Woodward states that plants have neither a soul nor spirit. However, he states that animals have a soul, in that they have a mind, will, and emotions. But it is the human spirit that makes us different from animals. God told Adam that he would surely die if he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When Adam disobeyed, it was his spirit that died, not his soul or body. His spirit became separated from God. His spirit became dead toward God. We, as a consequence, are born with a spirit that is dead toward God. This condition was inherited from Adam. 

Next, Dr. Woodward considered regeneration, which is the reverse of what happened at the fall. Upon salvation, we are given spiritual life and we are no longer dead toward God. Old things have passed away and all things have become new. We don’t get a new body, or mind, will, and emotions, but spiritually we have been made new. Again, the whole person is not made new at salvation.

Next, Dr. Woodward considers sanctification. There are two parts to sanctification. First, we have been sanctified once for all, and second, we are in the process of being sanctified. In our spirit, we have been sanctified once for all. Our progressive sanctification occurs in our soul and behavior. Who you are in Adam was crucified at Calvary, not just positionally, but in reality. This is different from the reformed perspective, where we are just positionally crucifed. Rather Dr. Woodward points out that who we are in Adam has in reality been crucified, and by grace of God, through faith, we can reckon that to be true. We are now one spirit with the Lord. In summary, in your spirit you have been saved, in your soul you are in the process of being saved from the influence of sin, and through our glorified body we will be saved from the presence of sin. Each of these occurs by grace through faith.

Why is the trichotomist viewpoint not popular amongst many reformed theologians? Why are they mostly dichotomists? Dr. Woodward notes that many of the early church fathers were trichotomists, particularly during the first three centuries. However, the early church father, Augustine, a major influencer in church history, was a dichotomist. Calvin followed Augustine, so reformers follow dichotomy as well. It is interesting to note that Luther was a trichotomist, the chief reformer.

Dr. Woodward points out that the unsaved person does not have God’s Spirit in their spirit. Consequently, they are unable to comprehend spiritual truths. These truths are foolishness to them. Paul calls the unsaved “soulical” because they are living out of their souls.

Dr. Woodward believes that spirituotherapy can be used by a dichotomist, simply by viewing the soul and spirit as separated functionally.  

Psychiatry looks at the person as a body, a biological unit. The orientation of the psychotherapist is the soul, that is, the mind, will and emotions. It is important to point out that nouthetic counseling is also soul focused. They are attempting to change a person’s mind using the Bible, which has some value, but it is soul-focused, nevertheless.

Dr. Woodward ended with a list of recent commentators and theologians who believe in the tripartite nature of man.