Christian anthropology

[webdog]

Do you believe in...

dichotomy
trichotomy
monism

Which, and why?

 

[Allan]

Do you believe in...

dichotomy
trichotomy
monism

Which, and why?

Not exactly sure what you are looking for here Web.

 

[kmichael]

I am gonna take a stab and guess you are wanting to know our view on the nature of man?

Aside form being created imago dei, I believe we are trinitary in nature. Mind, Spirit/Soul, and Body. We emcompass the intellectual, spiritual and physical realms, so to speak. The Spirit being the most powerful but the Body being most sinful. Of course the mind controls it all.

I am sure that was not what you wanted, but its past my bedtime, so I shall now retire...

:sleeping_2: ~K

 

[TCGreek]

Do you believe in...

dichotomy
trichotomy
monism

Which, and why?

I tend to be dichotomic because I think the two references to the trichotomic view are only meant to be emphatic. But the scriptural data tend to favor the dichotomic, since soul is often synonymous with spirit.

 

[webdog]

Not exactly sure what you are looking for here Web.

I should have probably added "human anthropology". This is in regards to the nature of man.

 

[Allan]

I should have probably added "human anthropology". This is in regards to the nature of man.

Then I would go with Tri.

Though scripture does interchange soul and spirit as the spiritual aspect of man it is also distinctive one from another. And specifically so when scripture states:

Hbr 4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Or the NASB

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

And the ESV for good measure:

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

Notice that every pair mentioned is distinct unto itself but works and is almost inseperable from the other. And if you will notice the 'soul' and the 'spirit' are listed there in as two distinct aspects that work as part of the whole. One is basically useless without the other but is distinct from the other with it's own attributes and functions.


BTW - I forgot to add the body, thus making it soul/spirit/body - a trichotomy.

 

[webdog]

Then I would go with Tri.

Though scripture does interchange soul and spirit as the spiritual aspect of man it is also distinctive one from another. And specifically so when scripture states:

Or the NASB

And the ESV for good measure:



Notice that every pair mentioned is distinct unto itself but works and is almost inseperable from the other. And if you will notice the 'soul' and the 'spirit' are listed there in as two distinct aspects that work as part of the whole. One is basically useless without the other but is distinct from the other with it's own attributes and functions.


BTW - I forgot to add the body, thus making it soul/spirit/body - a trichotomy.

I've always seen the wording in that text as soul and spirit...and...joints and marrow, with immaterial being listed together (soul/spirit) and material together (joints/marrow), otherwise, why would the word of God need to divide joints and marrow? It seems the context would be in dividing the spiritual from the flesh.

 

[webdog]

I tend to be dichotomic because I think the two references to the trichotomic view are only meant to be emphatic. But the scriptural data tend to favor the dichotomic, since soul is often synonymous with spirit.

I see we are on the same side of the fence again

 

[TCGreek]

I see we are on the same side of the fence again

Yes, every now and then.