Soul and Spirit

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 19, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 51.

1096. H. R. C. Soul and Spirit.—These words have different meaning. Sometimes "soul" means the whole person (1 Peter 3:20; Gen. 2:7; Josh. 10:28); sometimes it means the powers of the man (Ps. 103:1); sometimes it means just the life (Matt. 16:25, 26). "Spirit" is used for spiritual beings, as angels or demons (Heb. 1:14; Matt. 8:16); sometimes of the spiritual life which comes through faith, and, in the language of infinite love, we are said to commit to God, and which He keeps in His care till the resurrection (Luke 23:46; Col. 3:3, 4). The word is also used of the Holy Spirit, in which case it is rendered both "ghost" and "spirit." When soul and spirit are used together, the former seems to refer to the lower animal life and its affections, the latter to the higher spiritual life, received only by faith.