THEORY OF THE SOUL
The human soul is the life of man on earth. Though the soul itself is one and universal, it expresses itself in diverse ways. These expressions appear in our attitude, behaviour, character, personality, and intelligence. Without the soul, man is nothing more than a lifeless body.
The Composition and Role of the Soul
The soul comprises the mind with its conscience and also the emotions. It is responsible for our intellect, memory, desires, imagination, reasoning, affections, decisions, and will. As the central part of man, the soul is positioned between the spirit and the body. This unique position allows the soul to connect with and respond to both the spiritual and physical realms.
The soul functions as an intermediary, and also a receiver and converter of instructions into action. These instructions can originate either from the spirit or the body. As Romans 8:6 explains, “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
The Unregenerate Soul
When a person is not born again, their spirit is dead, in other words, disconnected from God, the source and Father of spirits. Since God communicates with man through the spirit, a spiritually dead person cannot hear God: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” – John 10:27
“Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” – John 8:47
In such a situation, the soul hears from the flesh or the world, leading the person to live by sinful desires rather than by spiritual truth. This results in a life governed by the flesh, which ultimately leads to death. What draws such a person to God is his conscience or the spreading of the gospel.
The Born-Again Soul
When a person is born again, they become a new creation—born not of the flesh, but of the Spirit: “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” – 1 Peter 1:23
“The words I have spoken to you, they are full of the Spirit and life.” – John 6:63
The regenerated soul is now a child of God, bearing the nature of the heavenly Father: “As He is, so are we in this world.” – 1 John 4:17
“I have said, ‘You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.’” – Psalm 82:6
Upon regeneration, the soul becomes illuminated and now does two things:
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Rejecting Sin: “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” – Romans 6:12
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Submitting to the Spirit: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” – Romans 8:12–13
The Need for Spiritual Nourishment
For the human soul to hear from the spirit, the spirit must be nourished. This happens through consistent study of the Word of God, prayer and worship, aided by the Holy Spirit. As the spirit is filled with divine truth, the soul draws instruction from it, resulting in a life of faith, righteousness, and holiness.
“Now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness… the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” – Romans 6:19–22
The Soul as Mediator
The soul can interact with both body and spirit because it shares qualities with both. It functions like a mediator. This mirrors the nature of Jesus Christ, who was both fully God and fully man: “Being in very nature God… he made himself nothing… being made in human likeness… he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” – Philippians 2:6–8
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” – 1 Timothy 2:5
“We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses… yet he did not sin.” – Hebrews 4:15
A Physical Analogy: Air and the Soul
The human soul can be likened to air. Air, though invisible like the spirit, is material in the sense that it occupies space and can be measured. Similarly, while the soul is invisible, it is expressed and made visible through our actions and behaviour. This is the basis of behaviourism in philosophy, which attempts to measure the soul’s activity through outward conduct—a reductionist view.
Breath, Cry, and the Soul
The soul is the result of breath. “God breathed into man the breath of life, and man became a living soul.” – Genesis 2:7
When a baby is born and takes its first breath, it becomes a living soul. The cry of a newborn is a sign of life. The cry activates the lungs and marks the entry of the breath of life. Since the soul is the seat of emotion and consciousness, that first cry also reflects the baby’s entry into emotional and conscious existence.
As long as we breathe, we are living souls. Once breath ceases, the soul departs, and life ends. The breath of life sustains our soul, which in turn governs our earthly consciousness, emotions, and identity.
