BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT

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The body (soma) 
  • Is our physical nature
  • Is our solidarity with all of material creation.
  • Relates us to others.

The soul (psyche) 
  • Is our intellectual nature
  • Is the natural principle of life, resulting from God’s creative act.  
  • Belongs to the mind with its ability to reason, organise and think.
  • The soul’s horizon is what reason can see.

The spirit (pneuma)
  • Is our spiritual nature 
  • Is the highest part of the person.
  • Is the person’s openness to the transcendent, to mystery, to God.

In the human person, 
  • The body relates us to material creation
  • The soul organises our life
  • The spirit is our reaching out beyond ourselves.

The healthy development of the human person happens when all three of these are functioning properly and their activity is integrated.


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Archbishop William Goh spoke about the body, soul (mind) and spirit (heart) in his Scripture reflection (15 Jan 2021):

“As human beings, we are constituted of body, soul and spirit.  

These three aspects of the human person must work integrally.  

Sickness of the heart will lead to sickness in the mind.  Sickness of the mind will cause the heart to be affected.  

Both the heart and mind will also affect the body, just as the failure to take care of our body will affect the performance and disposition of our mind and heart.

Without experiencing the healing grace of forgiveness, we would not be able to be healed physically. 

The weak spirit and wounded heart will prevent the body from getting well.  

This is why for those who are healed physically but not spiritually or emotionally, the healing is not effective and does not last for long as well.  

What is needed even more is the healing of the soul and heart.”

Archbishop William Goh

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The mention of the division of soul and spirit in Scripture:
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Heb 4:12

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