Paidion wrote:
Who are "we"?
I think a correct answer to this question says a lot in solving the mind/body problem.
1. Are we a conscious "soul" who live in a body as a man may live in a tent?
2. Are we a conscious "spirit" that floats off somewhere at death in a disembodied state?
3. Are we a mere material body?
I think that the answer to each of these questions is "No"
My answer is Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, & breathed into his nostrils the breath of life(pneuma); and man became a living soul(nephesh). A tripartite individual
Composed of three distinct parts spirit (pneuma), soul (psyche) & body (soma) spirit, mind and body.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV)
I thing that we are a unified being of which the terms "spirit" and "body" are aspects of that being. That unified being may be termed a "soul". You don't have a soul; you are a soul — according to Genesis 2:7. This whole, unified being may be called a "person." One requires both a body and the spirit of life to vivify that body, in order to be a person (or a "soul"). In the Old Testament, the best translation of the word nephesh is "being". A human person is a "being". He is a "human being". In the New Testament, the word "psychos" is best translated as "self". Each human being is a "self".
Agree/disagree;
We normally perceive a person’s heart and mind as being internal to them, because we can’t see their thoughts and feelings. However, even if thoughts and emotions are internal or private, they aren’t necessarily spiritual. One could argue that they are produced in the flesh brain without any spiritual input. Therefore, we need to look deeper into the scriptures to establish that there is more to nephesh than simply a flesh body.
Life is distinct to soul and soul is distinct to flesh but they are conjointly together or unified in one body. When times come at death they will be separated by the; 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. Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)
In Greek thought, the consciousness of a human being is thought to exist as some ethereal, immortal substance which resides throughout the body, and has the same "form" as the body itself. It leaves the body at death and is re-incarnated in another body or animal.
Agree.
That was Plato's teaching, and it has been incorporated into Christendom. We find no such concept of "soul" in the Bible.
I don’t base my concept in Plato’s teaching but in Scripture manifestation in Luke 16:22-23 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
V23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. KJV (awaiting for final judgment) emphasis mine)
If we believe as the apostle Paul believed, our hope won't in the "natural immortality of the soul" but in the resurrection from the dead. We can trust Christ implicitly to raise us from the dead, that "this mortal might put on immortality." At that time our salvation will be complete as we will be complete in righteousness — our great hope!
If we are not raised from the dead, we may as well eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die, and will remain dead.
In the great, resurrection chapter (I Corinthians 15) Paul teaches that if there is no resurrection, we have only this present life to live, and thus are to be pitied more than any other people:
If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. (I Corinthians 15:19)
He also indicated that if there is no resurrection, we might as well enjoy our life on earth as much as possible, since there would be no life beyond it:
If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” (I Corinthians 15:32)
1 Corinthians 15:12-23 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then [is] our preaching vain, and your faith [is] also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (context KJV)