[as men] thought based on their fear, and was not based on inspiration. The two parallel account of this says phantom [Matthew 14:26; Mark 6:49]. Strong [Page 1006] says this word is not pneuma [spirit] #4151, but "phantasma" #5326 [also #5324]; "A [mere]
show...i.e. specter [a hunting vision]" When Christ walked on the water is the one time this word (phantasma) is used in the Bible, and is translated "ghost" in the American Standard Version and most others. It is translated "a phantom" by Marshall and in the
"Christian Bible." The "Englishman Greek Concordance," Page 783 says, "Lit. A phantom." These disciples seem to have believed they were seeing a ghost or phantom; and like these disciples, some today believe in ghosts, spooks, haunted houses, and such things. This maybe the only time Vine‘s thin air with no substance ghost or spirit is in the New Testament, and then it was only what these disciples thought they were seeing, and not what they did see. Spirits, God, Christ, Angels have a body, and mankind after judgment will have a body, and are more than just thin air; but not two bodies with two 57
opposite natures both at the same time. The use of this passage to prove a person has an immortal soul makes the proof be based on a lie, on what the disciples thought they were seeing, not on what they did see. Then what they thought they were seeing, a phantasm or ghost must be changed to say they were seeing, "The immaterial, invisible part of man" which W. E. Vine does not seem to know whether it was an invisible "soul"
or an invisible "spirit" they were seeing, but it was not very invisible for they were seeing it. Christ said to them that He was not a spirit, not a phantom or ghost that has no body that they thought He was, that He was flesh and blood. Why did Vine use an uninspired statement, made by men in fear, who was not seeing what they thought they were seeing to prove something to be a divine truth? This passage says absolutely nothing about a person having an immortal invisible soul that he used it to prove. Does he think they were inspired to believe a lie and that this lie becomes truth, but only after he changes this "phantom" to a "soul"? And that this "immaterial, invisible part of man" is just air, and it has no kind of substance or no body of any kind; and that a spiritual body is no body at all, with just nothing to it? Yet, V. W. Vine said these disciples thought they were seeing something that he says is invisible, therefore, could not be seen. Although what they were seeing was not invisible, he used it to prove a person has an invisible part in him. Most who believe a person has an immortal soul do not believe a soul can be seen, but will use this to prove these men were seeing a soul that they say cannot be seen.
LUKE 24:27-29 and ACTS 7:59: Two of the passages, which W. E. Vine used to prove a person has an immortal part are uninspired statements. What these disciples thought they were seeing but were not, and what Stephen was asking that could not be unless they believed in Christ. (See [2] Acts 7:59 above) Does this not say anything about how weak his proof is?
[7]. ANOTHER PASSAGE OF HIS EIGHT THAT W. E. VINE USED
"THE SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT"
He used “the spirits of just men made perfect” to prove that the spirits of the just dead men are alive in Heaven and were made perfect at the moment of death. Hebrews 12:22-23 is a list of seven ways the New Covenant is now better than the Old Covenant. Paul said they had come, not will come after death to the spirits of just men made perfect.
This was then, while Paul and the others were alive, it was before death, before the Resurrection, before the Judgment, before anyone will be in Heaven they had already come "to the spirits of just men made perfect" at the time Paul wrote this. We could not have come to the spirits of those made perfect in Heaven for they are not yet in Heaven.
If it did refer to spirits in Heaven after the Resurrection, they would not have been "made perfect" when Paul was writing this before the Resurrection.
Seven ways the New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant.
1. You have not come unto a mount that could be touched and that burned with fire, "but you are
come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem."
2. You are come "To innumerable hosts of angels."
3. You are come "To the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven."
4. You are come " To God the Judge of all."
5. You are come "To the spirits of just men made perfect." "And to the spirits of the righteous made
perfect" [New Revised Standard Version]
6. You are come "To Jesus the mediator of a new covenant."
7. You are come "To the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel."
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If the "spirits" of the just dead were now in Heaven, the just dead under both the Old and New Covenants would be in Heaven and would not prove the New Covenant to be
better than the Old Covenant. It would be out of place in this list of ways the New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant. Those who believe all, the saved and the lost, have souls that are now immortal believe they were just as immortal under the Law as they now are under the New Covenant, therefore, it would not be a way the New Covenant is better than the Old.
When and how are the spirits of just man made perfect? "The spirits of just men made perfect" refers to men made perfect by having their sins washed away by the blood of Christ. We have had our sins washed away and have come to have fellowship with others who have been made perfect by having their sins washed away.
Adam Clarke in his Commentary on Hebrews 12:23, "In several parts of this epistle teleiov, the just man, signifies one who has a full knowledge of the Christian system, who is justified and saved by Christ Jesus; and the teteleiwnemoi are the adult Christians, who are opposed to the nhpioi or babes in knowledge and grace...The spirits of the just men made perfect, or the righteous perfect, are the full grown Christians; those who are justified by the blood and sanctified by the Spirit of Christ. Being come to such, implies that spiritual union which the disciples of Christ have with each other, and which they possess how far so ever separate; for they are all joined in one spirit, #Eph 2:18; they are in the unity of the spirit, #Eph 4:3, 4; and of one soul, #Ac 4:32. This is a unity which was never possessed even by the Jews themselves in their best state; it is peculiar to real Christianity: (See Heb 12:29)."
There is no way we could have come to the "spirits" of those in Heaven; if they were in Heaven, they would be beyond our reach unto we are in Heaven with them. We would not have come to them.
"And to the spirits of the righteous made perfect" [New Revised Standard Version]. If disembodied spirits were in Heaven and in any way had fellowship or communication with us it would prove Spiritualism, which is forbidden by God. Most all who uses this to prove we now have an immortal soul do not believe we have any communication with the dead if they are in Heaven, Hell, the grave, or any other place, therefore, they do not believe we could have came unto them, but they are desperately looking for any passage to prove we now have an immaterial, immortal soul in us and take "And to the spirits of the righteous made perfect" out of it‘s contexts.
When this is used to prove that after death we have a “soul” that is alive and made perfect, it makes the judgment and resurrection be 100% totally useless. The
“made perfect” in Hebrews 12:23 is something that had happened, not something that will not happen unto after the resurrection.
―To the spirits of just men made perfect [telioo]‖ [Hebrews 12:23]
―Herein is our love made perfect [telioo]‖ [1 John 4:17]
―He that fears is not made perfect [telioo] in love‖ [1 John 4:18]
―And by works was faith made perfect [telioo]‖ [James 2:22]
o Made perfect is not used to mean we have no sins or cannot sin
[8] W. E. VINE’S EIGHT PASSAGE
1 PETER 4:6
“For unto this end was the gospel preached (past tense) even to the dead (present tense), that they might be judged indeed according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit” The question is (1) who were the dead (2) and when was the gospel preached to them?
Two views of who were the dead were that the Gospel was preached to.
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[1] Christians that had died at the time Peter was writing this. They were alive in the flesh at the time the gospel was preached to them and they believed but were dead (asleep in Christ) at the time Peter wrote this. See 1 Corinthians 15:12-28.
[2] Those who “were dead in your trespasses and sins” [Ephesians 2:1] before the gospel was preached to them. The Gospel was preached to them when they were dead through their trespasses and sins (past tense) so that they may live.
1. “And you did he make alive, when you were dead through your trespasses and sins” [Ephesians 2:1].
1. “He that hears my word, and believes him that sent me, has eternal life, and has
passed out of death into life” [John 5:24].
Nothing is said about any preaching to any one after they were physically dead or to spirits. The Gospel is preached to save; Peter is not saying salvation is being offered to anyone after they are dead.
SPIRIT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
Spirit is translated from the Greek word pnuma. It is the same as ruach in the Old Testament.
“The Spirit [ruach] of the Lord God is upon me” [Isaiah 61:1].
“The Spirit [pnuma] of the Lord is upon Me” [Luke 4:18].
GOD IS SPIRIT
“God is spirit [pnuma]” [John 4:24]
THE HOLY SPIRIT
He is spoken of as a distinct person [John 14:26; 15:26; Luke 3:22], a heavenly being, therefore, spirit as is God the Father.
JESUS CHRIST
Before He took on the form of man He was with the Father [John 1:1-17] “For a little while lower than the angels” [Hebrews 2:7]. After His resurrection He is now in Heaven, a heavenly being, as the Father and the Holy Spirit [Hebrew 1:1-14] as He
was before He took on the form of man.
ANGELS
“Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits [pnuma]” [Hebrews 1:14]. “Who makes his angels spirits [ruach]” [Psalm 104:4].
DEMONS
“A woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit [pnuma]” [Mark 7:25].
MANKIND
Mankind are being of this earth, not heavenly spirit being; we are now in the image of Adam and will not be in the image of Christ unto the resurrection [1
Corinthians 15:42-49]. No one is ever said to be spirit. God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, angels, and demons are spirits, but men are never called spirits in the Bible and will not be spirits unto after the resurrection and judgment.
“For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are
like angels in heaven” [Matthew 22:30]; now they are not like angels, not spirit being as angels now are, but are now earthly being. Not unto after the resurrection will any one be “as angels in heaven”
“A spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have” [Luke 24:39]. At the time Christ said this He was in the form of man [Philippians 2:6-11].
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The natural body we now have will be raised a spiritual body [1 Corinthians 15:42-45]. [Matthew 22:30].
When “spirit” is used in regard to a person it has reference to attitude, behavior, thinking, disposition, mood, courage, or temperament. As ―a happy disposition,‖ ―good attitude‖ or ―bad mood.‖ W. E. Vine in ―Vine‘s Complete Expository Dictionary Of Old And New Testament Words‖ page 593 says spirit-pnuma when it used in regard to man:
(f) The sentient element in man, that by which he perceives, reflects, feels, desire, Matt. 5:3; 26:41; Mark 2:8; Luke 1:47, 80; Acts 17:16; 20:22; 1 Cor. 2:11; 5:3, 4; 14: 4, 15; 2Cor. 7:l; cf. Gen. 26:35; Isa. 26:9; Ezek. 13:3 Dan. 7:15
(g) Purpose, aim, 2 Cor. 12:8; Phil. 1:27; Eph. 4:23; Rev. 19:10; cf. Ezra 1:5; Ps 78:8; Dan. 5:12
(g) Character, Luke 1:17; Rom. 1:4; cf. Num. 14:24
(j) Moral qualities and activities:
o Bad, as of bondage, as of a slave, Rom 8:15; cf. Isa. 61:3
o Stupor, Rom. 11:8; cf. Isa 2910
o Timidity, 2 Tim. 1:7; cf. Josh. 5:1
o Good, as of adoption, i.e.
Liberty as of a son, Rom 8:15; cf. Ps 51:12
Meekness, 1 Cor. 4:21; cf. Prov. 16:19
Faith, 2 Cor. 5:13
Quietness, 1 Pet. 3:4; cf. Prov.14:29
None of these says a person is a spirit being, but have reference to attitude or behavior of the person.
W. E. Vine, ―Vine‘s Complete Expository Dictionary,‖ pages 240-241 spirit-ruach is used in the Old Testament.
A man‘s mind-set, disposition, or ―temper‖: ―Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile‖ (Ps. 32:2). In Ezek. 13:3 the word is used of one‘s mind or thinking: ―Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing‖ (cf. Prov. 29:11).
Ruach can represent particular dispositions, as it does in Josh. 2:11: ―And as soon as we had heard this things, out hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you…‖ (cf. Josh. 5:1; Job 15:12).
Another disposition represented by this word is ―temper‖: ―If the spirit [temper] of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place…‖ (Eccl. 10:4). David prayed that God would ―restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with the free Spirit‖ (Ps. 51:12). In this verse ―joy of salvation‖ and ―free Spirit‖ are parallel and, therefore, synonymous terms. Therefore, ―spirit‖ refers to one‘s inner disposition, just as ―joy‖ refers to an inner emotion.
Just as in the New Testament, when spirit is used in reference to a person, it is the disposition of the persons mind or thinking.
Passages which speak or mood, an attitude, frame of mind, behavior, thinking, disposition, courage, or temperament or a person(s) in this life time, not or a separate conscious entity that we have no way of knowing if it was troubled, stirred, fervent, or anything about it feeling.
―He was troubled in SPIRIT [pnuma] ‖ [John 13:21]
―The wisdom and the SPIRIT [pnuma] by which…‖ [Acts 6:10]
―His SPIRIT [pnuma] was stirred in him‖ [Acts 17:16]
―Paul was pressed in the SPIRIT [pnuma] ‖ [Acts 18:5]
―Being fervent in the SPIRIT [pnuma] ‖ [Acts 18:25]
―Paul purposed in the SPIRIT [pnuma] ‖ [Acts 19:21]
―I go bound in the SPIRIT [pnuma] unto Jerusalem‖ [Acts 20:22]
―According to the SPIRIT [pnuma] of holiness‖ [Romans 1:4]
―Whom I serve with my SPIRIT [pnuma] ‖ [Romans 1:9]
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―But to be SPIRITUALLY [pnuma] minded is life and peace‖ [Romans 8:6]
―The SPIRIT [pnuma] of bondage…the SPIRIT [pnuma] of adoption‖ [Romans 8:15]
―Given then the SPIRIT [pnuma] of slumber‖ [Romans 11:8]
―Fervent in SPIRIT [pnuma]‖ [Romans12:11]
―Not the SPIRIT [pnuma] of the world‖ [1 Corinthians 2:12]
―In the SPIRIT [pnuma] of meekness‖ [1 Corinthians 4:21]
―Being absent in body but present in SPIRIT [pnuma] ‖ [1 Corinthians 5:3]
―They have refreshed my SPIRIT [pnuma] ‖ [1 Corinthians 16:18]
―I had no rest in my SPIRIT [pnuma] ‖ [2 Corinthians 2:13]
―We having the same SPIRIT [pnuma] of faith‖ [2 Corinthians 4:13]
―Because his SPIRIT [pnuma] was refreshed‖ [2 Corinthians 7:13]
―Walked we not in the same SPIRIT [pnuma] ?‖ [Corinthians 12:18]
―Give unto you the SPIRIT of wisdom‖ [Ephesians 1:17]
―Be renewed in the SPIRIT [pnuma] of your mind‖ [Ephesians 4:23]
―That you stand fast in one SPIRIT [pnuma] ‖ [Philippians 1:27]
―God has not given us the SPIRIT [pnuma] of fear‖ [2 Timothy 1:7]
―Of a meek and quiet SPIRIT [pnuma] ‖ [1 Peter 3:4]
―For the SPIRIT of glory [pnuma] ‖ [1 Peter 4:14]
―The SPIRIT [pnuma] of truth, and the SPIRIT [pnuma] of error‖ [1 John 4:6]
THE GREAT CONFUSION: Soul or spirit or both?
Two terms that comes from different words
And are not used interchangeable in the Bible
Yet Vine said both are an "immaterial, invisible part of man"
Does a person have an immortal soul or an immortal spirit that is not subject to death and that has eternal life without the resurrection? How many immortal parts does a person have? If two, a soul and a spirit, will both of the immortal parts of a person always exist as two independent and separate beings? If one, which is the immortal part of a person, the soul, or the spirit? Vine says they are different, "Generally speaking the spirit is the higher, the soul the lower element" (Page 589), yet he says both are "the immaterial, invisible part of man" (soul on page 588 and spirit on page 593). He said we have both a higher and a lower " immaterial, invisible part of man."
Those who believe all mankind have an ― immaterial, invisible part of man" do not seem to know whether it is the "soul" or the "spirit" that is the "immaterial, invisible part of man" that will live without the earthly body. When preachers preach on the soul being immortal, they use passages that speak of the spirit but say nothing of the soul. There is much confusion on what part of a person is immortal and what will be in Heaven.
MANY USE SOUL AND SPIRIT INTERCHANGEABLY. For their belief, the
soul and the spirit must be the same. If they were not, they would be forced to say one or the other is the immortal part of a person, or that a person has two immortal beings inside of them. When I believed in Hell I could not see there being a separate immortal soul and immortal spirit; I used them interchangeably just as most do now without realizing it. When some read the spirit goes back to God, in their mind they see the immortal soul going back to God. Those who believe the soul will take up permanent residence in Heaven at the moment of death, and many who believe the soul is in Abraham's bosom and will not be in Heaven unto the judgment day both use Ecclesiastes 12:7 to prove the soul (the "immaterial, invisible part of man") goes back to God in Heaven at death. How could the spirit (the other "immaterial, invisible part of man" that is immortal part of a person) return unto God at death if it goes to Abraham's 62
bosom or to Hell? I have continually been told for years that lost souls go to Hell at the moment of death. Then how could the soul return to God if it goes to Hell and only the few souls that are saved go to Heaven at the moment of death? How can they not see that they are saying the soul goes to one place and at the same time they are saying the soul goes to another place?
After Christ had been dead for three days and after His resurrection He said, "Touch me not for I have not yet ascended to my father" [John 20:17]. Many say Christ went to an intermediate place where souls go before the resurrection but not to Heaven. If there were such an intermediate place, then the soul or the spirit does not return to God at death. One position is taken on one passage, and then the same persons shifts to another position on another passage and are continually shifting their position.
SOUL OR SPIRIT, WHICH ONE IS IMMORTAL?
Any time 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 4:12, etc., comes up in a Bible class, the teacher has the same problem, the same confusion. What is the difference in soul and spirit? Which one is immortal? Many never seem to be quite sure which of the two, the soul, or the spirit they believe to be immortal and not sure if they are the same or two entirely different parts of a person. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 does not say what the functions of the body, soul, or spirit is and what becomes of them at death. It does not say one is mortal and two of them are immortal and will forever live somewhere. This must be read into it.
There is nothing about any part of a person now being immortal in it.
There is nothing about Hell after the judgment in it. This also must be read into it.
Those who say the "soul" is the "immaterial, invisible part of man" that is immortal must stop using passages, which speaks of the "spirit" to prove the soul is immortal. "The spirit returns to God" cannot be used to prove the soul is immortal if they are not the same; however, many do use this passage to prove a person has an immortal soul.
Those who say the "spirit" is the "immaterial, invisible part of man" that is immortal must stop using passages speak of the "soul" to prove the spirit is immortal. "Fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna" cannot be used to prove the spirit is immortal if they are not both the same the "immaterial, invisible part of man" that is immortal, but many do use one to prove the other, then will use the other to prove the first. Is this what is called "reasoning in a circle"?
Passages, which have "spirit" in them but are used to prove a person has an immortal soul.
Passages, which have "soul" in them but are used to prove a person has an immortal spirit.
Body, soul-life, and spirit all are a person as he is now in the image of Adam. All three terms, body, soul, and spirit are used referring to a person at the same time. They are not three parts that can exist without each other. If they were, a person would have two separate immortal beings in Heaven simultaneously. They are not three separate beings with opposite natures, with two living within the other one.
BODY: The body the Lord formed from the dust of the ground [Genesis 2:7].
SOUL: "The life...is in the blood" Leviticus 17:10-14. The living nature of a person that he has in common with all animals.
SPIRIT: The breath of life breathed in the earthy body. All life is from God, and returns to God at death
[Ecclesiastes 12:7, Job 34:14-15]. All life is a gift from God to both man and animals, and it goes back to God at death. The spirit is not an immortal part of a person that preexisted as a living being with God before the birth of the person.
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Paul does not say may your soul be preserved blameless without your body or spirit.
He puts the three together as being inseparable, the whole person, not three separate parts of a person.
Mark 12:30 "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul (psukee – life), and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”