Jesus: Body, Soul And Spirit

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Several Scriptures have been presented regarding Jesus’ body, soul and spirit, and the claim is made that “the Son in his humanity, is body, soul and spirit’, and that “the Son in his deity, is a Spirit.” We would tend agree with the statements as given, but it seems to be that the intent is to somehow show that these scriptures express the dualistic natures, or what some refer to as the hypostatic union, of Jesus as being two alleged “natures” at once, one nature of being the Most High, and the other nature of being a human being. We have decided to examine these scriptures here.

We do agree that Jesus, in his deity before being made flesh was most certainly spirit, and that after his resurrection, having been raised as a spirit being, is a spirit, possessing the plenitude of mightiness bodily. — Colossians 2:9,10; 1 Peter 3:18.

See:

Colossians 2:9 – The Fullness of Deity

Jesus Died a Human Being – Raised a Spirit Being

He was not, however, a spirit being while he was in the days of his flesh; he did not then possess the glory of the celestial body, but rather he had the glory of the terrestrial body, a little lower than the angels. — John 17:5; 1 Corinthians 15:40; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Hebrews 2:9.

Jesus became a spirit being when he was made alive in his resurrection from death. — Romans 1:4; 6:9; 1 Peter 3:18.

Matthew 26:12

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial.

Toward the close of Jesus’ Ministry He came to Bethany, to the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary — the same Lazarus whom He had awakened from the sleep of death. Mary chose this opportunity to pour some expensive perfumed oil upon the the Master’s head, which Jesus declared was in preparation for his burial.

Jesus was about lay down his sinless soul (Greek, transliterated psuche, Strong’s #5590) as a human. (Matthew 20:28; John 10:11) However, Jesus’ soul, like that of Adam, includes his body of flesh. (Genesis 2:7; Hebrews 10:10) In giving his soul, including his body, he suffered once for all as an offering for sin. (1 Peter 3:10; Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22) It was indeed most appropriate that his body be prepared for burial in the manner stated, for it illustrated the expensive price that Jesus was about to pay for sin. — Psalm 49:7,8.

Once having sacrificed his flesh, and presenting it in heaven to his God and Father, Jesus did not take back that flesh. He is no longer in the days of his flesh (Hebrews 5:7), but is now a mighty spirit being endowed with a mightiness that much higher than that of the angels.

However, he was not both a mighty spirit being high above the angels and a human being a little lower than the angels while he was in the days of his flesh. He was, in the days of his flesh, a little lower than the angels; he did not possess the celestial, spiritual glory while he was in the days of his flesh.

See:

1 Peter 3:18 – Jesus Died a Human Being – Raised a Spirit Being

Hebrews 2:9 – Is Jesus Still a Little Lower than the Angels?

With What Kind of Body Will We Be Raised?

Matthew 26:38

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”

Jesus made his human soul “an offering for sin”; he “poured out his soul to death” (Isaiah 53:10, 12; Matthew 26:38), and descended into the Bible hell, but “his soul was not left in hell [sheol/hades – a state of unknowing].” Thus, Jesus’ soul was in the Bible hell while he was dead, but it did not remain there. His, “soul”, however in coming out of sheol, was not his sacrificed human soul, his sentiency a little lower than the angels, which was offered once for all time on behalf of mankind, but was raised the exalted glorified soul, for he was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. — Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27,31,33; 5:31; Philippians 2:9; Hebrews 2:9; 1 Peter 3:18.

See the study:

1 Peter 3:18 – Jesus Died a Human Being – Raised a Spirit Being

Luke 23:46

New King James Version (NKJV)

And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last.

Yes, Jesus, in the days of his flesh (Hebrews 5:7), was just like Adam, having the human, terrestrial, crown of glory a little lower than the angels. (Psalm 8:5; 1 Corinthians 15:40; Hebrews 2:7) When he was about to die, in harmony with Genesis 2:7 and Ecclesiastes 12:7, Jesus committed his spirit of life, the neshamah (breath of life) of Genesis 2:7, to God who had given him his life.

See:

Genesis 2:7 – Neshamah

Genesis 2:7 – A Living Soul

The Spirit – Does it Continue as a Consciousness When A Person is Dead?

Romans 8:9

New King James Version (NKJV)

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

1 Peter 1:11

New King James Version (NKJV)

searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

Acts 16:7

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;

Although since Jesus was raised from the dead, we can say that Jesus is a spirit being (1 Peter 3:18), none of the above scriptures say that Jesus is a spirit being. In the phrase “spirit of Christ”, or “spirit of Jesus”, “spirit” is something that belongs to Jesus, a power or disposition.

See:

Romans 8:9; 1 Peter 1:11 – Spirit of God and Spirit of Christ

 

Matthew 18:20

New American Standard Bible; (NASB)

20 For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

The question is raised: “Is the Son omnipresent in his deity, can he be present in different, or in all places at one time?” The question would assume that the answer is “Yes”, based on the above scripture.

Colossians 2:9 does indeed suggest the possibility that the only true God has given to Jesus the ability to be bodily present at more than one place at a time. I am not sure, however, that when Jesus spoke the words of Matthew 18:20, that he was speaking of actually being in more than one place at a time.

See:

Matthew 18:20; 28:20 – Jesus’ Presence With Us

Colossians 3:11

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

It would seem that “Christ is all, and in all” is being understood to mean that Jesus is omnipresent, always present in all things at all times. Paul is simply expressing here, however, that Christ, as he is in the Jewish believer, is also in all believers of all races. Since this scripture is discussed elsewhere, please see:

Colossians 3:11 and Jesus’ Alleged Omnipresence

John 3:13

New King James Version (NKJV)

No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.

Again, this scripture is discussed elsewhere, so we will not discuss it here. See:

John 3:13 and Jesus’ Supposed Omnipresence

Ephesians 4:10

New King James Version (NKJV)

10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

This scripture, also, is discussed elsewhere, so we will not discuss it here.

See the study:

Ephesians 4:10 – Jesus Fills All