Major W. Ian Thomas (1914 – 2007) was an evangelist, author, theological teacher and founder of the Torchbearers Bible schools. Many have been helped in their journey of Christian discipleship through his sermons and books. These include:

• The Saving Life of Christ, (Zondervan 1961).
• The Mystery of Godliness, (Zondervan, 1964).
• If I Perish, I Perish: the Christian Life as seen in Esther, (Zondervan, 1968).
• The Indwelling Life of Christ: All of Him in All of Me, (Multnomah, 2006).

Ian Thomas’ deeper life testimony is very significant, being recounted, for example, in They Found the Secret, by V. Raymond Edman (Zondervan) and briefly at https://deeperchristian.com/major-ian-thomas/

It is significant that Thomas’ biblical anthropology was clearly trichotomist. An earlier edition of The Mystery of Godliness featured a diagram illustrating man as body, soul (as mind, will and emotions) and spirit.

Here is an excerpt of his writing, “At His Disposal”:

“The moment you are redeemed through the atoning death of Christ upon the cross, you receive the Holy Spirit within your human spirit. You have “passed from death to life” – raised from the dead – and the Life which has been imparted to you by the Holy Spirit is the very Life of Christ Himself; ” He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ. He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him” (Ephesians 2:5, Amplified New Testament).

“The life that the Lord Jesus Christ lived for you nineteen hundred years ago ­ condemns you; but the life that He now lives in you ­saves you! The Christian life is the Life which He lived then, lived now, by Him in you. As He behaved in the sinless Humanity which the Father had prepared for Him then, so He wants to behave in your humanity presented to Him now.

“[The soul is now addressed as mind, emotion and will] Your mind placed at His disposal through the indwelling Holy Spirit; your emotions, your will, all that you are and have, made available to the Lord Jesus Christ as a living member of His new corporate body on earth, which is called the church.

This is the new law in action, the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus… Your ‘behavior mechanism’ once more wholly ‘Deo-centric’ instead of ‘Ego-centric’ ‘so that the commandment of the law may find fulfillment’ in you, whose conduct, no longer under the control of your lower nature, ‘is directed by the Spirit’ [Rom. 8:4]. A radical change of government!” [1]

His book, If I Perish, I Perish, makes much of distinguishing aspects of the believer’s makeup (body, soul, and spirit) with additional contrasts of the flesh and the Holy Spirit.

Ian Thomas’ emphasis and legacy continue through Torchbearers International (also known as Capernwray), an interdenominational Christian ministry operating centers in 20 countries that offer short-term Bible school programs, conferences, camps and retreats.[2]

JBW
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[1] The Mystery of Godliness, emphasis and bracketed content added

[2] https://torchbearers.org/

William-MacDonald (1917-2007) was a Plymouth Brethren theologian and author of 84 published books. He served as President of Emmaus Bible College for 6 years, followed by international Bible teaching for over 40 years. [1]

This is his commentary on a key passage about biblical psychology— 1 Thessalonians 5:23:

“The apostle also prays for the preservation of the Thessalonians. This preservation should include the complete person—spirit, soul, and body. Notice the order. Man always says body, soul, and spirit. God always says spirit, soul, and body. In the original creation, the spirit was of first importance, the body last. Sin reversed the order; man lives for the body and neglects the spirit. When we pray for one another, we should follow the biblical order, putting spiritual welfare before physical needs.

“From this verse and others, it is clear that we are tripartite beings. Our spirit is that part which enables us to have communion with God. Our soul has to do with our emotions, desires, affections, and propensities (John 12:27). Our body is the house in which our person dwells (2 Cor. 5:1).

“All of our parts need to be preserved entire, that is, complete and sound. One commentator has suggested the needs for preservation as follows:

“The spirit from (a) everything that would defile it (2 Cor. 7:1); (b) everything that would hinder the testimony of the Holy Spirit to the saints’ relationship with God (Rom. 8:16); or (c) everything that would prevent the worship which He seeks (John 4:23; Phil 3:3).
The soul from (a) evil thoughts (Matt. 15:18, 19; Eph. 2:3); (b) fleshly appetites that war against it (1 Pet. 2:11); and (c) contention and strife (Heb. 12:15). The body from (a) defilement (1 Thess. 4:3–8); and (b) evil uses (Rom. 6:19).

“Some deny that the unsaved have a spirit. Perhaps they base this on the fact that they are spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1). However, the fact that the unsaved are spiritually dead does not mean that they have no spirit. It means that they are dead as far as fellowship with God is concerned. Their spirits may be very much alive, for example, as far as contact with the world of the occult is concerned, but they are dead Godward.” [2]

MacDonald was another respected Bible teacher who affirmed man as spirit, soul, and body.

[1] Wikipedia and William-Macdonald.org

[2] Believer’s Bible Commentary: Second Edition, by William MacDonald, Arthur L. Farstad (Thomas Nelson, 2016). See the post from this commentary about Hebrews 4:12

Author and conference speaker, Nancy Missler, did extensive Bible study on Biblical psychology and used the symbolism of Solomon’s Temple to illustrate the important distinctions of man’s spirit, soul, and body. Here are sample quotes from her:

In 1 Corinthians 3:16 Paul says, “Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” What is Paul really saying here?

… I would like to investigate further the spiritual significance of Solomon’s Temple, because I believe it’s a perfect model or blueprint of a New Testament believer indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Truly, as Paul says, we are the Temple of God and the Spirit of God does dwell in us.

…The Holy of Holies in Solomon’s Temple, I believe, is analogous to a believer’s new spirit (pneuma) … and the Outer Court represents a believer’s body (soma),which is the vehicle by which we express our life (soul). Together, our soul and body are known as the “flesh.”

As a born again believer (one who has asked Jesus to come into his heart), the Spirit that now dwells at the core of our being is not our “old” human spirit anymore [Rom. 6:6], but a totally new spirit [Eph. 4:24]. It’s now God Himself (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) dwelling in us. This is exactly what being “born again” means.

It means receiving a totally new power source or life source. God has united our spirit with His and we have become one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 validates this, “…he that is joined unto the Lord is [now] one spirit [with Him].” So, our spirit is now the new energy source that will create God’s Life within us.[1]

In an unbeliever, that power source is going to be the human spirit (Job 32:8), whereas in a born again believer his “spirit” will be united with God’s Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17). This is exactly what it means to be born again. It means our human spirit has been united with God’s Spirit, so we now have a new power source or life source.[2]

[The Christian] recog­nizes that the soul of man grows out of the interaction between the body and spirit and is the means by which man communicates to the outside world. Through faith in Jesus Christ, the believer possesses the indwelling source of God’s life from whom he is possessed with joy, fulfillment, and victory.

The field of psychology is ultimately doomed to frustration since it cannot penetrate beyond the psyche (soul). It is impossible to infer the inner structure of man from only observing his external behavior. This is just as futile as attempt­ing to ascertain, from its external behavior, the internal architecture of software running on a computer since it is also a self-modifying entity operating inside an infinite state machine.[3]

Nancy went beyond the writers who focus on the simpler model of the Mosaic Tabernacle— She compared the Holy Place with the believer’s new heart, the soul with the inner court and the body with the outer court. She also addressed the need for deeper renewal of the subconscious through the analogy of the Temple’s storage chambers. For more detail, see her book, Be Ye Transformed.

Nancy went to be with the Lord in 2015 at age 77. She and her husband, Chuck, were married for 58 years. Nancy published 13 books including: The Way of Agape, Be Ye Transformed, and Faith in the Night Seasons. Her materials have transformed lives and marriages around the world.

Nancy is the founder of The King’s High Way Ministries; an international ministry dedicated to encouraging and teaching Christians how to “walk out” their faith in God’s Love. She always focused on the practical application of Biblical principles.
(Bio adapted from http://kingshighway.org/nancy-missler/)

J.B.W.

1. http://kingshighway.org/inspiration/articles/your_temple/spiritual/
2. http://kingshighway.org/inspiration/articles/your_temple/ourmind/
3. http://kingshighway.org/inspiration/articles/your_temple/sub/

Thomas Ronfro M.D. is an advocate for holistic health. In 1996 he was diagnosed with stage 4 mantle cell lymphoma, an aggressive, cancerous malignancy. In addition to medical treatment, Renfro was the recipient of much prayer and biblical counseling. He made a miraculous recovery and has written this testimonial, informative book.

Dr. Renfro sees the importance of man as spirit, soul and body. Chapter 13 is titled We are a Three-Part Person. Here is an excerpt:

“3 John 2 ‘Beloved, I wish above all things that
thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.’

“God created man as a three-part person. Genesis 2:7 ‘And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.’ The combination of dust, (body) with the breath of God, (spirit) makes us a living soul. God is represented as a trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. We, being created in the image and likeness of God, we are also a trinity, the body, soul, and spirit.”

“We are a three-part person woven together into one, overlapping… We all have a physical body that interacts with our environment though the five senses. We all have a spirit that is reaching toward God to learn of him, developing our morality and to follow his ways. Between our physical body and spiritual aspect is our soul, which consists of our mind, will, and emotions. All parts directly interact and influence the other parts of our being. Our reactions to any situation depend on which aspect of our being is exerting the most influence… “(p. 85)

Dr Renfro’s trichotomy is holistic. He goes on to explain,

“Our overall health depends upon the health of all three aspects of our being. When the body is compromised, sick, or injured, this can adversely affect the other parts of our being. Sickness in the body affects us mentally, making it harder to think, to concentrate, and even clouds our judgment. Sickness with its misery impacts our emotional state, giving place to more worry, anxiety, and frustration leading to depression. Emotional stress is manifested physically
through our ‘body language’ of joy or sadness, calm or panic, worry or assurance. Physical illness even compromises our spirit, weakening our faith in God and his word, leading to despair and hopelessness.

“This seems to be the natural progression when the physical body is injured, fighting cancer or chronically ill. The physical illness and misery of the body tends to pull down the rest of our being.

“But why do we have to allow the physical problems so much influence over our soul (mind, emotions and will) and spirit? Is there a way to rally the forces of our soul and spirit to help this body in its battle with sickness and disease, injury, or disability?” (p.86).

This is the primary purpose of his book, giving inspiration and counsel about three dimensional health. His healing testimony was included in a TV program; the video is on his web site: DrRenfro.com

JBW

Thomas E Renfro, Avenues of Healing: Reaching for the Healing Power of God (Xulon, 2020)

The legacy of Viktor Frankl’s books and psychological theory is an important testament to the value of discerning the nature of man as not only physical, and psychological, but also spiritual.

Wikipedia’s summary is that “Viktor Frankl (1905 – 1997) was an Austrian neurologist, psychologist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor, who founded logotherapy, a school of psychotherapy that describes a search for a life’s meaning as the central human motivational force … Frankl published 39 books. The autobiographical Man’s Search for Meaning, a best-selling book, is based on his experiences in various Nazi concentration camps.”[1]

Man’s Search For Meaning is an important book, having sold over 16 million copies. The publisher gives this description: “Viktor Frankl’s riveting account of his time in the Nazi concentration camps, and his insightful exploration of the human will to find meaning in spite of the worst adversity, has offered solace and guidance to generations of readers since it was first published in 1946. At the heart of Frankl’s theory of logotherapy (from the Greek word for ‘meaning’) is a conviction that the primary human drive is not pleasure, as Freud maintained, but rather the discovery and pursuit of what the individual finds “meaningful.”[2]

Frankl’s observations, derived from his spiritual capacities, considers man as a three dimensional being, who searches for meaning, has a conscience, and is capable of self-transcendence. [Even if a person is not spiritually alive toward God, he can perceive basic spiritual realities.] As the apostle Paul declared about humanity, “because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead…” (Rom. 1:19,20). Romans 2:15 adds that everyone has a conscience, which is a faculty of the spirit of man (Rom. 2:15).

Hendrika Vande Kemp made this observation about Frankl’s recognition of the psychological / spiritual distinction in man:

“…Many contemporary depth psychologists … are forced to confront the unconscious in all its complexity and, through their clinical experience, find that it manifests itself in two forms which are at times distinct, at other times indistinguishable: spirit and soul. Such a version of trichotomy may be found in Frankl, who divided individual functioning into three factors: physical, psychological, and spiritual (Tweedie, 1961). Here, we are spiritual beings who have a psyche. Consciousness grows out of unconscious spirituality, which also gives rise to love, conscience, and esthetic appreciation. The spirit may be masked by the psyche, in that neuroses and psychoses interfere with the free expression of spirituality.” [3]

We can conclude that it is the spiritual dimension of man that lifts one to be aware of these life principles, including the search for meaning. The basic principles that Frankl articulated can be deduced from general revelation—personal consciousness and life experience. These tenets helped him, and have helped others, navigate the sorrows of life in this fallen world.

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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Frankl

[2] https://www.viktorfranklinstitute.org/about-logotherapy/

[3] Hendrika Vande Kemp, “The Tension Between Psychology and Theology: An Anthropological Solution.” Journal of Psychology and Theology, 1982, Vol. 10, No. 3, 208-09.

J.B.W.

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William R. Newell is an example of a well-respected Bible expositor who believed in man as spirit, soul, and body. Emmalon Davis comments that “Newell’s [Romans] Verse-by-Verse is a perfect combination of analytic exegesis and devotional interpretation … Because of Newell’s deep understanding of both Greek and English biblical translations, he is able to point out subtle yet essential features of the text that often go unnoticed by many readers. Throughout his commentary, Newell consistently defines difficult terminology and provides many additional footnotes for further technical clarification.” ccel.org/ccel/newell/romans/

Here are excerpts that show Newell’s discernment about the nature of man (emphasis added).

On Romans 1:9
The expression, “Whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of His Son,” is striking and significant. Those who would make man to consist of but two parts, soul and body, cannot properly explain “spirit and soul and body” (I Thess. 5:23); much less “the dividing asunder of soul and spirit” (Heb. 4:12). The constant witness of Scripture is that man exists as a spirit living in a body, possessed of a soul. Paul’s service to God was in his spirit, and therefore in the Holy Spirit, and never “soulical” (not psychikos, but pneumatikos— I Cor. 2:14; Jude 19, Jas. 3:15). Paul did not depend on music, or architecture, or oratory, or rhetoric. He did not hold “inspirational” meetings to arouse the emotions to mystic resolves. He served God directly, in his spirit. It was the truth in the Holy Ghost he ministered, and the results were “that which is of the Spirit.” The spirits of his hearers were born again; and the Spirit witnessed to their spirits that they were born-ones of God.

On Romans 8:12 [concerning creation, the fall, and regeneration]
God formed man’s body, first, calling: him man (Gen. 2:7). Then he breathed into his nostrils the breath (literally, spirit) of life; and man became a living soul. His bodily functions we all know. His soul-life put him in touch with the world into which by Divine creation he had now been introduced, but man was essentially a spirit, living in a body, possessing a soul. It was with his spirit that God communed and in which alone man was God-conscious.

Now when man sinned, all was overthrown! The body, that was to be the tabernacle of this Divinely inbreathed or created spirit, took immediate lordship. The life of God was withdrawn from man’s spirit. He had died to God! The spirit became the slave of the body; and the propensities of the latter, normal and controlled before, became the whole urge or driving force of man’s existence! His soul, also, which included his five “senses,”—which perceived and enjoyed the external universe; with his reason and imagination, became controlled by what God called “the flesh.” “The thoughts of man’s heart,” became “only evil and that continually [Gen. 6:5].”

Now in the new birth the dead spirit (dead to God) is by Divine creation made alive, or enlifed with Christ; and the Holy Spirit becomes the sphere of man’s newly created spirit; for whatever the believer’s progress may be, he is no longer in flesh but in Spirit! The body’s demands are the same as ever, because the body is not yet redeemed; and to live after the desires of the body—“according to flesh”

StudyLight.org provides Newell’s commentaries on Romans, Hebrews and Revelation and notes that “William Reed Newell (1868-1956) was a distinguished American theologian, pastor, and teacher known for his profound influence on evangelical Christianity in the early 20th century. Born in Savannah, Ohio, Newell exhibited a keen interest in the scriptures from a young age, a passion that would guide the course of his life and ministry … His most enduring legacy stems from his tenure at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, where he served as a teacher and later as the assistant superintendent. It was here that Newell’s impact on Christian education and evangelism was most felt, as he mentored countless students who would go on to become influential leaders in Christian ministry.”

JBW