BibleStudyTools.com has added a classic volume to their digital library. One of the most influential, scholarly treatments of man as spirit, soul and body is A System of Biblical Psychology, by Franz Delitzsch. (Trans. Robert E. Wallis. 2nd, English ed. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1885.) The clarifications to the doctrine of sanctification in Delitzsch have enriched many, including Evan Hopkins who wrote The Law of Liberty in the Spiritual Life (which represented the essential message of the early Keswick Convention in England). Sign up for a free account and access A System of Biblical Psychology and other resources at BibleStudyTools.com

The subtitle of this workbook is Experience the Freedom from Overeating that You Already Have.

The author, Paula Coleman, includes a spirit/soul/body model of biblical psychology in this study–a Christ-centered approach to overeating / weight loss.

“The Weight of Grace can be used by individuals or small groups and contains an easy-to-use facilitator’s guide.  It is formatted in workbook style with spaces provided where women can write answers to application questions.” www.weightofgrace.org

One’s biblical psychology is important in describing the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of people. This not only the case in devotional or academic literature; it’s also relevant in fiction.

The novel Cross Roads, by William Paul Young, goes to great lengths to describe the inner life and sanctification process of the main character, Tony who—for most of the book–is in a coma.

In this book, the way a person is described as three-in-one is basically in line with the holistic trichotomy perspective of this blog site. Briefly stated, man has three ontologically distinguishable parts (spirit, soul, and body), yet with two separable aspects (material and immaterial), yet one in personhood.

Chapter eight of Cross Roads is titled, What is the Soul of a Man?

The dream state character who symbolizes the Holy Spirit answers the main character, Tony:  “Trying to explain a human being… a being who is a unity, one, and yet comprising spirit, soul, and body, is like trying to explain God: Spirit, Father, and Son. The understanding is in the experience and relationship…

“Cabby [a mentally handicapped boy], like you, is a spirit interpenetrating a soul interpenetrating a body. But it is not simply interpenetration. It is dance participation… Anthony, like you, Cabby’s body is broken and his soul is crushed and bent, yet his spirit is alive and well. But even though alive and well, his spirit is submitted in relationship to the broken and crushed parts of his person, his soul and body.  Words are very inadequate to communicate sometimes.… You are an interpenetrated and interpenetrating whole, a unity of diversity but essentially a oneness.…

[Cabby’s] brokenness is just more obvious than yours. He wears it on the outside for all to see, while you have kept yours all locked away and hidden as best you know how. Cabby has internal sensitivities and receptors that are significantly more developed than yours. He can see things that you are blind to, can pick up on the good and the danger in people quicker than you, and his perception is much keener.  It is housed in an inability to communicate, a broken body and soul reflective of a broken world.” (New York: Faith Words, 2012, p.113,114)

Although Young (who also wrote The Shack) sometimes stretches imagination to the brink of unorthodoxy, he does a superb job dramatizing the complex process of the main character’s journey of faith, repentance and spiritual growth.

“We are created to live in an altar’d state—surrendered, yielded, free. The noun altar is usually understood to be a place of worshipful offering. Something of value is offered up and released on the altar. When we turn the noun altar into a verb—altar our fear, our failure, our possessiveness, our need to control—all those things that hold us captive and keep us from running the race at full throttle are released. Through careful exposition and biblical teaching, celebrated author and prayer expert Jennifer Kennedy Dean guides readers on a 40-day exploration of the Scriptures and what it means to truly live a life dead to flesh and alive to the spirit. Let the altar do its work in you, transforming fear to faith, worry to worship. Each time that old pattern starts asserting itself in your thoughts, overlay it with the new reality: I’m altar’d. Jennifer is known for her imaginative reframing of eternal truth, and again she gives us a powerful revision of an ancient symbol. She first introduced us to the difference between a prayer life and a praying life, and now leads us to the power of living in an altar’d state. ”
– From Praying Life Foundation

This is an excellent, insightful Bible study. Jennifer also uses the “spirit, soul, body” perspective to give additional clarity to the process of practical sanctification. For a ordering information and  sample chapter, click here. -JBW

Part of  “My Hope With Billy Graham” – an urgent new message of Hope from Billy Graham, featuring Lacey Sturm and Lecrae. ‪http://www.findingmyhope.org/‬

“With a perfect heart . . . to make David king” —1 Chronicles 12:38

What is the supreme purpose of our lives? The Israelites were of one heart to make David king. Is this our purpose, to prepare the Bride, to prepare the world, to prepare His way?

Does this objective dwarf and dim all other ambitions, all other cares? Does it fill and satisfy every capacity, every power, every desire? Does it absorb every moment, every energy, every resource? Does it give direction and tone to every plan and work of life? Does it decide for us the education of our children, the investment of our means, the friendships and associations of life, the whole activity, interest and outlook of our beings? Are we in it, spirit, soul and body-all we are, all we do, all we hope for-of one heart to make Jesus King?

A. B. Simpson,
Days of Heaven on Earth (Dec. 5th reading)
http://cmalliance.org/devotions/simpson?mmdd=1205