Psychotheology is the study of the soul and its relationship to God from a biblical perspective. The Bible has much to say about the nature of humanity, the state of our souls, and how we can be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ. Here is an overview of some of the key aspects of psychotheology according to Scripture:
The Composition of Humanity
According to Genesis 2:7, human beings have both a physical body and a spiritual component: “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” The Hebrew word for “breath” here is neshamah, which refers to the divine breath or spirit of God that animates a person. So humans are a combination of physical matter and an immaterial spirit given by God.
The New Testament likewise speaks of an “inner person” or “inward man” that makes up part of our identity (Rom. 7:22; 2 Cor. 4:16; Eph. 3:16). This immaterial aspect is sometimes called the “soul” or “spirit,” which are roughly equivalent biblical terms referring to the non-physical part of a person. The soul is the essence of our self-awareness, moral conscience, rational thought, and other higher faculties that make us uniquely human.
The Origin of the Soul
Genesis 1:27 indicates that the first humans, Adam and Eve, were created directly by God: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” As bearers of the imago Dei, the human soul has a divine origin and sacred worth.
Moreover, Scripture teaches that each individual soul is specially formed by God. The prophet Zechariah spoke of God as “He who forms the human spirit within a person” (Zech. 12:1). David praised God because “You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Ps. 139:13). God is personally involved in imparting a soul to each person.
The Nature of the Fallen Soul
Though originally good, the human soul became corrupted and deformed as a result of the Fall and Adam’s disobedience (Gen 3; Rom. 5:12). As a consequence, every person inherits a nature that is now inclined toward sin, rebellion, and selfishness rather than good (Rom. 7:14-20).
Jeremiah observed that “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9). From a biblical perspective, the unsaved soul is darkened, confused, and separated from the life of God (Eph. 4:18). The habits, desires, and perspectives of the fallen soul are out of accord with God’s holy purposes. Through the distortion of sin, the soul’s faculties of reason, conscience, and communication with God are marred and misdirected.
Restoration through Christ’s Redemption
The good news of the gospel is that Christ came to redeem and restore fallen souls. Jesus declared that “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). On the cross, He bore the punishment sinners deserve so that through faith, guilty souls can be pardoned and reconciled to God (Rom. 5:8-11; 2 Cor. 5:21).
Those who trust in Christ are spiritually regenerated, receiving new life by the power of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). God’s grace reforms the affections, renews the mind, and awakens the moral conscience, bringing the soul back into alignment with righteousness (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:23). Believers now have the “mind of Christ” and the fruit of the Spirit at work within (1 Cor. 2:16; Gal. 5:22-23). The redeeming work of Christ enables the rehabilitation of souls toward godliness.
The Immortality of the Soul
The Bible suggests that the human soul survives physical death and continues on in an intermediate state awaiting future resurrection. Jesus spoke of souls experiencing blessing in “Abraham’s bosom” or torment in Hades after death (Luke 16:19-31). Paul expressed his desire to “depart and be with Christ” as preferable to remaining on earth, indicating conscious existence after death (Phil. 1:23). He taught that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord for believers (2 Cor. 5:8). At Christ’s second coming, the souls of believers will then be reunited with imperishable resurrection bodies (1 Cor. 15:51-57).
The souls of unbelievers also persist after death but do not inherit the promise of bodily redemption (Matt. 10:28). Their disembodied souls remain in bondage and darkness until the final judgment (2 Pet. 2:4, 9, 17). The everlasting destiny of each soul is determined by its relation to Christ in this life. But all souls endure eternally, either in the joy of Christ’s presence or separation from Him.
Practical Application
A biblical understanding of the soul impacts how we should then live:
– As beings with an eternal soul, our perspective should be heavenward rather than earthbound (Col. 3:2). The condition of our soul is more vital than temporal affairs.
– Knowing the flawed tendencies of our fallen nature should humble us and turn us to Christ’s mercy and grace to transform our souls.
– The value Christ placed on redeeming our souls should make us diligent to share the gospel as the most urgent priority with every person’s eternal soul at stake.
– Caring for the spiritual needs and growth of others should be just as important to us as meeting their physical needs through Christ-like service and compassion.
– The indwelling Holy Spirit makes it possible to align our affections, outlook, and will with God’s purposes as redeemed souls.
– The doctrine of the immortal soul means how we shape our character, values, and relationships matters eternally. Our brief span on earth determines the state of our soul forever.
Key Passages on the Soul
Here are some important Bible verses about the soul for further study and reflection:
– Genesis 2:7 – Humans formed from dust and the breath of God
– Psalms 42:1-2 – The soul’s thirst for God
– Psalms 103:1 – Call for the soul to praise God
– Psalms 139:13-14 – God’s personal formation of each soul
– Matthew 16:26 – The surpassing value of the soul
– Matthew 22:37 – Loving God with all your soul
– 1 Peter 1:22 – Purification of souls by obedience to Christ
– James 1:21 – Need for salvation implanted in the soul
– Hebrews 4:12 – The piercing discernment of God’s word to the soul
– 1 Thessalonians 5:23 – Preservation of spirit, soul and body at Christ’s coming
– Revelation 6:9 – Souls of the martyrs under the altar in heaven
Conclusion
The Bible provides a wealth of insight into the makeup of humanity, the workings of the soul, its fallen condition, and the hope of redemption through faith in Christ. By studying what Scripture teaches about the soul, we can better understand our inner life, walk in godliness, minister to others effectively, and look forward to the world to come where our souls will delight in the unhindered presence of God. The doctrine of the soul gives us perspective for this earthly sojourn as those created for eternity.
