Lecture 5 Flashcards
What is the Monist view?
Monism defines humanity in terms of the category of relationship instead of the category of being.
The person is viewed from the perspective of wholeness rather than in material and spiritual classifications.
(I.e. body and spirit)
How does the Monist view interpret various terms describing the spirit and the body?
Terms such as soul, spirit, heart, mind are essentially synonymous.
They highlight the fact that we are made to know, love, and enjoy God and others.
Remember, monism defines humanity in terms of relationship.
How does Berkouwer characterize the Monist view of humanity?
Humans are essentially one. This includes their relationships, God’s image, and dependence on God.
He says, “The man of God is a man in his relation, from which we may never abstract him.”
He goes on to say man is not independent or autonomous, but is “man of God.”
What is the Platonic view of humanity
The Platonic ideal is that the body is a prison to the soul.
It elevates soul over body.
How does the Monist view undermine biblical teaching?
The Monist view does not recognize the doctrine of the Intermediate State.
This is the belief that upon death, the soul is brought immediately into the presence of God while the body awaits resurrection.
Luke 23 - Thief on the cross
John 19 - Jesus “gives up his spirit.”
Phil 1 - to live is Christ, to die is gain
(Better to be absent from the body but with Christ)
What is the Trichonomist view of humanity?
according to this view the person is divided into three constituent parts, body, soul, and spirit.
In the Trichotomist view describe the three parts.
The spirit represents the essence of the person, which is the immaterial part.
The body represents the material part.
• the physical being who needs daily sustenance, etc.
The soul is the glue that holds the body and spirit together. It mediates between the body and spirit.
Give a detailed description of the soul in the trichotomist view.
The soul is the glue that holds the body and spirit together.
The soul is the life force, the animating principle that keeps us going.
How does Watchman Nee characterize the trichotomist view?
Nee says the spirit is the noblest part of man and it occupies the inner most area of our being.
The body is the lowest form (outter sheath of the Spirit).
The soul is between the two and acts as a medium between the two.
• spirit transmits it’s thought to the soul which exercises the body to obey.
How do we respond to the Trichotomist view?
We focus on passages that touch on the importance of loving God.
• that is, we think these passages that are used to define human components are actually describing ways we relate to God.
2) Deuteronomy 6:5 (the schema)
Luke 10 and Matt 22
•echo the schema but add and take away from heart, soul and might.
We see terms such as heart, soul, strength, mind, etc as synonyms that are interchangeable and suggest we are to love God with our whole being.
3) threefold division (see card)
•proponents argue from two texts of scripture.
What is the threefold division argument against Trichotomy?
Proponents often look at 1 Thess 5:23 and Heb 4:12 as defense.
1 Thes. 5 uses the terms spirit, soul, and body as “to be kept blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Preceding the three terms Paul says to “sanctify you completely” which shows a parallelism to the body, soul, spirit.
Heb. 4:12 says - the word of God is sharper than any two edged sword, “piercing to the division of soul and spirit” … “and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
• like thoughts and intentions the two cannot be divided.
• text does not say the word divides between the soul and spirit. Or soul from spirit.
What is the problem with the Trichotomist view as it pertains to regeneration and sanctification?
Trichotomist often suggest that a person has a regenerated spirit but struggle with sin in the deep corners of the soul.
• if we divide spirit and soul in Hebrews 4:12 it is not helpful to say that the spirit is regenerated but the body and soul need further sanctification.
• we must be entirely regenerated.
• Jesus uses two constituent parts (spirit and flesh) in Matthew 26
• Paul uses only body and spirit in 2 Cor 7.
What is the Dichotomist view of man?
This view says a person is comprised of two distinct, yet inseparable parts.
• the material body and immaterial soul.
Man is neither wholly material nor wholly spiritual.
We are a psychosomatic unit- psyche (soul), soma (body).
In what way are the Dichotomists such as Berkouwer correct?
The Monist is right to suggest a person is a whole person/unit.
This view recognizes that the human composition is a “wholistic dualism,” as John Cooper calls it.
It also stresses the importance of our physical nature.
In what way is the Trichotomist correct?
Trichotomist are correct to assert there is some kind of division within the person.
A person is more than just an undifferentiated monad which flattens the nature of personhood.
