I have studied for many years to find the difference between soul and spirit. Having studied the Greek and Hebrew words for “spirit” and “soul”, I would agree that spirit has to do very much with the “attitude” of the heart, while soul has more to do with the “thoughts” of the heart (see Hebrews 4:12). Because our thoughts and attitudes are so closely connected, it would seem they are the same, but the Bible makes a distinction. The Bible also says that only the Holy Spirit using the Word of God can can distinguish between them. Only with “the sword of the Spirit” are we able to discern the difference.
The New Testament refers often to people having “a spirit of” this or “a spirit of” that, meaning an attitude of the heart. Paul also speaks of being “in spirit” as a way of describing his connection to those who share in this same spirit (or Spirit). The Holy Spirit (a person) joins us in spirit.
It is He (the Spirit of Christ) who is joined with our spirit when we become a believer in Jesus as our Savior and Lord (1 Corinthians 6:17) and in this way we are joined with God. The Spirit of God ( a unique person – not a power or force) makes us alive (Romans 8:10) when He comes to dwell in us. Before we were “born again” or “born of the Spirit”, we were dead spiritually (that is, in our spirit) because we were not connected to God, but now that we are joined with Christ (by His Spirit), we are made alive “in the spirit”, just as He was made alive “in the spirit” when God (the Father) raised Him from the dead (Acts 13:30). Now, we are united with Him “in spirit” (in the spiritual realm), and on the Last Day will be united with Him “in body” (in the physical realm).
So, you see the spirit has to do with the spiritual realm. It’s like a separate universe that exists along side of our own. We do not see it, but it exists and influences and controls our own. There is another spiritual realm (or kingdom) that exists as well. It is the spiritual realm of darkness. It is full of lies and deceit. But when we come to the Truth (John 14:6), “we are rescued from the dominion of darkness” and brought into the kingdom of light (Col 1:12–13). Jesus said, true worshipers are those who worship “in spirit” and “in truth” (John 4:23–24). God Himself is “spirit”.
The “soul”, it is true, has more to do with the person (some would say the whole person). Where as “spirit” refers more to the manner in which something is done and is descriptive, “soul” has more to do with the very essence of who a person is, the “self”, or one’s physical life force. The Greek word for soul is “psyche”, from which we get our word “psychology”. It has more to do the entity which controls and directs the physical body, although it does relate to the spiritual realm as well (see Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1:46–50; Ps. 42:1). The “soul” can be “laid down” sacrificially for others (John 10:17, 15:13; 1 John 3:16). Very often the Bible refers to the soul being “in anguish” or “downcast” (Ps. 42:5), but it can also express positive emotions. But notice it is thoughts that determine emotions, but notice also that it is the will (or attitude of the heart) that determines thought! Paul often calls upon Christians to adopt an attitude that is positive and focuses on what God has done, rather than focusing on what is going on around us. It is not that we do not care about the world around us, but only that we must “focus our thoughts” or “fix our eyes” (2 Cor. 4:18, Hebrews 12:2) on the truth (Jesus) in order to keep from getting “sucked down” the drain of life (see Parable of the Seed Sower – Matthew 13:22 – “the cares of this life” can choke the life out of us).
The Bible refers to the heart as being the center of ones being. I know, in our modern western world, we think of the brain (or the mind) as the most important human function. But Hebrews 4:12 reminds us it is both “the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” that control what man does. Therefore, it is the “thoughts and attitudes of the heart” that should concern us if we want to change the world. Amen?