What is the soul?

[gsas]

There are endless references to the soul in the new testament.  But what is it?  In the book of Genesis of the old testament, God created man by forming a body out of dust, then breathing a life in it with a spirit.  So men are body plus spirit.  No mention of a soul.  So where does the soul come from? And what is its function?

[Maximilian]

I recommend reading this:

St. Catherine of Genoa, The Spiritual Dialogue between the Three Parts of the Soul

http://www.catholicfirst.com/thefaith/catholicclassics/catherinegenoa/catherinegenoa4.html#SPIRITUAL%20DIALOGUE%20BETWEEN%20THE%20SOUL,%20THE%20BODY,

[Daniel]

I think there are 'endless references' in the Old Testament as well.

This might be an oversimplification, but:
English spirit = Latin spiritus = Greek pneuma = Hebrew ruach
English soul = Latin anima = Greek psyche = Hebrew nephesh

The 'soul' is the thing that animates the body. It's the thing that lives on after the body dies--the thing that goes to heaven, hell, or purgatory (to await its reunion with its body on Judgement Day).


I don't think the Church has a definitive teaching on what 'spirit' is. Some say it's the same thing as 'soul'; others say it's the highest part (or whatever) of the 'soul'; others say it's entirely distinct from 'soul'.

[Non Nobis]

[28] And fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell.

[26] For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?

[Michael Wilson]

Man is composed a material body and a spiritual immortal soul; the soul is a spiritual entity, similar to an angel; but unlike the angelic nature, its meant to be united and vivify a material nature. The soul is utterly simple, and therefore has no parts to decay and fall into corruption; its essentially of its nature immortal.