When applied to depression, the belief that man consists of body, soul, and spirit raises more questions than it answers. Dichotomy—or, more accurately, a duplex-unity view—captures the Bible’s view of man better than tri-
Full Answer
What is the question of dichotomy vs trichotomy?
So, the question of dichotomy vs. trichotomy is essentially whether the soul and spirit are different aspects of the immaterial human nature, or if the spirit is simply a part of the soul, with the soul being the whole immaterial part of the human nature. Trichotomy vs. dichotomy of man—which view is correct?
What is the chotomistic approach to depression?
chotomistic, approach to depression, trying to understand depression from the perspec- tives of body, soul, and spirit. It is reasoned that if depression arises from and affects these three constituents of human life, it should be understood and treated from all
What is a trichotomy?
Trichotomy is the minority viewpoint in church history, although it has had some notable theologians in favor of it. T ri chotomy: means a division into three parts: 1. body, 2. soul, 3. and spirit. There is seemingly a distinction in Scripture between the soul and spirit.
How does the doctrine of Man affect depression?
How the Doctrine of Man Shapes the Treatment of Depression D epression seems to invade every aspect of life. It affects one’s cogni- tion, emotions, spiritual faith, and physiology. Given such diverse symptoms,
What is the trichotomy of human nature?
Those who believe that human nature is a trichotomy typically believe the following: the physical body is what connects us with the physical world around us, the soul is the essence of our being, and the spirit is what connects us with God.
What are the two views of anthropology?
Two of the views, anthropological monism and anthropological hylomorphism, deal primarily with how the three aspects of humanity combine to form the human nature. The two other models, dichotomy (anthropological dualism) and trichotomy, deal with the distinction between the human soul and human spirit. The distinction between the material ...
Is human nature a dichotomy?
Those who believe that human nature is a dichotomy would have the same understanding of the body but would view the spirit as the part of the soul that connects with God. So, the question of dichotomy vs. trichotomy is essentially whether the soul and spirit are different aspects of the immaterial human nature, ...
Introduction
Today, we are going to look at the Doctrine of Man – specifically, we are going to look at the Constitutional character of man…
Two Theories on the Constitutional Character of Man
It teaches the basic constitutional nature consists of body and spirit (or soul)
Doctrine of Man: Dichotomy
Let’s look at some supporting passages that teach man consists of a material and a spiritual element:
Doctrine of Man: Trichotomy
Dichotomists believe that according to the account of Genesis 2 7 all men were created with two essential characteristics nature.
Conclusion
This doctrine was introduced into the early church but soon came to be regarded as dangerous if not heretical.
What is a dichotomy?
Dichotomy: means a division into two parts: 1. body, and 2. soul.
What is the objection to the trichotomy of the soul and spirit?
The first objection to be considered is that Scripture uses “soul” and “spirit” interchangeably. This is the primary objection to trichotomy by most evangelical dichotomists. It is thought that the significant overlap in these terms requires the interpretation that they are only synonyms of man’s immaterial part. That “soul” and “spirit” share many meanings is readily conceded. The present writer judges that the distinction between these terms can be supported, but not proven in the Old Testament text alone. This is due to the nature of progressive revelation. The obvious distinction between body and soul is unclear in the concrete style of Hebrew thought and language, how much less should we expect a definitive case to be made in the Old Testament for the subtle distinctions between the soul and spirit. If this admission seems to jeopardize the proposition of this paper, consider Berkhof’s comment about the lack of decisive evidence for dichotomy in the Old Testament alone:
Why avoid trichotomy?
A further reason for the avoidance of trichotomy is the opinion that it is prone to heretical views. On the other hand, dichotomy is said to be a safeguard against doctrinal errors. This argument may be the primary objection of many evangelical dichotomists. It has been shown in chapter five that the heresy of Apollinaris brought trichotomy into disrepute; it has not yet fully recovered from this stigma. The western church found it easier to apply Occam’s razor and take the simpler view, i,e. man having only two parts. Strong is forthright in preferring dichotomy in order to automatically refute the following errors:
What is the criterion of requiring a function of the soul that does not have a counterpart in?
The criterion of requiring a function of the soul that does not have a counterpart in the physical organism could be used as an argument for monism (which Grudem rejects). By syecdoche, the spirit can be used of the soul and often is (1 Cor. 16:18; 2 Tim 4:22).
How manyfold is man in composition?
According to a dichotomous view, man is ontologically two- fold in composition.
Why does scripture use repetition?
Scripture uses repetition for emphasis. The fact that the above verses use different words to refer to man does not necessarily mean that each word designates a different part of man; rather, the intention is to refer to the whole person.
How does Grudem describe the unity of man?
In listing arguments against trichotomy, Grudem mentions the unity of man by describing the involvement of the body in virtually every activity of the soul. . . . We should not slip into the mistake of thinking that certain activities (such as thinking, feeling, or deciding things) are done by only one part of us. Rather, these activities are done by the whole person. When we think or feel things, certainly our physical bodies are involved in every point as well.155