_Anthropology: or, The Doctrine of Man The Constitution of Man * DR. F . E .MA RS H London,' England
The fifth in this splendidly helpful series of articles on this most important theme, a right understanding o f which is essential for those who would "Defend the faith." W e are sure that every member of The King s Business Family will be glad to pray for G od s bless ing upon the ministry of Dr. Marsh, who is now in this country for Bible Conference work. He will be from May 9-14 inclusive with "The Prophetic Testimony o f Philadelphia.”
SYLLABUS OF ARTICLE: The Tabernacle, an illustration of man's Tri-partite nature; Is Man “a Spirit," or has he a spiritt" and other questions; A Three-fold connection; Words for "Spirit ” in both Testaments; The Word ‘‘Spirit" used in an abstract meaning, and specifically ; A Law of Biblical m ej pi e- tation to be observed; .Teaching of Science, and 1he J^wie,— life max exist apart from air—(quotation from Joseph Look); Use of '“ R u ach ” and “ P neuma ” in Old Testament. P neuma is used in New Testament, found in twelve associations. IKE the Tabernacle, there are three sections of man’s nature. The “ outer court” , of his won derful body, the “ holy place” of his living soul, and the “ Inner shrine,” or “ Holy of holies” of his Clod-made spirit. Reversing the order, Luther says, "The innermost division was called the ‘holy of holies,’ since God dwelt there, and there was no light therein. The next was denominated ‘the holy place,’ for within It stood a can dlestick with seven branches and lamps. The third was called ‘ the court’ ; this was under the broad heaven, and was open to the light of the sun. A regenerate man is depicted in this figure. His spirit is the holy of holies, God’s dwelling place in the darkness of faith; without a light, for he believes what he neither sees, nor feels, nor comprehends. The ‘psuche,’ or soul, is the holy place whose seven lights represent the various powers of understanding, perception and knowledge of material and visible things. His body is the court which is open to everybody, so that all can see how he acts and lives.” Man a Trinity Many questions arise as we think of man’s nature. Is man a spirits or has he a spirit? Is man a soul or has he a soul? Is man a body or has he a body? Does the soul exist apart from the body, or is the soul the uniting link of spirit and body? Does the soul go out at death? The Bible student will not get much light, if any, ip studying the books of men on this topic, for the material ists sum up the whole man as “ matter” centralizing in his brain, and ■ the psychologists will talk about “ mind” and .“ matter.” When we turn to the Book, we are plainly told that man has a tripartite nature, made up of spirit, soul and body (1 Thess. 5 :23 ); that the spirit and soul can be separated (Heb. 14:12), and that death means the sep aration of the spirit from the body (James 2:26). Gener ally speaking, "spirit” links us with God, “ soul” connects
us with the animal world, and “ body” associates us with the dust of the earth. Of What Docs Man’s Spirit Consist? In the Old Testament the Hebrew word for spirit is “ Ruach,” and in the New Testament the Greek word is “ Pneuma.” The abstract meaning of both words is, “ breath,” “ air in nature,” “ wind,” but specifically “ spirit” must mean more than wind, when applied to God and man. It is a law of Biblical Interpretation, that the first time a word occurs, we find a key to unlock its moaning in its use in other places. The first time “ R u a ch ” occurs is in Gen esis 1:2, where we read of “ The Spirit (Ruach) of God.” One has said: “ That the Spirit of God, or the Ruach Elohim, or the Breath of God, was not a Great Wind, is determined by the non-existence of air at this particular stage of the earth’s development. In accordance with Biblical usage generally, it must be regarded as a designation, not simply of the Divine Power, which, like the wind and the breath, cannot be perceived, but of the Holy Spirit, who is uni formly represented as the source or the formative cause of all life and order.” The breath is but | the accompani ment of life and not the life itself, even as the falling apple speaks of the law of gravitation. Science teaches air is not life, but is an accompaniment or contingent of life. Life may exist before normal breath- .(Continued on page 302)
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