What is Trichotomy? - Copies and Shadows of Things to Come / Part 2

Body, Soul, and Spirit

In my last blog I introduced the threefold nature of man through both a humanistic and Christian perspective. I cited Dr Carl Jung’s work on the human psyche and referred to Apostle Paul’s biblical passage regarding men’s body, soul, and spirit. Although there exist fundamental differences between both men, they agree on a higher order of intelligence deep within us. They also believed that the human psyche is divided in three parts.

Now why should one care about the function of their psyche and even less, how many parts it incorporates? Well if I told you that love and emotions are found in two different parts of the psyche, wouldn’t that suggest that love is not an emotion? In fact love is the cause or the stimuli, while emotions are some of its effects. (Be sure to view my earlier series on love and emotions.)

How can you function within love if your understanding of love is skewed and limited?

What if many other human traits that you thought you had a handle on wasn’t so? One would be lead to conclude that their interpersonal skills may not be fully realized and that their self esteem may be in need of the real love. You may have been living with a faded perception of life. It’s time to take hold of those vibrant colours of life that everyone deserves to experience and more importantly - share.

The Pattern - Copies and Shadows of Things to Come.

The bible incorporates all manners of teaching methods to assist the people and the readers in grasping the full aspect of the particuliar story being conveyed. Metaphors are heavily used through out the scriptures. A metaphor is often the force that drives a message effectiveness and understanding. The user attempts to bridge two ideas that appears to be unrelated. Subsequently metaphors provide a way in understanding an abstract concept. Trichotomy is no exception.

The Temple of God / Man

Apostle Paul refers to man as being the temple of God or Holy Spirit in 1 Cor 3:16 and 1 Cor 6:19. Furthermore, Hebrews 8:5 reveals that the Temple High Priest served the copy and shadow of the heavenly things. This verse along with others in Hebrew and Colossian suggests that the old was a temporary pattern for the new. It was a metaphor! A metaphor for understanding the mechanism of healthy living.

Scriptures reveal that the temples were divided in three parts; Court, Holy Place, and Most Holy of Holies, 1name variation exist. The construction of the 2tabernacle was created to address men’s immorality by observing numerous ritualistic disciplines. A series of ceremonial acts were carried out that still have significance in our times. But most people do not realize that the old were a copy and shadow of the things to come. We are the temple of God and we need to observe those old ritual and apply them in its modern content. Let our body, soul, and spirit be saturated with self-respect and true love. 

 "May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23

NOTES
1  Outercourt, Innercourt, Holy Place...etc
2. In earlier periods tents or huts were used. They were normally surrounded by a fenced courtyard

We will continue this mini-series on my next blog.

© 2011 Unlimited Harmony - Tricotomas