The dichotomist view is the biblical and theological belief that human beings consist of two distinct parts: the material (the physical body) and the immaterial (the soul or spirit). Unlike the trichotomist view, which argues for a three-part breakdown of body, soul, and spirit, dichotomy suggests that “soul” and “spirit” are simply two different names for the same non-physical essence that lives on after the body dies.
Two Parts, One Person
The word “dichotomy” comes from the Greek words dicha (two) and temnein (to cut). In a theological context, this doesn’t mean we are “cut in half,” but rather that our nature is composed of two primary substances. We have a physical presence that connects us to the earth and a spiritual presence that connects us to God.
Dichotomists argue that while the Bible uses different words like “soul” (psuche) and “spirit” (pneuma), these terms are used interchangeably throughout Scripture to describe the inner person. For example, in Mary’s song of praise in Luke 1:46-47, she says, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” In Hebrew poetry and thought, this is often seen as “parallelism”—using two different words to express the same deep emotion from the inner self.
Biblical Support for Dichotomy
The strongest argument for the dichotomist view is found in the creation account in Genesis. When God created the first man, the process is described in two steps: forming the body and breathing in the breath of life.
Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.
Dichotomists point out that there is no mention of a third part being created. Man became a “living soul” (or “living being”) once the breath of God entered the physical frame. Furthermore, when the Bible describes death, it usually refers to the spirit or soul leaving the body, treating the two terms as a single immaterial entity. Jesus, for instance, used the terms interchangeably, often speaking of the soul as the part of man that must be “saved” or “lost” (Matthew 16:26), while also commending his “spirit” to the Father at the moment of death (Luke 23:46).
The Unity of the Inner Man
While trichotomists often try to assign different functions to the soul (emotions/mind) and the spirit (God-consciousness), dichotomists believe the Bible attributes all of these functions to the single immaterial part of man. The Bible says we can love God with all our “soul” (Mark 12:30) and that our “spirit” can be troubled or grieved (John 13:21).
If the soul and spirit were truly separate parts, it would be difficult to explain why the Bible uses them so fluidly. Dichotomy emphasizes the unity of the human person. We aren’t a “ghost in a machine” or a “three-layered cake”; we are a unified being made of dust and divinity. This view helps us avoid “over-spiritualizing” our faith by separating our emotions (soul) from our relationship with God (spirit), reminding us that God is interested in redeeming our entire inner being.
Why the Distinction Matters
You might wonder why theologians spend so much time debating two parts versus three. For the dichotomist, the goal is to maintain biblical clarity. If we start separating the soul from the spirit, we might mistakenly believe that our “spirit” is always pure while our “soul” (mind/emotions) is the only part that struggles with sin.
The dichotomist view teaches that our entire immaterial self—whether you call it soul or spirit—was affected by the Fall and is in need of regeneration. When we are born again, God doesn’t just fix a “spirit” compartment in our hearts; He begins a work of transformation that encompasses our thoughts, our will, our feelings, and our spiritual life as one.
The Holistic View: A Unified Soul
An important variation of the dichotomist view, often called the “holistic” or “monistic” emphasis, suggests that a human isn’t just a spirit living inside a shell. Instead, this view argues that a person is a unified whole where the body and spirit together become a living soul. In this perspective, “soul” isn’t a third part, but the result of the union between the physical and the spiritual.
Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.
In many older translations, that final phrase says man became a “living soul.” This implies that “soul” describes the entire integrated being—the “animated body.” This view reminds us that God values our physical health and our material world just as much as our inner thoughts. We don’t just have a soul; in a very real sense, we are a soul. When we see ourselves this way, we realize that what we do with our bodies affects our spirits, and what we believe in our spirits eventually shows up in our bodies.
The Takeaway
The dichotomist view holds that human beings are made of two parts: the material body and the immaterial soul or spirit. This perspective emphasizes that “soul” and “spirit” are different words for the same eternal essence of a person. By seeing ourselves as a unified inner being, we can better understand how God works in our lives to redeem our whole person—mind, heart, and spirit—through the grace of Jesus Christ.
