The trichotomist view is the theological perspective that human beings are composed of three distinct parts: body, soul, and spirit. While the “dichotomist” view—the idea that man is a unified being of material (body) and immaterial (soul/spirit)—has been the more dominant position throughout church history, trichotomy seeks to make a sharper distinction between our psychological life and our spiritual life. According to this framework, the soul and spirit are not just different words for the same thing, but separate components with unique functions.
The Three-Part Framework
The word “trichotomy” is derived from the Greek word tricha, meaning “threefold.” In this model, the human person is categorized into three layers. The body is the physical vessel that relates to the environment. The soul is defined as the seat of the mind, will, and emotions—essentially the human personality. Finally, the spirit is viewed as a higher, distinct part of the immaterial self that is specifically designed to commune with God.
Proponents of this view primarily rely on a few specific New Testament passages where the words “soul” and “spirit” appear in the same list. They argue that if these words were truly interchangeable, the biblical authors would not have listed them side-by-side as separate entities.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
Distinguishing the Spirit from the Soul
The central claim of trichotomy is that the soul (psuche) and the spirit (pneuma) serve different roles. Trichotomists often suggest that the soul represents our “self-consciousness,” while the spirit represents our “God-consciousness.” In this view, the soul is what allows us to think, reason, and feel, whereas the spirit is the part of us that was made “dead” by the Fall and must be “born again” to perceive spiritual truth.
Critics of this view, particularly those holding to the dichotomous position, point out that the Bible frequently uses “soul” and “spirit” interchangeably. For example, the Bible says we can love God with our “soul” (Mark 12:30) and that our “spirit” can experience emotional trouble (John 13:21). However, trichotomists maintain that even if they overlap, a distinction must exist because of passages like Hebrews 4:12, which describes the Word of God as a sword that divides the two.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
The Functional Order and the Fall
In a trichotomist framework, spiritual health is viewed as a hierarchy of authority. Before sin entered the world, man’s spirit was in direct union with God, providing leadership to the soul, which then directed the body. Sin is seen as the disruption of this order, where the spirit becomes dormant, leaving the soul and body to be driven by natural impulses and worldly logic rather than divine guidance.
While this provides a neat illustration for spiritual growth, many theologians prefer the dichotomous view because it avoids the risk of “compartmentalizing” the person. If we see the soul and spirit as entirely separate, we might mistakenly think that our “spirit” can stay pure while our “soul” (thoughts and emotions) struggles with sin. Most evangelicals argue that the entire immaterial person—the soul/spirit—was corrupted by the Fall and is being redeemed as a unified whole.
Practical Implications of the View
Despite the theological debate, the trichotomist view offers a specific way of looking at internal conflict. It suggests that the “tug-of-war” many Christians feel is the spirit (influenced by God) pulling against the soul (influenced by natural human desire). It encourages believers to look past their emotional state (soul) to find a deeper spiritual anchor.
However, it is important to remember that whether we see ourselves as two parts or three, God’s goal is the same: the redemption of the entire person. We do not just want a “holy spirit” while maintaining a “worldly soul.” We want the Holy Spirit of God to transform our minds, our emotions, and our wills. While trichotomy provides a detailed map of human nature, the biblical focus remains on the unity of our devotion to Christ.
The Takeaway
The trichotomist view holds that humans are made of three distinct parts: body, soul, and spirit. While it offers an interesting way to categorize our internal experiences, many biblical scholars prefer the dichotomous view, seeing “soul” and “spirit” as two names for our one eternal inner self. Regardless of which theological framework you use, the most important truth is that God wants to sanctify every part of you—heart, soul, mind, and strength.
