His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that the human is composed of three elements: body, soul, and spirit, and he cites verses from the Holy Scripture to clarify the difference and relationship between them.

Main Idea

• The body is a material element created from dust and connected to material needs, but it is not sinful in itself.

• The soul gives bodily life to the body, and it is tied to the blood and vitality.

• The spirit is the human life with God; worship and divine qualities are attributed to it; it was created in the image and likeness of God.

Spiritual and Educational Dimension

• Sin is not the nature of the body, but the material passions when the person is controlled by them. Sin appears when the soul rebels or when the spirit descends to the level of passions and unites with the body in its deeds.

• Spiritual life is the subjection of the body to the spirit, and the subjection of the spirit to the Spirit of God, so that the body and spirit work together in worship and good works.

• Repentance and baptism restore the image of the spirit: repentance is the first (spiritual) resurrection and baptism is a washing of the spirit and a new birth.

Scriptural and Practical Examples

• The speaker cites verses from the letters of Paul (Thessalonians, Romans, Galatians, and Corinthians) to affirm that those who walk according to the Spirit are children of God, and that attention to the body alone leads to spiritual death.

• He mentions Biblical examples where the body participated in blessing (the bones of Elisha, the cloths of Paul) and shows that the body can serve God and offer a living sacrifice.

Spiritual Conclusion

• The human is complete when his body submits to the soul and spirit and the soul submits to the spirit, and true union is in mercy and righteousness.

• Eternal recompense is linked to the final unity of body and spirit after the resurrection; therefore judgment and bliss or torment are for both together.

• The call is clear: revive the spirit by repentance and baptism, and tame the passions of the body to live a life of peace according to the Spirit.

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