Life: Zoe, Psuche, Bios (Spirit, Soul, Body) - The Framework for Living

HIDUP: ROH (ZOE), JIWA (PSUCHE), TUBUH (BIOS)

In the Greek, there are three words used to define life. Zoe, Psuche, and Bios.

Zoe is the essential principle, the defining force of life. It is the essence; like observing the sky from the drizzle, or the universe from the earth. It is transcendent.

Psuche is the being which is influence by Zoe.

Bios is what Psuche needs to sustain itself in order to fulfill Zoe. (e.g. food, water, sexual activity, etc).

Let us say there is a distortion of the 3: Bios ->Psuche->Zoe.

If Bios defines our existence, then man receives meaning from within himself; that is from the material. He has no adequate reference point to determine his existence so he seeks to find one in Bios. His desires are left to dominate and dictate his existence, hence causing Bios to become his Zoe. His Psuche is then affected and formed into the likeness of Bios. The Bible teaches the essential principle of the nature of the soul - "by beholding we become changed." When temporary things become mediated as absolutes for life (e.g. clothing, vehicles, jewelry, self-affirmation, food, living conditions, etc) the Psuche configures itself adamantly to the pursuit of life since it is defined by nothing else: Bios - because it starts to define mans purpose, due to heightened emphasis and a perpetuated demand for Bios. Thus causing greed, arrogance, carelessness, apathy, wickedness, pride, and restlessness, begins to ensue in pursuit of the temporary.

For the CHRISTIAN this sequence SHOULD BE turned the other way around: ZOE -> PSUCHE -> BIOS.

Zoe defines Psuche and Bios.
JESUS is our Zoe (John 6:27; 14:6; Mat 4:4, ).

So, that means that our Psuche is firstly formed and influenced by Him - Zoe.

We take His disposition and nature of defining life and DO NOT ALLOW Bios to rule us. Rather, Bios is now brought into submission of Zoe, bringing complete harmony, peace, and balance to the Psuche. We have not attained it fully but all aspects of our lives are no longer lacking a point of reference outside of our Bios. Therefore, we strive for it and practice it daily, cultivating PEACE, temperance, LOVE, PATIENCE, SYMPATHY, and most importantly selflessness.
____________________________________________________________________

From http://benamydau.blogspot.com

Zoe, Psuche, Bios (Spirit, Soul, Body)
======================================

I (Ben) am currently reading a book called "The Spiritual Man" by Watchman Nee. Watchman Nee is a chineese Christian philosopher/theologian from an earlier era. His book is his take on Christian life and how it should be lived out. I am not nearly finished, but his first couple points have gotten me thinking.

Nee's premise is that human beings are tri-partite, that is, consisting of three parts - spirit, soul, and body. Nee states that this is in contrast to the Classic duelist approach adopted by many Greek and Christian philosophers that state that humans are body and a combination of soul and spirit. Nee derives this belief from the three words for life in Greek - zoe, psuche, and bios. He points to various passages to defend this claim. I think it is well written and explained and I tend to believe what he says.

Zoe is a person's spiritual life. It is the part of us that communes directly with God. It is also responsible for our conscience and intuition. Zoe is also the word used in conjunction with eternal, as in "Eternal Life."

Bios is the natural life. It is the body and all things physical. The body is, essentially, the sin nature in each of us. It contains the senses and takes pleasure in indulging in them. The body is the lowest on the pecking order, First comes the spirit in tune with God, then comes the soul which acts upon the spirit's guidance and governs the body, which is the physical manifestation of God's will. This is how God intended it anyway. However, post fall, the order can be in any fashion. If the body comes first, physical sins (sexual immorality, physical gluttony, extreme forms of ascetism, etc.) are prevelant. If the psuche is in control, "human" or "willful" sins are prevelant (idolatry, greed, lieing, etc.)

Psuche (Psyche in English) is the part of us that is an individual. Psuche is our will, intellect, emotions, thoughts and all the things that make us human and individuals. Psuche is the task master of the human being. If it is allied with the spirit, good and godly things will result, if it is allied with the body, sinful things will result. If the psuche acts on its own, sinful acts will still result, but they may not be as apparent.

So, enough of the book review, let me get to the reason for this entry. I was in Greek class today and were were reading from the Gospel according to John. We were in the section entitled "Jesus is the Good Shepherd." Then we were reading about Jesus laying down his life (psuche) and giving eternal life (zoe). Then God started talking and this is what I remember:

Jesus didn't lay down his eternal nature so that we could belong to God. He laid down his psuche, his soul, his life, his will. He laid down every claim he had to divinity, to wrath, to judgment. He laid down his life and made us his priority. He took on weakness to give us strength.

Psuche is the same word used in "There is no greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." So often we view that as being willing to die for someone. We are challenged to "take a bullet" for our friends. I think this is an entirely valid and truthful interpretation. However, many of us are not in a position to take a bullet for our friends, (I should say 'friend' since you would probably only take one) but we are in positions that allow us to "lay down our lives" like Jesus did. We have the far greater burden of living for our friends, rather than dieing for them.

That means we have to sacrifice our most valued posessions: our time, our energy, our own goals, perhaps our reputation or social standing. We have to view others as more worthy than ourselves. We have to be willing and able to be wronged, cheated, abused and misunderstood. We have to love unconditionally and be mindful of the situations around us. We cannot expect God to hear us if we neglect those closest to us. See James and Malachi for more on that. The Church has the remarkably difficult task of being living martyrs. It is difficult, it is brutal, it is painful and it seems foolish, I will not deny that. But that is where our Lord Jesus walked and is found. "That which you do for the least of these, you also do for me," "If the world hates you, know that it hated me first," "Is the servant greater than his master?"

The Christian life requires sacrifice. That will look different in various people's lives, but that sacrifice will be rooted in the knowledge that God is with you, Jesus walks beside you and the Holy Spirit is within you. What could possibly compare?

Peace my friends, and may God grant us the strength to follow. Amen.