Question: What is the difference between soul and spirit? Do they both go to the Lord when we die?

Question: What is the difference between soul and spirit? Do they both go to the Lord when we die? Please explain.

Response: Most Christians use the words interchangeably. Scripture makes a distinction. Paul writes, "I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless..." (1 Thes:5:23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
See All...). The Word of God pierces "even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit" (Heb:4:12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
See All...). Soul and spirit must therefore be two different parts of a human being made in God's image.

"Soul" in the Old Testament is always the Hebrew nephesh, a living, breathing creature. In numbering people in the Bible, reference is to so many souls-never to so many spirits. In the New Testament, "soul" is always psuche, the Greek equivalent of nephesh. "Spirit" is the Hebrew ruwach, meaning breath; and the Greek equivalent is pneuma. Soul and spirit are difficult to define. Yet every person knows what is meant by "evil spirit," "disembodied spirit," "spirit of man," " Spirit of God," etc.

The expression "my soul" is found 126 times and almost always is very personal, as though it is the center of man's self-consciousness. Through the soul, we recognize and indulge ourselves: "I will say to my soul...thou hast much goods laid up for many years...eat, drink, and be merry" (Lk 12:19).

That the soul goes to heaven is clear: "thou wilt not leave my soul in hell"
(Ps:16:10For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
See All...); "I saw under the altar the souls of them that were [beheaded] for the word of God..." (Rv 6:9; 20:4). The same is true of the spirit. As He died, Jesus said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" (Lk 23:46). Luke writes, "They stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts:7:59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
See All...).

In contrast to the soul's self-awareness
(1 Cor:2:11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
See All...,12), the spirit has understanding and wisdom. This is where the Spirit of God indwells man and is the center of man's awareness of and communion with God. "Sensual" could be associated with soul but not with spirit. "Soulish" is neither in the Bible nor the dictionary, but if it were, it would have a carnal connotation and nothing to do with God. On the other hand, "spiritual," found 23 times in the Bible, always means heavenly minded, godly, holy-never self-centered.