Salvation By Grace

3 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

ESV Study Bible Notes:

• Spirit, soul, and body represent the entirety of human nature.
  • It seems unlikely that this is a tripartite division of human nature into body, soul, and spirit, where “spirit” and “soul” would refer to different parts; more likely Paul is simply using several terms for emphasis.
  • For similar ways of expressing the totality of human nature see Matt. 10:28; Mark 12:30; 1 Cor. 7:34.
  • There is no need for the Thessalonians to worry about whether they will be sufficiently holy and blameless at the coming of the Lord.
    • God is faithful, and he will surely make it happen.

Reformation Bible Study Notes:

• Three aspects of the human person are enumerated to empahsize the wholeness of this perfection.
• Most often in Scripture, “spirit”  and “soul” are used as virtual synonyms for the spritual element in a person.
• Infrequently (here and Heb 4:12), Scripture considers this spritual element from different points of view, though it is difficult to tell just what shade of meaning distinguishes them.
  • Compare the fourfould representation of “heart,” “soul,” “mind,” and “strength” in Mark 12:30.  See WCF 13.2′ WLC 93,195; HC 127

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