The Western idea of a person being made of separate distinct parts; body, mind and soul, the soul being a completely incorporeal version of you that preexisted and is immortal as found in Greek philosophy and the Humoralist approach to physical and spiritual well being is very much at odds with what is found in the ancient Hebrew way. There is no concept of or word for "soul" in the western sense present in the OT. The English word soul is translated from the Hebrew nephesh, which means "a living being/creature" . In the creation narrative God created Adam by forming him from earthly ingredients and breathing into him the breath of life at which point Adam becomes nephesh. The passage is indicative of a process beyond human understanding but, it does not say God took a preexisting soul and put it into Adam.
The OT uses two Hebrew words for heart, first, lebawb; which refers to the organ itself but, also understanding, this is the word used throughout Deuteronomy. Jesus quotes Deut.6:5 when asked what was the greatest commandment. The other is leb; which has a broader range of meanings including, feelings, will, intellect, wisdom and also the center of things. This is the Hebrew word most often translated into mind, although lebawb is too on occasion. These words are sometimes interchangeable in the text. To further confound the western affinity for precise definitions, it's all parable, the language is parabolic as Paul says in 1st Corinthians 1:23 "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness". Now Paul was very much an "old school" Hebrew truly pickled in the heart-led way of his ancestors. The Jews could not accept their Messiah as anything but an earthly king and it didn't fit into Greek empirical logic, the same attitudes hold sway today, anything that doesn't fit into a western "God box" is rejected outright. As far as a "divine" soul, two points; first human beings are sinners "For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God" Romans 3:23. Two; divinity implies immortality, now this may be to chagrin of my brethren of certain persuasions but, I believe scripture is clear on whether of not nephesh(humans) are immortal I submit; Genesis 2:17, Ezekiel 18:4,1st Timothy 6:15&16, 1st Corinthians 15:51-55. If we were immortal them why would the Bible call death the enemy, surely it would our friend?
My apologies, I digressed. My main point of contention with this Chyz fellow and others such as the Heart Math Institute is there approach is very pro Western therefore unbiblical especially as they cherry pick Eastern religions to remove those things which are unpalatable to westerners. Anything of the "God is in you, I'm okay, you're okay New Age feel good" hooey is what the Bible calls "ear tickling" and is not conducive to Salvation. If a man looks at himself to examine his true nature and doesn't come away feeling like a turd, he has a problem and that sir, is my two cents annnnd you did ask for it.
The OT uses two Hebrew words for heart, first, lebawb; which refers to the organ itself but, also understanding, this is the word used throughout Deuteronomy. Jesus quotes Deut.6:5 when asked what was the greatest commandment. The other is leb; which has a broader range of meanings including, feelings, will, intellect, wisdom and also the center of things. This is the Hebrew word most often translated into mind, although lebawb is too on occasion. These words are sometimes interchangeable in the text. To further confound the western affinity for precise definitions, it's all parable, the language is parabolic as Paul says in 1st Corinthians 1:23 "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness". Now Paul was very much an "old school" Hebrew truly pickled in the heart-led way of his ancestors. The Jews could not accept their Messiah as anything but an earthly king and it didn't fit into Greek empirical logic, the same attitudes hold sway today, anything that doesn't fit into a western "God box" is rejected outright. As far as a "divine" soul, two points; first human beings are sinners "For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God" Romans 3:23. Two; divinity implies immortality, now this may be to chagrin of my brethren of certain persuasions but, I believe scripture is clear on whether of not nephesh(humans) are immortal I submit; Genesis 2:17, Ezekiel 18:4,1st Timothy 6:15&16, 1st Corinthians 15:51-55. If we were immortal them why would the Bible call death the enemy, surely it would our friend?
My apologies, I digressed. My main point of contention with this Chyz fellow and others such as the Heart Math Institute is there approach is very pro Western therefore unbiblical especially as they cherry pick Eastern religions to remove those things which are unpalatable to westerners. Anything of the "God is in you, I'm okay, you're okay New Age feel good" hooey is what the Bible calls "ear tickling" and is not conducive to Salvation. If a man looks at himself to examine his true nature and doesn't come away feeling like a turd, he has a problem and that sir, is my two cents annnnd you did ask for it.