The description of the creation of humanity in Genesis 1 and 2 is foundational to the assessment of human problems and solutions. Compared to the naturalistic view from the culture around us, the biblical description and value of humanity is profoundly elevated. Humans are not merely products of physical development over vast ages of time. Genesis 1 describes us as image bearers of the eternal Creator. Genesis 2 describes that the Creator breathed the breath of life into us. We are not simply a body with a brain acting based on chemical reactions. We are interconnected body and soul endowed with capacity to reflect the glory of our Creator as creatures in his world.
We are created with a soul.
There are several words used in the Scriptures to reflect the reality of the soul.
Soul: When Rachel was dying in giving birth, we find that death separates our body and soul. Gen 35:18 And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
Spirit: When Jesus was drawing his final breath, he similarly knew his soul was to leave his body. Luke 23:46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.
Hidden Person: Wives are instructed not to define themselves by outward beauty but the inward beauty of their soul. 1 Peter 3:4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.
Inner Person: We also learn that the body in this sin cursed world will wither and die but the soul longs for eternity. 2 Corinthians 4:16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
In a more comprehensive statement, the author of Hebrews tells us that the Scriptures impact our being to the very center of our soul. The divide and discern us to the core. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Here we see that the soul is described with both words, "soul and spirit," but we also see aspects of mind and heart and core of being. The bible is penetrating the human soul at the deepest level.
We are created with a body.
While the soul is the very being of humanity as life breathed by God, the body is in no way unimportant. The body makes us creaturely. The body is how we express the direction of the soul. While the body and soul will be separated by death, the Scriptures make it clear that we are longing for the new everlasting resurrection body to enjoy the new creation.
There is one passage in Scripture that elevates the importance of the body in explicit terms. In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul says that we should look after our bodies, keep our bodies pure, not sin against our bodies and that our bodies will be raised new just like Jesus' body. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:12-20 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything. 13 "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"--and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh." 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Body and soul are interconnected.
The interconnection of body and soul for humanity means that we cannot fully operate as human beings without both. It means that our bodies mediate the direction of the soul. It means that our bodies also affect the state of the soul, and our soul can affect the state of the body.
Our souls dictate the actions of life mediated by the body:
Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Our bodies have creaturely needs that the soul directs.
Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.
The disciples had real physical hunger and a real decision was made to pluck some grain on the sabbath for the sustenance of the body. This was a spirit guided decision for the needs of the body.
In 2 Corinthians 4:16 (as quoted above), Paul tells us that the hardship of this world on our body can affect us in aging and death, but our soul can be encouraged that there is greater benefit yet to come when all Christians will be forever renewed both physically and spiritually.
Humans always need both physical and spiritual care.
What we can know from this is that the most important aspect of our physical and spiritual human existence is based on union with Christ. Jesus who came into this world in a physical human body, died on a cross and gave up his spirit to also rise physically on the third day. Jesus overcame every physical and spiritual consequence of sin for all humanity so that we too will one day have a physical and spiritual resurrection in everlasting life.
We also know that in this world, our problems are never simply physical or simply spiritual. In our physical sickness we need spiritual care. In our spiritual woes we can expect it will have physical impact. Christians will always look at humanity as a whole being, both physical and spiritual. We will come together with the Scriptures to help each other as doctors of the soul and send people to medical doctors for the needs of the body.
Most of all, we will know that the elevated value of humanity found in the bible means our greatest concern is eternal.
1 Corinthians 15:51-58 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.