22. The Assumption of Soul and Spirit in the Incarnation

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Lecture Notes

Main Topics #

The Necessity of the Soul #

• Whether Christ assumed a complete human soul or only flesh
• Refutation of theories that the Word substituted for the human soul
• The soul (ψυχή/psyche) as the substantial form of the body, essential for true human nature
• Scripture testifies to Christ having a soul with emotional and physical operations (hunger, distress, etc.)

The Distinction: Soul vs. Spirit #

• Soul (ψυχή/psyche): The substantial form of a living body; the principle giving life to all bodily operations
• Spirit (πνεῦμα/pneuma) or Mind (mens): The rational part of the soul; the powers of understanding and will
• These are not two different things but rather the soul considered in its different aspects or powers
• The spirit/mind is the image of God in human nature (the capacity for knowledge and love of God)
• Reference to Ephesians 4: “Be renewed by the spirit of your mind” (spiritu mentis vestrae) showing the association of these terms

The Order of Assumption: Nature vs. Time #

• The soul is “before” the flesh in the order of dignity and causality (as form to matter), but not in time
• The spirit/mind is “before” the soul in the order of dignity (being the most worthy part), but not in time
• All parts of human nature (spirit, soul, flesh) are assumed simultaneously in a single moment
• Different senses of “before”: temporal order, natural/causal order, order of dignity

The Objections Addressed #

• First objection: If the soul is a middle between Word and flesh, it must be assumed before the flesh
• Response: Middle refers to order of nature, not temporal sequence
• Second objection: Why not assume angels, who are pure spirits more worthy than human souls?
• Response: Not a matter of dignity but of the angel’s immutable choice at creation; the human spirit is mutable and capable of change/redemption
• Third objection: Scripture (John 1:14-16) suggests Christ had fullness of grace from the beginning
• Response: The fullness of grace existed in the eternal intention and divine nature, but its effects came through faith in Him, even before His temporal incarnation

Key Arguments #

Against Incomplete Assumption of Human Nature #

• Christ’s operations (wondering, becoming angry, saddening, hungering) are operations of the soul
• Without assuming the soul, the soul would not be redeemed
• Complete human nature requires rational soul united to body

The Soul as Middle Between Word and Flesh #

• The Word assumes flesh by means of the soul because:
  • The soul makes flesh suitable for assumption (flesh without soul is not living human flesh)
  • The soul, having rational powers (spirit), is capable of union with God
  • The soul is the image of God through its intellectual powers
• This represents an order of dignity: God > rational soul (spirit) > body
• The soul is not other in essence from spirit but distinguished by power/function

Simultaneous Assumption Without Temporal Sequence #

• Human flesh is only truly human when animated by a rational soul
• The infinite power of the Holy Spirit disposed matter and brought form together simultaneously
• Unlike ordinary human generation (where matter precedes form in time), Christ’s conception involved immediate simultaneous union
• The whole human nature is assumed through the intention of God, directed to the whole before the parts

On Why Angels Were Not Assumed #

• Angels, though purely spiritual and more noble than humans, have immutable wills formed at creation
• Once an angel chooses, it chooses eternally (cannot change)
• Human spirit is mutable, capable of change, growth, and redemption
• Therefore the Incarnation appropriately addresses the mutable human spirit, not the immutable angelic spirit

Important Definitions #

Soul (ψυχή/psyche) #

• The substantial form of a living body; the first act of an actual body with organs
• Gives life and being to the body
• In humans includes vegetative, sensitive, and rational powers
• The root of all powers, though some powers (like sensation) operate through bodily organs

Spirit (πνεῦμα/pneuma) or Mind (mens) #

• The rational part of the soul; the higher powers of understanding and will
• Not a separate substance from soul but the soul considered according to its noblest powers
• The image of God in human nature
• Perfected by faith, hope, and charity
• Distinguished from psyche (which includes emotional and bodily powers) by power and function, not essence

Rectification of Spirit, Soul, and Body #

• Based on 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (“May the God of peace sanctify you completely…that your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless”)
• Spirit (πνεῦμα): The understanding and will perfected by faith, hope, charity
• Soul (ψυχή): The emotions and affective powers that should be rectified
• Body: The physical actions and uses of the body
• An order of influence: rectify spirit first → then soul/emotions → then bodily actions

Examples & Illustrations #

Christ’s Death and the Words “Spirit” vs. “Soul” #

• Christ on the cross: “Into your hands I commend my spirit” (πνεῦμα) rather than “my soul” (ψυχή)
• Reason: When the soul leaves the body at death, the bodily powers cease (no longer digest food, walk around, etc.)
• But the intellectual powers (understanding and will) remain in the separated soul
• Therefore “spirit” more precisely indicates what is being commended—the immaterial intellectual soul
• Compare St. Stephen, the first martyr, who similarly uses πνεῦμα

The Intellectual Part as Most Pure #

• John of Damascus: The Word of God is united to flesh “through the middle, meaning the intellectual part of the man”
• Reason: The intellectual part is the purest part of the soul
• God is pure understanding; the human intellect is most like God among bodily creatures
• Therefore the intellectual part is the most suitable middle for union with God

The Problem with Assuming Only an Animal Soul #

• If Christ assumed a body with only an animal soul (like a dog or beast)
• He could not know and love God
• He could not teach or direct us
• He could not be suitable as a teacher
• It would not make sense (even to the average Catholic) to have a dog or cat as teacher

Order According to Nature vs. Order According to Time #

• Example: “You are sitting” is true when you sit down—simultaneous, no time lag
• Yet in a sense the action of sitting is “before” the truth of the statement (as cause to effect)
• This is before in nature, not in time
• Similarly, the soul is “before” the body in nature but not in time

The Mutable vs. Immutable Will #

• Angels at creation have their wills formed completely and finally
• Human will is mutable, changing over time and experience
• Scripture compares the human will to a tree: if it falls it stays fallen; if it stands it stays standing
• But this cannot be said of human spirit as it is clear from experience how mutable our spirit is

Questions Addressed #

Q1: Did Christ assume a human soul? #

• Objection: The Word is the fountain of life; why would it need to assume a soul?
• Resolution: The Word is the efficient cause of life; the soul is the formal cause. The soul is essential for true human nature. Scripture testifies to Christ’s soul through accounts of His emotions and physical operations.

Q2: Did Christ assume a rational intellect (spirit/mens)? #

• Objection: The intellectual part is not other in essence from the soul itself, so how can it be between the Word and flesh?
• Resolution: The spirit/mind is not other in essence but distinguished by power. Something can be a middle between other things by distinction of powers, not only by distinction of substance. The intellect/spirit is the noblest part suited to be the immediate middle of union with God.

Q3: Why is the spirit/mind suited as a middle? #

• Answer: Because the soul is not suitable for assumption except insofar as it is capable of God, existing in His image according to the mind (intellectus). The intellectual part is the purest part of the soul and most like God.

Q4: Why were angels not assumed if they are purer spirits? #

• Answer: Not because of lack of dignity or worthiness, but because the fall of angels cannot be repaired. An angel’s will, once formed at creation, is immutable. Human spirit is mutable and capable of redemption, making the Incarnation appropriate for humans but not for angels.

Q5: Was the soul of Christ assumed before the flesh in time? #

• Objection: The soul is the middle between Word and flesh; the middle comes before the extreme.
• Resolution: The soul is middle according to the order of nature, not time. All parts of human nature were assumed simultaneously in one moment without temporal sequence.

Q6: How could ancient patriarchs and prophets receive the fullness of Christ’s grace before His temporal incarnation? #

• Answer: All received grace through faith in Christ through the eternal intention of God. The patriarchs believed in Him as “to be born” (future incarnation) while we believe in Him as “made flesh” (past incarnation). Both have the same power of justifying through faith, because the proposal (eternal decree) of God’s grace is eternal.

Notable Quotes #

“The invisible and unchangeable truth itself, through the spirit, the soul, and through the soul, took on the body.” — Augustine, cited by Thomas

“The soul is not able to be assumed in a suitable way except for the fact that it is capable of God, existing to his image, which is according to the mind, which is called the spirit.” — Thomas Aquinas

“Never did the soul nor the body of Christ have its own hypostasis apart from the hypostasis of the Word.” — John of Damascus, Third Book

“The soul of Christ excels not by the otherness of genus, but by the height of its power.” — Pope Leo the Great

“The spirit of your mind” (spiritu mentis vestrae) — Ephesians 4, illustrating the association of spirit and mind in Scripture