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Question 5
David quotes Tatian, Irenaeus, and Origen on the soul being “between” spirit and flesh and either rising with the spirit or sympathizing with the flesh; what assumptions about free will, moral effort, and spiritual formation are embedded in those quotations, and how do those assumptions confront modern “assurance” culture?
Another way to ask: The quotes from Tatian, Irenaeus, and Origen picture the soul choosing between spirit and flesh. What do those quotes assume about free choice, effort, and growing spiritually, and how does that challenge today’s “assurance” mindset?

Direct Answer The quotations assume real human choice (the soul can follow spirit or flesh), real moral effort (a struggle that must be fought), and real formation over time (what you “become” depends on which part wins). That confronts modern assurance habits that treat salvation as guaranteeing a changed life without ongoing, disciplined cooperation.

Support from Transcript:

  • Tatian distinguishes “two kinds of spirit…within a person”: “the soul…[and] the other…greater than the soul…an image and likeness of God,” implying an inner capacity oriented to God.
  • Irenaeus: “The complete man is composed of flesh, soul, and spirit,” and the soul is “between these two,” sometimes “raised up by the spirit,” sometimes “sympathizes with the flesh and falls into carnal lust.”
  • Origen: the soul “is undoubtedly placed in the middle,” giving “assent to the desires of the spirit” or inclining “towards the lusts of the flesh,” becoming “one body” with flesh or “one spirit” with spirit.
  • Bercot reinforces choice: the soul “has free will to make this choice,” and “what we become…has everything to do with which part…wins.”
  • He warns that even Christians can produce “works of the flesh” and cites Paul’s fear of becoming “disqualified,” pushing against automatic assurance.
Discussion Follow-ups How does “I might be disqualified” (Paul) fit with common slogans like “once saved, always saved”? What practices (prayer, fasting, confession, accountability) would make sense if formation is truly a battle for the soul?

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