thoughts and emotions

We are made in the image of God and like God have three parts.

God is Father / Son / Spirit

We are BODY / SOUL / SPIRIT

Our thinking and emotions are part of the same ONE third of us; the soul. I came to this conclusion by doing a biblical word study with Luke 10:27 as the central or launching verse for the study.  Years ago I included many more verses (than those listed below) but for the sake of a simple support of my statement I will keep to the four clear cross referenced/parallel passages of the first and greatest commandment.

When we compare Matthew 22:37, Luke 10:27, Mark 12:30, & Deuteronomy 6:5 here is we notice.  In the old testament (Hebrew) the command is in three parts; heart, soul, and might.  While in the new testament (Greek) the command is in (for the most part) four parts; heart, mind, soul, and strength.  (see the word studies below)

It is interesting to me that in the old testament (Hebrew), both heart and soul contain both emotions and thoughts (when studied out in the original language).  The emotions and the thoughts are not separate from each other.  We modern USA English speaking Christians might often refer to emotions and thoughts as our heart and our mind respectively.  These are words the new testament (Greek) uses.  And yet, even when you study out the word "mind" (Dianoia) in the new testament Greek it still combines the thoughts and emotions as coming from a central place.

It makes you stop and think.  We want to put our emotions and our thoughts as two separate things but they are inseparable. This goes to show why the Apostles put so much emphasis on our thoughts and words. Our thoughts affect our emotions and our emotions affect our thoughts; they flow in and out of the same place in us.  

So we need to be mindful of how our thoughts are over shadowing our emotions. When the words inside of us (our thoughts) are not in full alignment with the Word of God either by ignorance, forgetfulness, or rebellion, then our emotions will follow.  I believe that this is where many anxieties comes from; believing that our circumstances have more power over us than the Sovereignty of God. 

The reverse is also true, when our emotions are ignored, left unchecked, or are running wild, it can pull our thinking away from what we have previously learned to be true and the words inside of us (our thoughts) will start telling us things that contradict the Word of God and pull us out of alignment with His will. 

So we need to be equally mindful of the emotions we are feeling and the the things we are telling ourselves (what we think about, what we ponder, what we dwell on in our thoughts). 

As a side note, we are one third part physical body. We need to tend to it just as carefully, lest we become weak which will have ill effect on the our soul (emotions & thoughts) and the very last thing that Christians (Christ Followers striving to abide in the Spirit) need is to have our soul and body line up opposition to our spirit.  This does happen from time to time, and it is a difficult state to be in.  Praise be to God, that nothing is too hard for Him, and when we act in faith, walking according to the Spirit and Truth (the Word of God), we cause these things (soul and body) to fall back into alignment with the will of God.

So there we have it.  That is why I believe that our emotions and thought live and flow from the same place within us, our soul.

=============================== 

           Word Study 

=============================== 

Matthew 22:37 (KJV)

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."

Luke 10:27 (KJV)

"And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself."

Mark 12:30 (KJV)

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."

heart in Greek: Kardia (strongs # 2588)

references used:

 http://biblehub.com/greek/2588.htm 
&     http://lexiconcordance.com/greek/2588.html
&    http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/kardia.html 

—Greek Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar)

 1) the heart

    1a) that organ in the animal body which is the centre of the

        circulation of the blood, and hence was regarded as the seat

        of physical life

    1b) denotes the centre of all physical and spiritual life

        2a) the vigour and sense of physical life

        2b) the centre and seat of spiritual life

            2b1) the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the

                 thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections,

                 purposes, endeavours

            2b2) of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the

                 intelligence

            2b3) of the will and character

            2b4) of the soul so far as it is affected and stirred in a

                 bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat of the

                 sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires,

                 appetites, passions

    1c) of the middle or central or inmost part of anything,

        even though inanimate

soul in Greek is Psuche (strongs # 5590)

references used:

http://biblehub.com/greek/5590.htm  
&  http://lexiconcordance.com/greek/5590.html 
&  http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/psuche.html

—Greek Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar)

 1) breath

    1a) the breath of life

        1a1) the vital force which animates the body and shows itself

             in breathing

             1a1a) of animals

             1a12) of men

    1b) life

    1c) that in which there is life

        1c1) a living being, a living soul

 2) the soul

    2a) the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions

        (our heart, soul etc.)

    2b) the (human) soul in so far as it is constituted that by

        the right use of the aids offered it by God it can attain

        its highest end and secure eternal blessedness, the soul

        regarded as a moral being designed for everlasting life

    2c) the soul as an essence which differs from the body and is not

        dissolved by death (distinguished from other parts of the body)

mind as used in these verses ... is Dianoia in the Greek

references used:  

 http://biblehub.com/greek/1271.htm 
&     http://lexiconcordance.com/greek/1271.html 
&    http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/dianoia.html

—Greek Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar)

 1) the mind as a faculty of understanding, feeling, desiring

 2) understanding

 3) mind, i.e. spirit, way of thinking and feeling

 4) thoughts, either good or bad

Strength in the Greek is Ischus (strongs  #2479 ἰσχύς ischus {is-khoos'})

references used

http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/ischus.html    
 &  http://lexiconcordance.com/greek/2479.html   
 &  http://biblehub.com/greek/2479.htm       

—Greek Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar)

 1) ability, force, strength, might

-------

Deuteronomy 6:5 (KJV)

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Heart in the hebrew is Lebab #3824  (in Aramaic as well - Strongs # 3825)

references used:    

  http://biblehub.com/hebrew/3824.htm   
&   http://lexiconcordance.com/hebrew/3824.html 
& http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/lebab.html    & http://lexiconcordance.com/hebrew/3825.html 

—Hebrew Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar)

 1) inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding

    1a) inner part, midst

        1a1) midst (of things)

        1a2) heart (of man)

        1a3) soul, heart (of man)

        1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory

        1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)

        1a6) conscience

        1a7) heart (of moral character)

        1a8) as seat of appetites

        1a9) as seat of emotions and passions

        1a10) as seat of courage

  #3825 לְבַב l@bab (Aramaic) {leb-ab'}

 corresponding to H3824; TWOT - 2809b; n m

—Hebrew Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar)

 1) heart, mind

Soul in the Hebrew is Nephesh (strongs # 5315)
references used:

  http://biblehub.com/hebrew/5315.htm    

 & http://lexiconcordance.com/hebrew/5315.html   
 &  http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/nephesh.html 

—Hebrew Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar)

 1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being,

    desire, emotion, passion

    1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the

        inner being of man

    1b) living being

    1c) living being (with life in the blood)

    1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

    1e) seat of the appetites

    1f) seat of emotions and passions

    1g) activity of mind

        1g1) dubious

    1h) activity of the will

        1h1) dubious

    1i) activity of the character

        1i1) dubious

Strength in the Hebrew is מְאֹד m@`od {meh-ode'} (strongs # 3966)

references used 

http://lexiconcordance.com/hebrew/3966.html
& http://biblehub.com/hebrew/3966.htm
&  http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/meod.html    

—Hebrew Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar)

 adv

 1) exceedingly, much

 subst

 2) might, force, abundance

 n m

 3) muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly

    3a) force, might

    3b) exceedingly, greatly, very (idioms showing magnitude or degree)

        3b1) exceedingly

        3b2) up to abundance, to a great degree, exceedingly

        3b3) with muchness, muchness

Definition  muchness, force, abundance

=======================================
=======================================
=======================================
If it seems to you that my conclusion is incorrect, I would love to hear why you see it differently and to be able to prayerfully study out the scriptures that support your conclusion.  Please feel free to share your bible study.
=======================================
=======================================
=======================================