A “healthy body equals a healthy mind”, most people know of this well-known quote, and it has accompanied to it a true signification, which will be addressed as we proceed further on in this article.
Although, the title of this reading seems to infer ‘one over the other’ – body over mind, the fact is, they both, mind and body, concordantly affect one another, as they are very closely connected. If one is affected, the other reacts to it, the body affects the mind, and the mind affects the body also. This subject matter, of the relationship between the mind and the body, is one of high importance, and I would also strongly suggest, should be studied and understood by us all.
THE MIND
Found within the Bible we read that the word ‘mind’ is synonymous with words such as ‘heart’ and ‘soul’. For example the following in the Gospel’s of Matthew, Mark and Luke:
MIND, HEART & SOUL
Mat 22:37 ( G1161 ) Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto him, G846 Thou shalt love G25 the Lord G2962 thy G4675 God G2316 with G1722 all G3650 thy G4675 heart, G2588 and G2532 with G1722 all G3650 thy G4675 soul, G5590 and G2532 with G1722 all G3650 thy G4675 mind. G1271
Mar 12:30 And G2532 thou shalt love G25 the Lord G2962 thy G4675 God G2316 with G1537 all G3650 thy G4675 heart, G2588 and G2532 with G1537 all G3650 thy G4675 soul, G5590 and G2532 with G1537 all G3650 thy G4675 mind, G1271 and G2532 with G1537 all G3650 thy G4675 strength: G2479 this G3778 is the first G4413 commandment. G1785
Luk 10:27 And G1161 he G3588 answering G611 said, G2036 Thou shalt love G25 the Lord G2962 thy G4675 God G2316 with G1537 all G3650 thy G4675 heart, G2588 and G2532 with G1537 all G3650 thy G4675 soul, G5590 and G2532 with G1537 all G3650 thy G4675 strength, G2479 and G2532 with G1537 all G3650 thy G4675 mind; G1271 and G2532 thy G4675 neighbour G4139 as G5613 thyself. G4572
G5590 (Strong’s)
ψυχή
psuchē
psoo-khay’
From G5594; breath, that is, (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew [H5315], [H7307] and [H2416]: – heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you.
Total KJV occurrences: 104
Based on the examples shown, words spoken by Christ Himself, we can see that when Jesus speaks to His disciples, teaching them how to keep the Commandments of GOD, they are instructed to love the LORD GOD with all the heart, mind, soul and strength. He repeats this instruction over and again, as their must be much importance to these words.
We can find the same words of Christ both in the Old Testament, Deuteronomy (please see below) as well as, the New Testament, in the Gospel’s of Matthew, Mark and Luke, as earlier mentioned.
Deu 4:29 But if from thence H4480 H8033 thou shalt seek H1245 ( H853 ) the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 thou shalt find H4672 him, if H3588 thou seek H1875 him with all H3605 thy heart H3824 and with all H3605 thy soul. H5315
Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love H157 ( H853 ) the LORD H3068 thy God H430 with all H3605 thine heart, H3824 and with all H3605 thy soul, H5315 and with all H3605 thy might. H3966
Deu 10:12 And now, H6258 Israel, H3478 what H4100 doth the LORD H3068 thy God H430 require H7592 of H4480 H5973 thee, but H3588 H518 to fear H3372 ( H853 ) the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 to walk H1980 in all H3605 his ways, H1870 and to love H157 him, and to serve H5647 ( H853 ) the LORD H3068 thy God H430 with all H3605 thy heart H3824 and with all H3605 thy soul, H5315
Deu 26:16 This H2088 day H3117 the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath commanded H6680 thee to do H6213 ( H853 ) these H428 statutes H2706 and judgments: H4941 thou shalt therefore keep H8104 and do H6213 them with all H3605 thine heart, H3824 and with all H3605 thy soul. H5315
Deu 30:2 And shalt return H7725 unto H5704 the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 and shalt obey H8085 his voice H6963 according to all H3605 that H834 I H595 command H6680 thee this day, H3117 thou H859 and thy children, H1121 with all H3605 thine heart, H3824 and with all H3605 thy soul; H5315
Deu 30:6 And the LORD H3068 thy God H430 will circumcise H4135 ( H853 ) thine heart, H3824 and the heart H3824 of thy seed, H2233 to love H157 ( H853 ) the LORD H3068 thy God H430 with all H3605 thine heart, H3824 and with all H3605 thy soul, H5315 that H4616 thou mayest live. H2416
Deu 30:10 If H3588 thou shalt hearken H8085 unto the voice H6963 of the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 to keep H8104 his commandments H4687 and his statutes H2708 which are written H3789 in this H2088 book H5612 of the law, H8451 and if H3588 thou turn H7725 unto H413 the LORD H3068 thy God H430 with all H3605 thine heart, H3824 and with all H3605 thy soul. H5315
H5315 (Strong’s)
נֶפֶשׁ
nephesh
neh’-fesh
From H5314; properly a breathing creature, that is, animal or (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental): – any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead (-ly), desire, X [dis-] contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart (-y), (hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortality, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they, thing, (X she) will, X would have it.
Total KJV occurrences: 753
THE BODY
Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD, kept His Father’s Commandments, He kept them all, always. Therefore, He does not teach others to do that which He knew they could not do, He knew from the beginning what will take place in the end. Christ only commands in love, not forcefully, He has lived a life of perfect example, showing to others that the Law of GOD can be obeyed. It is by faith in Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit we also can do the same.
If the body, which is the temple, or dwelling place, of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corin 3:16, 17, 19; 2 Corin 6:16) is kept fit and healthy, then the Spirit of GOD can dwell within and give power to keep the whole being, mind, body and soul, in good health. This is but the result of living a life which is healthy, and will in turn be a blessing to all who follow GOD’S way.
May GOD Bless you.
