Since Adam and Eve rebelled against God, doing what He commanded them not to do, every person born into this world is born spirit-less, that is, they are only body and soul. Being only body and soul means that all men and women are inherently “weak.” They are particularly weak with respect to death—death is inevitable no matter what the body-and-soul person does or does not do. They are also “weak” with respect to fighting and resisting the “god of this world” who is a spiritual entity and therefore not visible. And they are also “weak” in that they are incapable of enjoying the fullness of a life lived in communion with God.
2 Corinthians 4:3 and 4
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing [apollumi], 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
This “blindness” applies not only to the gospel but life in general. This “blindness” began when Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s direct command and lost spirit. From then on, the body-and-soul-only person has lacked “spiritual sight” in part or in whole. There has always been some sense of right and wrong in mankind or available to mankind (Rom. 1:19 and 20). For example, a man without spirit can know that stealing or adultery are wrong, and these are spiritual truths. Also, when God revealed the Law to Moses, right and wrong were spelled out more specifically. Again, these are spiritual truths that people could understand at least to some extent. However, the absence of spirit seriously limits a person’s capability to fully grasp and, perhaps most importantly, to live out spiritual truths. The body-and-soul-only person is ignorant of the existence and capabilities of a wicked spirit known as the devil. As “the god of this world,” the devil can influence people directly or indirectly by promoting some information and suppressing other information. People in this world without spiritual sight are at the mercy of the ebb and flow of information and opinions that are constantly being promoted by the “god of this world” (see Eph. 2:1 and 2). This is a significant aspect of the external conditions in which all people live.
The body-and-soul-only person lacks the capability to fully grasp spiritual truths.
1 Corinthians 2:14
14 But a natural [psuchikos[1]] man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand [ginóskó] them, because they are spiritually appraised [anakrinó].
A “natural man,” a person who is only body and soul—spirit-less—cannot understand things of the spirit or wield spiritual power.[2] This would include those born again who live as if they are body-and-soul-only.
Most significantly, the person who is body-and-soul-only is incapable of accomplishing his own redemption and salvation—every person needs a savior to save them from death.
Romans 5:6 (ESV)6 For while we were still weak [asthenés], at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Here are other occurrences of “weak” and “weakness.”
Hebrews 4:15
15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses [astheneia], but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 5:1–3
1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness [astheneia]; 3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself.
Mark 14:38
38 “Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit[3] is willing, but the flesh is weak [asthenés].”
Romans 6:19
19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness [astheneia] of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.
1 Corinthians 15:43
43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness [astheneia], it is raised in power;
“Flesh” is weak. A person may want to do the “right thing,” but they have limited resources to carry it out. Having spirit is no guarantee that a person will do the right thing (see Eve and Adam), but the spirit is an added resource to help a person to do the right thing. These verses can be read in conjunction with the description of the weakness described in Romans 7.
It may also be worth considering the possibility that some genetic damage or weakening occurred when Adam disobeyed God. The science of epigenetics is documenting how environments, thoughts, and actions can activate or suppress various genes. Plus, actual genetic damage is a possibility. Such damage or weakening could, at least in part, account for mankind’s propensity for unrighteousness, but this is speculation.
The spirit is an enablement—an added capability for man.
Galatians 5:16
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit [spirit], and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
To “walk by the spirit” means to utilize the capabilities that are available with the gift of holy spirit in conjunction with a renewing of the mind. Adam and Eve originally had spiritual power and authority. When they ate of the tree, they forfeited that power and authority to the devil [Luke 4:6; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2; 1 John 5:19]. The devil is a spirit being who commands other spirit beings. The objective of these spirit beings is stated in John 10:10a, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” “Thief” is a figurative reference to the devil who “steals” life. The devil and the spirit beings with him promote nothing but ungodliness and unrighteousness. Their primary targets are God’s people. They worked to stop the coming of the Messiah. Once the Messiah came, they worked and continue to work to stop people from believing on Jesus Christ, or if they have believed, to discourage them from living lives that bring glory to God.
With respect to the inherent weakness of body and soul, consider the following.
Galatians 5:22
22 But the fruit of the Spirit [spirit[4]] is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
These are all characteristics of God’s nature, and they are described as “fruit of the spirit.” These characteristics are not the fruit of body and soul (see Gal. 5:19ff). The implication is that these characteristics are only available in their truest and most complete sense through the utilization of the gift of holy spirit. Through utilization of the spirit and the renewing of the mind, these characteristics that reflect the nature of God become evident in a person’s life. This is also described as becoming Christ-like.
Being body-and-soul only, lacking spiritual power and authority, and being subject to death are three major consequences that all mankind inherits from Adam, and all indicate how man is inherently “weak.”
[1] 1 Cor. 15:45 describes Adam becoming a living soul [psuché] (a reference to Gen. 2:7). The adjective psuchikos comes from this noun.
[2] “spiritual matters”—without spirit, a person cannot fully grasp spiritual truths
[3] “Spirit” in this context refers to attitude or emotion as in the expression “school spirit.”
[4] This is a reference to the gift of holy spirit first made available at Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2.