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Isaiah 1:5-6 ERV (The word of the Lord has said,) ... "Your whole head and heart are already sick and aching. (6) From the bottom of your feet to the top of your head, every part of your body has wounds, cuts, and open sores. You have not taken care of them. Your wounds have not been cleaned and bandaged."
THE "INNER MAN"
Describing the "inner man" involves exploring what truly makes up human identity—the part of us that thinks, feels, desires, and endures, apart from our physical appearance. Over time, scholars have looked at this concept through three main perspectives: (the spirit), Philosophy (reason), and Psychology (the self). Here’s an overview of how each tradition approaches the idea of the inner man.
THE INNER MAN
The inner man consists of three paths: Spirit, Philosophy, and Psychology. Spirit relates to the eternal, Philosophy aims for understanding, and Psychology examines the mind. These together show that all aspects of life stem from the deeper self, unified by the Inner Man.
THE SPIRIT OF MAN
 Spirit of Man |
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The Spirit of the "Inner Man"
In the Judeo-Christian tradition, particularly in the writings of St. Paul (e.g., (2 Corinthians 4:16), the inner man is the seat of spiritual life and moral renewal. St. Paul’s perspective highlights how this inner dimension is distinct from the physical body, emphasizing its capacity for ongoing transformation and connection to the spiritual body (Jesus). While the outer self faces the inevitable processes of aging and decay, the inner man—our spiritual body—remains open to daily renewal through faith, prayer, and alignment with God. This view underscores the unique function of the inner man as the place where communion with Jesus occurs, moral awareness is sharpened, and spiritual strength is received, ultimately rendering the inner man the eternal resident of our being, in contrast to the fleeting nature of the “outer man”, our physical existence. (2 Corinthians 4:16 ERV) That is why we never give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day.
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The Contrast: The "outer man" is your physical body, which is subject to age, decay, and the environment. The "inner man" is your spirit/soul, which is capable of being "renewed day by day" even as the body fails. (2 Corinthians 4:16 ERV) That is why we never give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day.
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The Function: This is where you connect with the Spiritual Body (Jesus), pray privately, discern right from wrong, and receive spiritual strength. (Matthew 6:6 ERV) But when you pray, you should go into your room and close the door. Then pray to your Father. He is there in that private place. He can see what is done in private, and he will reward you.
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Key Insight: According to this perspective, your inner self represents the eternal aspect of who you are. Unlike the outer self, which is seen as a temporary shelter, the inner self remains as a lasting presence. (2 Corinthians 5:1-10 ERV) We know that our body—the tent we live in here on earth—will be destroyed. But when that happens, God will have a home for us to live in. It will not be the kind of home people build here. It will be a home in heaven that will continue forever. (2) But now we are tired of this body. We want God to give us our heavenly home. (3) It will clothe us and we will not be naked. (4) While we live in this tent, we have burdens and so we complain. I don't mean that we want to remove this tent, but we want to be clothed with our heavenly home. Then this body that dies will be covered with life. (5) This is what God himself made us for. And he has given us the Spirit as the first payment to guarantee the life to come. (6) So we always have confidence. We know that while we live in this body, we are away from the Lord. (7) We live by what we believe will happen, not by what we can see. (8) So I say that we have confidence. And we really want to be away from this body and be at home with the Lord. (9) Our only goal is to always please the Lord, whether we are living here in this body or there with him. (10) We must all stand before Christ to be judged. Everyone will get what they should. They will be paid for whatever they did—good or bad—when they lived in this earthly body.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF MAN
 Philosophy of Man |
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Philosophy of "Inner Man"
Ancient philosophers, particularly the Stoics and Platonists, viewed the inner man as the rational, ruling center of the human being.
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Stoicism (The Citadel): Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus believed the inner man (often called the hegemonikon or ruling faculty) is the fortress of your mind. It is the only thing you truly control. While you cannot control your reputation, health, or wealth (outer things), your inner man decides how to judge and react to those things.
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Platonism (The Tamer): Plato described the soul as a tripartite beast: a many-headed monster (desires), a lion (spirited emotions), and a "man" (reason). The "inner man" is that rational part whose job is to tame the lion and the monster so that you are not enslaved by your own appetites.
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Key Insight: In this view, the inner man is the agent of agency. It is the part of you that remains free and sovereign, regardless of external chains.
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MAN
 Psychology of Man |
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Psychology of "Inner Man"
In modern psychology, the inner man is often framed as the "True Self" buried beneath layers of social conditioning and defense mechanisms.
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Jungian Psychology (The Self): Carl Jung viewed the inner man is not just as the ego (who you think you are), but as the Self—the totality of your conscious and unconscious mind. The goal of life is "individuation," a process of listening to this inner self to become whole, integrating your shadow (hidden dark side) and your potential.
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The Mask vs. The Face: Psychology often contrasts the inner man with the Persona (the mask we wear for society). The inner man is who you are when you are alone, unobserved, and stripped of your titles, roles, and social armor.
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Key Insight: In this view, the inner man is the seat of authenticity. It is the source of your creativity, intuition, and deepest desires, often waiting to be discovered or liberated.