Pauline Mindfulness? Paul's Interaction With Trichotomic Anthropology

The current paper aims to contribute to our understanding of Paul’s anthropology and consequently his attitude towards his cultural context. Therefore, George H. van Kooten’s thesis that Paul’s anthropology incorporates a so-called Jewish trichotomy of pneuma-psyche-sōma that is equivalent to the Greek trichotomy of nous-psyche-sōma is evaluated. On the basis of 1 Corinthians 2 and 1 Corinthians 14, it is argued that Van Kooten’s thesis of a Jewish trichotomy cannot stand. On the contrary, it is probable that Paul employed the Greek trichotomy by interpreting it in a ‘Christian’ manner. In Paul, the nous receives the Spirit that transforms the believer. Thus, Paul interacts with an anthropology that was common in his cultural context, but qualified it by emphasising the role of the Spirit of God.