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What is the nature of man? Could Your Grace please shed some light on the characteristics of both "soul, spirit" and where does the mind, heart, and will of man fit into this equation.

The soul is different from the spirit and not part of it. The soul is the substance of life and it exists in the blood (Lev 17:11). Humans and animals have souls. As for the spirit, it is the breath of God that He breathed into Adam, and it exists only in humans. Animals have souls only but no spirits.

The word soul is translated from the Hebrew word "nepesh", a breathing creature or the Greek word "psuche", breath,  the equivalent of "nepesh". In Arabic it is called "nafs". This word soul has two distinct meanings in the Holy Bible:

1. The soul which makes a human or animal body alive. This usage refers to life in the physical body "and so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin" (Genesis 35:18). "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36). Elijah the Prophet brought a child back to life when "and he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, "O Lord my God, I pray, let this child's soul come back to him" (1 Kings 17:21).



2. The soul referring to the inner life of man, his emotions, and his desires:
   1. love "His soul was strongly attracted to Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young woman and spoke kindly to the young woman" (Genesis 34:3);
   
   
   
   2. longing for God "O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water" (Psalm 63:1);
   
   
   
   3. rejoicing "Rejoice the soul of Your servant, For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul" (Psalm 86:4);
   
   
   
   4. knowing "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well" (Psalm 139:14);
   
   
   
   5. memory "My soul still remembers and sinks within me." (Lamentations 3:20); In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus Christ spoke of His soul as being "exceedingly sorrowful" (Matthew 26:38). St. Mary proclaimed that her soul "magnifies the Lord" (Luke 1:46). St. John prayed that Gaius would "prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers" (3 John 2).

The word spirit is translated from the Hebrew word "ruah", meaning breath, wind and the Greek "pneuma", meaning wind, breath and the vital principle. In Arabic it is translated "roh". The term is used in the Scriptures generally to denote purely spiritual beings; also the spiritual, immortal part in man. While the term soul specifies that in the immaterial part of man that concerns life, action, and emotion, the term spirit is that part related to worship and divine communion. Animals do not have a spirit but do have a soul. There are verses that emphasize a distinction between soul and spirit "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23); "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

However, sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably, the same functions being ascribed to each. Compare the Holy Book of James 5:20 to the Holy Book of 1 Corinthians 5:5 and the Holy Book of 1 Peter 2:11 to the Holy Book of 2 Corinthians 7:1.

The mind is that which is responsible for one's thoughts. It is the seat of the faculty of reason, understanding and intellect. St. Paul speaks about how we should always have renewal of the mind and of the life style throughout our lives. "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom 12:2).

The heart is the source of everything for everything comes out of the heart and expresses the reality of the person, his inner heart and intentions. God knows everything in man's heart. The heart is the center of the feelings, of sentiments and of love.

The heart and the mind work together, each is a cause and a result. The heart feelings bring forth thoughts in the mind and the mind causes feelings in the heart. If you desire to sin, this desire will bring you sinful thoughts. And if you think of sin, the heart will bring you sinful lusts.

The will is the power of choosing or the faculty of the soul by which it is capable of choosing. The will is weak when it is unable to resist sin or to do well. Lust, an environment of sin weakens the will. On the other hand, the will is strengthened by means of grace which is a free gift of God and by spiritual practices such as prayer, fasting, reading the Holy Bible, confessing and partaking of the Holy Communion.

I suggest you read H.H. Pope Shenouda's book "What is Man?". This book talks about the soul, the spirit, the mind, the heart, the will, the life, the thoughts, the instincts, the conscience, and the body.