Bible Dictionary
INWARD MAN
The inward man is the immaterial inner person—mind, soul, spirit, and conscience—in contrast with the outward body. It is the sphere in which spiritual renewal takes place, though it may still be troubled by sin and weakness.
Definition
The inward man is the immaterial inner person: mind, soul, spirit, and conscience, distinguished from the outward body, which perishes. It is humanity’s higher intellectual, moral, and spiritual nature, described as bearing God’s image. The term is not identical with “the new man,” since the inward man may still be corrupt, subject to vanity, and alienated from the life of God.
Biblical Usage
In Pauline usage, the inward man is the sphere of spiritual influence and of the Holy Spirit’s renewing and saving work. It is closely related to the “hidden man of the heart,” yet Scripture distinguishes it from the outward man and does not equate it automatically with the new man.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>in'-werd: A Pauline term, nearly identical with the "hidden man of the heart" (1Pe 3:4). The Greek original, 5 ho eso (also esothen) anthropos (Ro 7:22) is lexigraphically defined "the internal man," i.e. "soul," "conscience." It is the immaterial part of man--mind, spirit--in distinction from the "outward man" which "perishes" (2Co 4:16 the King James Version). As the seat of spiritual influences it is the sphere in which the Holy Spirit does His renewing and saving work (Eph 3:16). The term "inward man" cannot be used interchangeably with "the new man," for it may still be "corrupt," and subject to "vanity" and "alienated from the life of God." Briefly stated, it is mind, soul, spirit--God's image in man--man's higher nature, intellectual, moral, and spiritual.</p><p>Dwight M. Pratt</p>