“... Scripture is first employed, interrupting the narrative at the soul‘s prayer of penitence and petition, in a lengthy exegetical composition entitled ―On the prostitution of the soul‖ (129,5–131,13: the image of the unfaithful wife from Jeremiah 3, Hosea 2, and Ezekiel 16 is applied by the Holy Spirit to the prostitution of the soul and interpreted as the soul‘s defilement by ―the domain of the flesh and the perceptible realm and the affairs of the earth‖; Paul‘s command not to associate with prostitutes [1 Corinthians 5,9] is taken as a summons to struggle against evil spiritual powers). ...”

“... The main character in the Exegesis on the Soul is the soul, described throughout the text as a woman. It is in dire straits and is described as a prostitute, which enables the text to call upon a significant corpus of Scripture to undergird its metaphorical discourse on the importance of repentance and renunciation of worldly concerns. What is described in terms of sexual licentiousness and prostitution is the soul’s attachment to the body and the material world. The soul “prostituted herself in her body, and she gave herself to everyone, and whomever she would embrace she considered to be her husband.”12 Old Testament imagery of Jerusalem as a prostitute is called upon and applied specifically to the soul, while buttressing the argument with New Testament references. Before reminding the reader that Paul was not only speaking about bodily transgression when he warned the Corinthians against mixing with prostitutes,13 the text cites Ezekiel: ...”

“... Yet the greatest [struggle] has to do with the prostitution of the soul. From it arises the prostitution of the body as well. Therefore Paul, writing to the Corinthians (1 Co 5:9-10), said, I wrote you in the letter, “Do not associate with prostitutes,” not at all (meaning) the prostitutes of this world or the greedy or the thieves or the idolators, since then you would have to go out from the world, here it is speaking spiritually – For our struggle is not against flesh and blood – as he said (Ep 6:12) – but against the world rulers of this darkness and the spirits of wickedness. ...”