The Bible teaches that man IS a soul, not that man HAS a soul (Genesis 2:7; Genesis 46:18; Joshua 11:11; Acts 27:37; Romans 13:1). So, that being the case, why do so many people still think that we HAVE a soul, and that it lives on after death, when the Bible doesn't teach that at all?
2006-11-14 05:14:36 · 24 answers · asked by ?~GotLove~? 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The answer to that question can be found in 2 Corinthians 4:4: "The god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers...."
Some additional information is at 2 Timothy 4:3 - : “There will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled.”
Oh, and one more point: Ezekial 18:4 & 20 say that "The SOUL that sins WILL DIE." Of course the context refers to the fact that we are all responsible for our own actions, but the end result for sin is that death of the soul. One cannot get around it.
Death is unconsciousness, according to Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6 and Psalm 146:4.
2006-11-14 05:17:20 · answer #1 · answered by Abdijah 7 · 4⤊ 4⤋
Genesis states that when the first man was given a spirit ( defined as the breath of life, or living force) he then BECAME a living soul ( defined as a living being ). Animals are even referred to as souls in the christian bible. The majority of people living today do not understand this because our knowledge is based on what we have been told and what we have researched and learned for ourself. Therefore we either blindly believe what we are told without considering the source and accept it as tradition, or we search for the true meaning that is sometimes hidden from before our eyes.
If you really want the truth, bypass the many varying translations of the christian bible which only contradict and confuse, and study an interlinear bible with the original Hebrew & Greek words that were actually penned by the authors of the scriptures - don't worry, it provides an English translation of each word that is used, unlike modern translations who make the mistake of translating the sentence phrase instead of the words and biasly alter the scriptures ( which has been forbidden ). This is the real bible! The only bible!
2006-11-14 05:28:09 · answer #2 · answered by Rob 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Very good question Brandi. The Hebrew word ne'phesh or the Greek word psykhe' occur over 800 times in the scriptures. When you examine the way "soul" or "souls" is used in the Bible it becomes evident that this word basically refers to:
1) people
2) animals
3) the life that a person or an animal enjoys
Further study will show you that nowhere in the entire Bible are the terms "immortal" or "everlasting" linked with the word "soul". Instead, the Scriptures state that a soul is mortal, meaning that it dies. (Ezekiel 18:4, 20) Therefore, the Bible calls someone who has died simply a "dead soul". (Leviticus 21:11)
Why so many people think otherwise is because of false teachings that originated in Babylon and are still being taught to this day.
2006-11-14 05:28:32 · answer #3 · answered by RubberSoul_61 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Brandi,
Please remember that the Bible was not written in English. It was merely translated into English.
I am without my usual books and electronic concordance, but know that there are several elements that make up a man. The flesh, the spirit, and sin. There is life in the blood, thought in the mind, feelings from the heart, all are some of the things that make man what man is.
I wouldn't attempt to simplify things too much. Just take your time and understand all the elements. The Holy Spirit will help you to the God of your understanding.
2006-11-14 05:22:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's hard to argue semantics with something that has been translated so many times over so many years... My interpretation is that the "soul" consists of both the body and spirit. We have always existed as spirits, but our bodies are, of course, subject to mortality. Through the Resurrection, our "souls" will be complete and perfect and we will become like our Heavenly Father (who has both a spirit and a body of flesh and bone). Of course, this interpretation doesn't come only from the Bible. Modern day revelation sheds much light on this topic.
2006-11-14 05:19:27 · answer #5 · answered by Open Heart Searchery 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As I say at funerals and memorial services I preach at:
"We are not a body with a soul. We are a soul with a body"
I think this squares with the ideas of both the Incarnation, and the Most Holy Trinity, both of which I emphatically believe in.
Understanding this point also helps us to understand the Hypostatic Union.
2006-11-14 05:25:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Your right Man is a soul, a soul is when the body and the spirit of man are united. This is the true definition of the soul.
2006-11-14 05:22:55 · answer #7 · answered by princezelph 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The soul is eternal, the Bible does teach that.
2006-11-14 05:21:05 · answer #8 · answered by The Question Man 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
HI BRANDI, WELL YOU ARE OF COURSE QUITE RIGHT, BUT
YOU'LL COME UP AGAINST A LOT OF RELIGIONIST HOW THINK OTHERWISE!!! ESPECIALLY CHRISTIANS!!! MAN IS A
SOUL, "NEPHESH" IN HEBREW, NOT THAT MAN HAS A SOUL,
I.E., SPIRIT.....IN THE BOOK OF OBADIAH IN THE OLDTESTAMENT, IT STATES THAT ALL SOULS, WILL BE REDUCED TO ASHES WITHOUT NEITHER ROOT NOR BRANCH, COMPLETE ANNIHILATION AS IF THEY HAD NEVER
BEEN!!! QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THE CHRISTIAN VIEW OF
BURNING FOREVER IN HELL FOR ALL ETERNITY!!!!!!
AT LEAST YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, BRAVO!!!
2006-11-14 05:35:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I looked up all the scriptures posted, and none of them say that we are a soul. Having said that it doesn't really matter. We have a soul, this is the part of our nature that sins. The souls is what needs saving as it is corrupt. The spirit goes on to live with Jesus after we die.
2006-11-14 05:24:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋