The soul is not immortal. A further fact that helps to establish this truth is the coming into existence of the soul by spirit. The account of the forming of humanity in Genesis 2 gives us an enlightening view of it:
And forming is Yahweh Alueim the human of soil from the ground, and He is blowing into his nostrils the breath of the living, and becoming is the human a living soul. (v.7)
Note that the article in front of 'breath' and 'living' is missing (that is why I put it down in light face type). There is no breath imparted into the human that has a separate personality, or is a separate entity. It is simply breath, the element, that is imparted and makes the human a living and moving soul.
In this account, we have the three basic elements of humanity: body, spirit, and soul. That 'breath of living' is associated with spirit can we learn from Gen 7:22:
Everyone which has the breath of the spirit of the living in his nostrils, of all that were in the drained area, dies.
This statement comprises humans as well as animals. All have spirit in them that makes them living souls. We have the same phrase like in Gen 2 here, but with the little addition of the Hebrew word for 'spirit', and again without any article.
Helpful to bear in mind is the literal meaning of this word for 'spirit' in Hebrew. Literally, it denotes wind and is even in a few cases translated thus. The word, therefore, is used figuratively, to denote the element in humanity that imparts life to the body, makes him a living soul. Spirit, just as wind, is invisible, and we can only see the effects of it, just as we can only see the wind moving the trees (cp. Joh 3:8). Spirit is a principle, an element, just, for example, as water or gas. More to that later.
Again, then, imagine you die. What happens? God gathers back the spirit he imparted into the body (Eccl. 12:7; Lk 23:46; Joh 19:30), and, logically, the soul stops being a living soul. It stops functioning, if you will. Without spirit no life.
All of this overwhelmingly proves that the soul is not immortal!
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2 comments:
A well writtena and intelligent blog. Please see my blog. In a book I reviewed, at least 3 characters experience God's voice. One actually is forgiven by God! this character sees the seventh day for which there's no night....
Thank you Kristen!
I looked at yours and found that it makes me read all the books you review. :) I like writing and see reading as a great way to sit at an authors feet to learn more tricks and turns for my own writing. I haven't read a well-written and exciting book lately, though.
I have never heard of the seventh day for which there is no night. Is that a mythical idea? There will be a place without night, that is Jerusalem, when God will create a new heaven and earth (Rev 21,22). This is when God will be with His people (Israel), giving them light exceedingly, and being among them without a temple.
I am sure you have read the bible? Many things are mistranslated in the common translations, which is a pity and usually drives people away from it because they can't get their heads around the things that are written in it.
Jonas
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