The soul and the eternal soul

[Ross]

Here I am to learn about a Bible topic that I admittedly have never studied in any depth. I am bringing no pre conceived views; and I will base my conclusion upon the evidence provided. Please help me to understand this.

Firstly what is the soul of a man or woman?

Secondly, do other creatures have this?

And thirdly does Bible scripture give any indication that the soul lives on after death and or is immortal?

[1213]

...and why the word "soul" pops up when referring to fish...

Hmmm... ...Sorry, I don't see anything supporting that.

[JehovahsWitness]

...and why the word "soul" pops up when referring to fish...

Hmmm... ...Sorry, I don't see anything supporting that.

Which is why a good concordace and Lexicon is helpful.

Have an excellent day. Goodbye.


JW

[FruitoftheSpirit]

...and why the word "soul" pops up when referring to fish...

Hmmm... ...Sorry, I don't see anything supporting that.

I believe the support is in looking at the Hebrew word sited below. When referencing man, most translators used the word "soul", however when referencing whales, fish, birds, land animals translators used "creature". YLT is one translation that did use "creature" for both man and animals.

nep̄eš
neh'-fesh
soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

I like to use the website Bible Study Tools and click on scripture settings and choose "strongs numbers" where you can then click on any blue word within the text and the original Hebrew or Greek word will pop up in a new window.

KJV
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul...19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

My understanding is that the "early church fathers" of the RCC who established Christian doctrine interpreted scripture using their previously held Greek beliefs, those of the Greek philosophers Socrates and Plato. The Christian doctrine of an immortal soul and it's reward or punishment upon death I would argue is not biblical but rather from the likes of Socrates, Plato and others.

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
https://plato.stanford.edu › entries › ancient-soul
Ancient Theories of Soul
"Answering both questions, Socrates says not only that the soul is immortal, but also that it contemplates truths after its separation from the body at the time of death."

Philosophical Eggs
https://philosophicaleggs.com › 81-plato-on-the-immortality-of-the-soul-republic-x-part-3
"81. Plato on the Immortality of the Soul in Republic X, Part 3: In the last two posts I considered Plato's argument for the immortality of the soul that appears in book X ... (614c-d). Meanwhile, other souls return from their millennial stays in the earth and in heaven and tell of the rewards and punishments they received (614d-616a). These souls travel to a second place..."

Scripture however tells us,
Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Psalms 6:4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.
5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

Psalms 146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Genesis 3:19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.

Ecc 3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

[1213]

...I believe the support is in looking at the Hebrew word sited below. When referencing man, most translators used the word "soul", however when referencing whales, fish, birds, land animals translators used "creature". YLT is one translation that did use "creature" for both man and animals.

nep̄eš
neh'-fesh
soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

I like to use the website Bible Study Tools and click on scripture settings and choose "strongs numbers" where you can then click on any blue word within the text and the original Hebrew or Greek word will pop up in a new window....

Thank you!

Ecc 3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

What do you think, is spirit and soul the same thing?

And the dust returns to the earth as it was, And the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Eccl. 12:7

[Capbook]

Here I am to learn about a Bible topic that I admittedly have never studied in any depth. I am bringing no pre conceived views; and I will base my conclusion upon the evidence provided. Please help me to understand this.

Firstly what is the soul of a man or woman?

Secondly, do other creatures have this?

And thirdly does Bible scripture give any indication that the soul lives on after death and or is immortal?

Anything that has life, is a living soul. When died, body return to dust, God's breath/spirit return to God, soul is nowhere then or "soul sleep."

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

So no immortal or eternal soul. No soul that lives on after death.

Yes, when death comes everything perished; knowledge, anger, envy, love etc.

Eccl 9:5-6
5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
KJV

[Ross]

Here I am to learn about a Bible topic that I admittedly have never studied in any depth. I am bringing no pre conceived views; and I will base my conclusion upon the evidence provided. Please help me to understand this.

Firstly what is the soul of a man or woman?

Secondly, do other creatures have this?

And thirdly does Bible scripture give any indication that the soul lives on after death and or is immortal?

Anything that has life, is a living soul. When died, body return to dust, God's breath/spirit return to God, soul is nowhere then or "soul sleep."

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

So no immortal or eternal soul. No soul that lives on after death.

Yes, when death comes everything perished; knowledge, anger, envy, love etc.

Eccl 9:5-6
5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
KJV

So what is your explanation of Mathew 10:28?

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

[Capbook]

Here I am to learn about a Bible topic that I admittedly have never studied in any depth. I am bringing no pre conceived views; and I will base my conclusion upon the evidence provided. Please help me to understand this.

Firstly what is the soul of a man or woman?

Secondly, do other creatures have this?

And thirdly does Bible scripture give any indication that the soul lives on after death and or is immortal?

Anything that has life, is a living soul. When died, body return to dust, God's breath/spirit return to God, soul is nowhere then or "soul sleep."

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

So no immortal or eternal soul. No soul that lives on after death.

Yes, when death comes everything perished; knowledge, anger, envy, love etc.

Eccl 9:5-6
5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
KJV

So what is your explanation of Mathew 10:28?

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

Through context Jesus had said, do not be afraid of any thing which you may suffer for proclaiming it. Be afraid of Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell. It is that our Lord Jesus commands those who love God, still to fear Him, who can destroy both the body and the soul.
The word "soul" here, in Greek "ψυχή psuchē" defined by Bible lexicons, Thayer and Mounce as a living being, a living soul, the life, etc.

Mat 10:26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered and nothing secret that will not become known. R15 
Mat 10:27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.
Mat 10:28 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell. NRSVue+

(NASB+) Mat 10:28 “And do not be G5399  afraid G5399  of those G3588  who kill G615  the body G4983  but are unable G3361 G1410  to kill G615  the soul G5590 ; but rather G3123 R1 fear G5399  Him who is able G1410  to destroy G622  both G2532  soul G5590  and body G4983  in  N1 R2 hell G1067 .

G5590 (Thayer)
ψυχή psuchē
Thayer Definition:
1) breath
1a) the breath of life
1a1) the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing
1a1a) of animals
1a1b) of men
1b) life
1c) that in which there is life
1c1) a living being, a living soul

G5590 (Mounce)
ψυχή psychē
103x: breath; the principle of animal life; the life,

[Ross]

Thank you for your answer. I am aware of the Greek and Hebrew words for 'soul' but would rather have your view rather that your quoting from Bible commentaries.

Your stance and understanding from previous comments appear to be identical to the Jehovah's Witness view which is:

The Soul = the living being. Not something separate from the personage or creature.

However Jesus separates the living body from the soul. The body can be killed, but the soul cannot.

That which dies is not the soul. It cannot be killed by man according to the Lord.

This is contrary to your position

When died, body return to dust, God's breath/spirit return to God, soul is nowhere

when death comes everything perished; knowledge, anger, envy, love etc.

Mat 10:28

"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

[Ross]

Capbook,

Are you or were you ever a Jehovah's Witness?

[Capbook]

Capbook,

Are you or were you ever a Jehovah's Witness?

No, I am not a JW.
I just think you missed to see "1a) breath of life" definition of the Bible lexicon I've posted, soul and spirit are interchangeable base on context.
The "soul" in Mat 10:28, for me it refers to the breath of life (spirit), it will return to God.
Remember, dust(body) + breath of life(spirit) are the two elements that makes a living soul.
Mat 10:28 I believe refers to the two elements and not to the outcome.
Soul that sinned, it shall die.

(ASV) Ezek 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.