Does The Soul Die?
George Burnside
The scriptures nowhere teach that man was endowed originally with immortality, nor is such a combination of words as "immortal soul," "never-dying spirit," or its equivalent, to be found in the Bible. The record of the formation of man is simple: "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." Genesis 2:7. It is not said that God breathed into man a living soul.
The text simply says that the breath of life entering into the form of dust, made of the lifeless clay a living man or a living soul; that is, a living person. Here the whole man is called at living soul. The breath of life is not the soul, but is the principle of life that man receives from God in common with all other living creatures; for in the story of the Flood we read: "All flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth, and every man: all in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died." Genesis 7:21, 22.
In the creation of man we find no reference whatsoever to a soul capable of existence apart from the body, and endowed with immortality. While Adam was still in the sinless state, God said to him: "Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it: for in the day that thou eats thereof thou shall surely die." Genesis 2:17. God is here addressing Adam as the complete man, morally, spiritually, and physically.
Therefore noncompliance with the law of God would involve the whole man in death, and not simply the body, as some would have us believe.
The claim that the soul is a part of man that can live separate and distinct from the body is a proposition not allowed by the Scriptures. The Bible recognizes man as a unit and not as a union of two or more distinct entities. The whole man is the living soul, or person. It is evident from this command to Adam, that man was not in possession of immortality at his creation, for otherwise God could not have threatened him with death as a punishment in case of his disobedience. Immortality in itself precludes the idea of death.
That man does not possess immortality by nature is further shown in the reference made to his condition after the Fall. "The Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of Us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever. Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden." Genesis 3:22, 23. From this scripture we see that Adam was driven out of the Garden of Eden ill order that lie might not cat of the tree of life and thus perpetuate his sinful life. Adam was not endowed with immortality, but was given the opportunity to acquire eternal life by "the obedience of faith." Romans 16:26.
However, Adam disobeyed God, and sin entered into the world, and death by sill; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sullied. Romans 5:12. As death has passed upon all, it is evident that there is no such thing as an immortal man. Consequently the Bible explicitly declares that God "only has immortality." 1 Timothy 6:16. Paul exhorts us to seek for immortality. The apostle says' God "will render to every man according to his (feeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life." Romans 2:6.
We are all, therefore, under the condemnation of death, but Jesus Christ, by the sacrifice of' Himself, has redeemed us from death. Therefore that which was lost in Adam, namely, the possibility of acquiring immortality, is restored in Christ, for which reason the Scripture says our Savior Jesus Christ has "brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." 2 Timothy 1:10.
It is Christ who, in His own person, abolished death. By His decease and resurrection He opened the doors of the tomb for all humanity. Immortality without the mediation of the Son of God is an impossibility. The Scriptures everywhere teach that "whosoever believes in Him [Jesus] should not perish, but have everlasting life," and "he that believes not is condemned already." What is the condemnation? "The wages of sin is death." "All have sinned," and therefore all who do not receive pardon through Christ remain under condemnation.
"The gift of God is eternal life." It follows as a consequence that "he that hath the Son bath life; and he that bath not the Son of God has not life."
Immortality is clearly limited, therefore, to those who are in Christ; and even believers have not yet received the gift of immortality, for it is to he bestowed only at the return of Christ. "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all he changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, avid the dead shall lie raised incorruptible, and we all be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." 1 Corinthian, 15:51-54. It is evident, therefore, that immortality is not bestowed until the return of Christ, and then only upon those who "are Christ's at His coming.”
What Is The Soul?
Genesis 2:7 Soul = Real person
3:19 Go to dust at death
3:22 Adam not immortal
2 Kings 2:11 Real bodies in heaven
Isaiah 66:21, 22 Flesh bodies in the New Earth
Matthew 3:10-12 Wicked are Burnt up
7:19-27 Wicked are Destroyed
13:24-43 Furnace of annihilation
13:48-50 Destroyed at the end of time
16:25, 26 Loose your soul and end all life
16:27 People are rewarded at the Second Coming
19:16, 29 Only the Righteous rewarded with life
25:31-46 Final separation at the Second Coming
John 3:16 Life only in Christ
5:28, 29 Dead are in the graves
6:39, 40, 44, 54 Raised from grave at the last day
14:1-3, 19 Life only in Christ
Acts 17:31 Judgment yet future
24:25 Judgment yet future
Romans 2:6-12 Wicked perish
14:10 All are judged at once (Matthew 13:39)
1 Corinthians 9:25 We will become immortal
15:53-55 We are not immortal yet
Philippians 3:19 Whose end is destruction
1 Thessalonians 4:16, 18 Resurrection and translation - The only way to heaven
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 Wicked are destroyed
1 Timothy 6:16 God only is immortal
2 Timothy 1:10 Rewarded on the last day - not before
1 Peter 1:4, 21, 23 Life only in Christ
5:4 Eternal life received at the second coming
Revelation 2:11 Wicked receive the Second DEATH
20:9 Devoured by fire
20:12-15 Wicked receive the Second DEATH
21:4 No more sorrow, pain, crying [No eternal torment].
22:3 No more curse
22:8 Second Death