Psuche* or Soul, Life by EPSILON

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Jan 24, 1884

Psuche or Soul, Life.

By EPSILON

PROBABLY but few would deny that the word soul means a corporeal being when used concretely, “The first man Adam was made a living soul,” a being having the breath of lives. The concrete soul eats and drinks. “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” Luke 12 : 19. But what is the soul, taken abstractly? A few texts where psuche (or soul) appears in the Greek will help the Bible student. “For they are dead who sought the young child’s life” [soul]. Matt. 2 : 10. “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life [soul] a ransom for many.” Matt. 20 : 28. “He poured out his soul unto death.” Isa. 53 : 12. “For whosoever will save his life [soul] shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life [soul] for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” Mark 8 : 35. See also John 10 : 11; 13 : 37, 38; 15 : 13; Acts 27 : 22.

There are many other places where the Greek psuche, soul, is translated life. Two other Greek words, bios and zoe, are always translated life. Zoe is life in general. Psuche is individual life. It is used in several different senses. EPSILON.