SOUL” AND “SPIRIT

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 9, 1901

“SOUL” AND “SPIRIT.”

THESE terms have various meanings, to be determined by their use. The former, “soul,” oftentimes refers to the whole man, either living or dead. We therefore have in the original both “living soul” and “dead soul.” Generally the word means the life, animal life, which man has in common with all animate creatures. Sometimes it pertains to the emotions and affections.

“Spirit” is used to designate (1) a spiritual being, such as angels; (2) the Holy Spirit; (3) the life received from God.

The reader need have little trouble in ascertaining the various uses of either word if he will forget tradition and consider what the Word says.

The two terms occur in the Bible in the aggregate about 1,700 times; but in no instance do we find either term qualified by such adjectives as “immortal,” “deathless,” “never dying.” These terms are applied to no part of man, neither are they predicated of any part of man, in his mortal, sinful state.

Is not this a striking fact? If man in whole or in part is immortal, would not his Maker know it? And would He not reveal this to man, as He has all other things pertaining to man’s nature and destiny? Neither can it be said with one writer that the immortality of the soul is taken for granted rather than expressly revealed in the Scriptures. The Bible does not so deal with such important and essential truths. For instance, if any truth could be taken for granted, concerning which no special revelation would be needed, it would be the immortality of God. Yet the Bible expressly calls Him “the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God.” 1 Tim. 1:17. Nay, more, we are expressly told that He “only hath immortality.” 1 Tim. 6:16. On the other hand, man is by the Word expressly called “mortal,” “corruptible,” and everywhere subject to death. (See Job 4:17; 2 Chron. 14:11, margin; Rom. 5:12; Heb. 9:28, and many others.) “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Eze. 18:14.

The simple fact is this, that, while man is possessed of body, soul, and spirit, each and all of these are essential to the living, thinking man. He possesses no conscious, immortal entity which can be separated from the body and live on and on indefinitely. The Bible knows no such theory. It reveals to us no such being.

The Bible man is organized of God, made a living, thinking, acting, responsible being by the life of God. The Bible man is possessed of a physical, a mental, and a spiritual nature; but these natures are not separate men. Man may live in subjection to his flesh, and be carnal. He may obey the law of his life in Christ Jesus, and be spiritual. He may prostitute his mental nature to minister to the flesh, or he may use it to glorify God. The choice is his. So also is the inevitable result.

The conclusion of this study, as that of all Biblical studies on this subject must be, is that man is a dying mortal, with no hope of immortality in himself. This is not flattery to poor humanity. It is not in harmony with heathen tradition. It will not be approved by “Modern Spiritualism” or “Christian Science;” but it is Biblical. More than this, it is infinitely better than the traditional belief in man’s inherent immortality; for, while it shows the truth of man’s nothingness, it shows the all-sufficiency of the riches of God’s grace, and His infinite love. The traditional view makes man his own saviour, with hopeless future, but the Biblical truth reveals the only Redeemer, who is also Creator. He could create an entirely new race, but in His love He recreates every soul unto life and immortality who will believe Him, and binds them to Him and each other with the bonds of eternal love.