W H A T T H E B I B L E H A S T O S A Y A B O U T S O U L S , S P I R I T S , H E A R T S , M I N D S , L I V E R S , B O D I E S ,

H E A V E N A N D O T H E R T H I N G S ( I N C L U D I N G T H E I N T E R M E D I A T E S T A T E )

THE BIBLE AND THE SOUL

EVIDENCE OF HEAVEN?

“Sorry, but your soul just died.”

  “Eventually, as brain imaging is refined, the picture may become as clear and complete as those see-through exhibitions, at auto shows, of the inner workings of the internal combustion engine. At that point it may become obvious to everyone that all we are looking at is a piece of machinery, an analog chemical computer, that processes information from the environment. ‘All,’ since you can look and look and you will not find any ghostly self inside, or any mind, or any soul.”

  --Tom Wolfe, “Sorry, But Your Soul Just Died” Forbes, 1996

The Soul as Redundant

  If the capacities traditionally allocated to the “soul” – for example, consistency of memory, consciousness, spiritual experience, the capacity to make decisions on the basis of self-deliberation, planning and action on the basis of that decision, and taking responsibility for these decisions and actions – have neural basis, then the concept of “soul,” as traditionally understood in theology as a person’s “authentic self,” seems redundant.

  Joel Green: Body, Soul, and Human Life: The Nature of Humanity in the Bible, p. 45

Monism or Dualism?

Monism or Dualism?

Monism or Dualism?

Monism or Dualism?

Where’s Life?

Monism or Dualism?

Where’s Life?

JAMES POTTER BORN 27 MARCH 1960

DIED 31 OCTOBER 1981

LILY POTTER BORN 30 JANUARY 1960 DIED 31 OCTOBER 1981

The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Harry read the words slowly, as though he would have only one chance to take in their meaning, and he read the last of them aloud. “‘The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death’…” A horrible thought came to him, and with it a kind of panic. “Isn’t that a Death Eater idea? Why is that there?” “It doesn’t mean defeating death in the way the Death Eaters mean it, Harry,” said Hermione, her voice gentle. “It means…you know…living beyond death. Living after death.” But they were not living, thought Harry: They were gone. The empty words could not disguise the fact that his parents’ moldering remains lay beneath snow and stone, indifferent, unknowing. And tears came before he could stop them, boiling hot then instantly freezing on his face, and what was the point in wiping them off or pretending?

Monism or Dualism?

"Indeed, God calls even the body to resurrection and promises it everlasting life. When he promises to save the man, he thereby makes his promise to the flesh. What is man but a rational living being composed of soul and body? Is the soul by itself a man? No, it is but the soul of a man. Can the body be called a man? No, it can but be called the body of a man. If, then, neither of these is by itself a man, but that which is composed of the two together is called a man, and if God has called man to life and resurrection, he has called not a part, but the whole, which is the soul and the body" (Justin Martyr, The Resurrection 8 [A.D. 153]).

Where’s Life?

Monism or Dualism?

Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body… (Chalcedonian Creed, 451 AD)

Where’s Life?

Monism or Dualism?

Where’s Life?

In the Old Testament human life is physical and

earthly.

Old Testament anthropology is

typically synthetic and holistic.

The conception of Sheol in the Old Testament is evidence for existence

(if not exactly life) after death. ST

AG

E O

NE

Monism or Dualism?

Where’s Life?

In the Old Testament human life is physical and

earthly.

Old Testament anthropology is

typically synthetic and holistic.

The conception of Sheol in the Old Testament is evidence for existence

(if not exactly life) after death.

A variety of positions are evident in the Intertestamental

literature.

The New Testament is dominated by the

resurrection of Jesus and its implications

for his people.

In accord with much Intertestamental

literature, the New Testament also teaches an intermediate state between

death and resurrection.

STA

GE

ON

E

STA

GE

TW

O

Monism or Dualism?

Where’s Life?

In the Old Testament human life is physical and

earthly.

Old Testament anthropology is

typically synthetic and holistic.

The conception of Sheol in the Old Testament is evidence for existence

(if not exactly life) after death.

A variety of positions are evident in the Intertestamental

literature.

The New Testament is dominated by the

resurrection of Jesus and its implications

for his people.

In accord with much Intertestamental

literature, the New Testament also teaches an intermediate state between

death and resurrection.

STA

GE

ON

E

STA

GE

TW

O

Monism or Dualism?

Where’s Life?

In the Old Testament human life is physical and

earthly.

Old Testament anthropology is

typically synthetic and holistic.

The conception of Sheol in the Old Testament is evidence for existence

(if not exactly life) after death.

A variety of positions are evident in the Intertestamental

literature.

The New Testament is dominated by the

resurrection of Jesus and its implications

for his people.

In accord with much Intertestamental

literature, the New Testament also teaches an intermediate state between

death and resurrection.

STA

GE

ON

E

STA

GE

TW

O

Monism or Dualism?

Where’s Life?

In the Old Testament human life is physical and

earthly.

Old Testament anthropology is

typically synthetic and holistic.

The conception of Sheol in the Old Testament is evidence for existence

(if not exactly life) after death.

  Isa 5:14 “The underworld wrenches wide its nephesh, and opens its mouth beyond measure.”

  Ps 105:18 “They forced his feet into fetters, his nephesh was put into irons.”

  Ps 35:25 Do not let them say in their heart, "Aha, our nephesh!" Do not let them say, "We have swallowed him up!”

  Jer 22:27 But as for the land to which they lift up their nephesh, they will not return to it.

  Lev 17:10 And any man… who eats any blood, I will set My face against the nephesh who eats blood…

  Ps 143.3-8   3 For the enemy has pursued my nephesh; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.

  4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.

  6 I stretch out my hands to you; my nephesh thirsts for you like a parched land.

  7  Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

  8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my nephesh.

  Ps 143.3-8   3 For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.

  4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.

  6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.

  7  Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

  8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

  Ps 143.3-8   3 For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.

  4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.

  6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.

  7  Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

  8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.