standingfirminChrist
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The word "soul" has various meanings in Scripture. Sometimes it refers to the whole man (Ge 2:7; Le 17:12). Often, though, it refers to a conscious, immaterial part of man which exists beyond death apart from the body. Bible words must be defined by the context in which they are found, since almost all Bible words have various usages and definitions in different contexts. This is true with words in normal language in or out of the Bible.
OLD TESTAMENT TEACHING ON THE SOUL. O.T. examples of the soul as an immaterial, conscious part of the man are seen in Ge 35:18 and 1Ki 17:21-22. In Ge. 35 the death of Rachel is recorded, and we learn that her soul departed when she died. "... as her soul was in departing, (for she died)..." In 1Ki. 17 it is recorded that a young boy died and was raised again through Elijah's ministry. The Bible plainly says his soul departed and returned again to him: "... O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived" (1Ki. 17:21,22). Obviously the prophet Elijah did not have the same idea about the soul and death as some cults do, which teach that man's soul does not leave the body.
The "soul" is used in close connection with the "spirit" (De 4:29; 6:5; 10:12; 11:13,18). In some cases the "soul" might actually be a synonym for the "spirit," but the N.T. makes a distinction between the two and says man has both a soul and a spirit (1Th 5:23). The soul has feelings (Ge 42:21); it thinks (Ge 49:6); it can sin (Le 4:2); it can love God and keep His commandments (De 6:5; 10:12; 11:13); it can meditate upon God's words (De 11:18); it can love a friend (1Sa 18:1-3); it can long for and trust in God (Ps 57:1; 63:1); it can be chastened with fasting (Ps 69:10).
The O.T. particularly connects the soul of man with his desires and earthly appetites. It is the soul of the thirsty or hungry man that "hath appetite" (Isa 29:8). It is the soul of a man that longs for a woman that he loves (Ge 34:3,8). It was the souls of the Israelites in the wilderness which were "discouraged because of the way" (Nu 21:4) and which loathed the manna (Nu 21:5). It is the soul of a man that loves a friend (1Sa 18:1-3). The soul can be "dried out" (Nu 11:6), "anguished" (Ge 42:21), "grieved" (Jg 10:16); can "lust" (De 12:15), can "long" (De 12:20), can "be grieved" (1Sa 1:10), can "thirst for God" (Ps 42:2), can be "cast down" (Ps 43:5).
NEW TESTAMENT TEACHING ON THE SOUL. In the N.T., the word "soul" is also used to describe a spiritual part of man distinct from his body. "... I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1Th 5:23). Here we are told that man has three parts. Paul did not say man IS a soul; he says man HAS a soul.
Way of Life Encyclopedia
OLD TESTAMENT TEACHING ON THE SOUL. O.T. examples of the soul as an immaterial, conscious part of the man are seen in Ge 35:18 and 1Ki 17:21-22. In Ge. 35 the death of Rachel is recorded, and we learn that her soul departed when she died. "... as her soul was in departing, (for she died)..." In 1Ki. 17 it is recorded that a young boy died and was raised again through Elijah's ministry. The Bible plainly says his soul departed and returned again to him: "... O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived" (1Ki. 17:21,22). Obviously the prophet Elijah did not have the same idea about the soul and death as some cults do, which teach that man's soul does not leave the body.
The "soul" is used in close connection with the "spirit" (De 4:29; 6:5; 10:12; 11:13,18). In some cases the "soul" might actually be a synonym for the "spirit," but the N.T. makes a distinction between the two and says man has both a soul and a spirit (1Th 5:23). The soul has feelings (Ge 42:21); it thinks (Ge 49:6); it can sin (Le 4:2); it can love God and keep His commandments (De 6:5; 10:12; 11:13); it can meditate upon God's words (De 11:18); it can love a friend (1Sa 18:1-3); it can long for and trust in God (Ps 57:1; 63:1); it can be chastened with fasting (Ps 69:10).
The O.T. particularly connects the soul of man with his desires and earthly appetites. It is the soul of the thirsty or hungry man that "hath appetite" (Isa 29:8). It is the soul of a man that longs for a woman that he loves (Ge 34:3,8). It was the souls of the Israelites in the wilderness which were "discouraged because of the way" (Nu 21:4) and which loathed the manna (Nu 21:5). It is the soul of a man that loves a friend (1Sa 18:1-3). The soul can be "dried out" (Nu 11:6), "anguished" (Ge 42:21), "grieved" (Jg 10:16); can "lust" (De 12:15), can "long" (De 12:20), can "be grieved" (1Sa 1:10), can "thirst for God" (Ps 42:2), can be "cast down" (Ps 43:5).
NEW TESTAMENT TEACHING ON THE SOUL. In the N.T., the word "soul" is also used to describe a spiritual part of man distinct from his body. "... I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1Th 5:23). Here we are told that man has three parts. Paul did not say man IS a soul; he says man HAS a soul.
Way of Life Encyclopedia