THE BIBLE AND THE SOUL
WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT SOULS,
SPIRITS, HEARTS, MINDS, LIVERS, BODIES,
HEAVEN AND OTHER THINGS (INCLUDING
THE INTERMEDIATE STATE)
BILL WILDER
Monism or Dualism?
Monism or Dualism?
Monism or Dualism?
Where’s Life?
Intertestamental Literature
Sadducees’ Position
Sirach 14:16-19
Give, and take, and
indulge yourself (“your
soul/psyche”), because in
Hades one cannot look for
luxury. 17 All living beings
(“all flesh/sarx”) become
old like a garment, for the
decree from of old is, "You
must die! 18 Like abundant
leaves on a spreading tree
that sheds some and puts
forth others, so are the
generations of flesh and
blood: one dies and
another is born. 19 Every
work decays and ceases to
exist, and the one who
made it will pass away
with it.
16
See Cooper, p. 76; Wright, pp. 136-137.
Pharisees’ Position
2 Maccabees 7:10-12
After him, the third was
the victim of their sport.
When it was demanded, he
quickly put out his tongue
and courageously
stretched forth his hands,
11 and said nobly, "I got
these from Heaven, and
because of his laws I
disdain them, and from
him I hope to get them
back again." 12 As a result
the king himself and those
with him were astonished
at the young man's spirit
(“soul”/psyche), for he
regarded his sufferings as
nothing.
Hellenists’ Position
10
4 Maccabees 18:23-24
But the sons of Abraham
with their victorious
mother are gathered
together into the chorus of
the fathers, and have
received pure and
immortal souls (psyche)
from God, 24 to whom be
glory forever and ever.
Amen.
23
Intertestamental Literature
Sadducees’ Position
Pharisees’ Position
Hellenists’ Position
Sirach 14:16-19
2 Maccabees 7:10-12
Give, and take, and
10 After him, the third was
indulge yourself (“your
the victim of their sport.
soul/psyche”), because in
When it was demanded, he
Hades one cannot look for
4 Maccabees 18:23-24
quickly put out his tongue
luxury. 17 All living beings
23
But the sons of Abraham
and courageously
(“all flesh/sarx”) become
with their victorious
stretched forth his hands,
old like a garment,
Wisdom
3:1-8 for
Butthe
the souls (psyche)
of nobly,
the righteous
are
in
the
hand of God, and
11 and said
"I got
mother are gathered
2
decree
from ofwill
oldever
is, "You
no
torment
touch them.these
Infrom
the eyes
of the
they
seemed
have
together
intotothe
chorus of
Heaven,
andfoolish
18
3 and their going from us to be
must
Like abundant
died,die!
and their
departure was thought
to
be
a
disaster,
the fathers, and have
because of his laws I
leaves
on
a
spreading
tree
4
their destruction; but they are atdisdain
peace. them,
Forand
though
otherspure
theyand
were
from in the sight ofreceived
that sheds some and puts
5
immortal soulsthey
(psyche)
him I hope to get them
punished,
their
hope
will
forth others,
so are
theis full of immortality. 12 Having been disciplined a little,
24
6 like
again."
As a found
result them worthy
from God,
to whom
be
receive
greatofgood,
because Godback
tested
them and
of himself;
generations
flesh and
glory forever and ever.
the king himself and those
gold
in the
furnace
blood:
one
dies andhe tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted
Amen.
with him were astonished
them.
another is born. 19 Every
at the young man's spirit
work decays and ceases to
(“soul”/psyche), for he
exist, and the one who
regarded his sufferings as
7 In
made
will of
pass
away
the it
time
their
visitation they will shine
forth (analampsousin), and will run like
nothing.
8
with
it.
sparks through the stubble. They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the
16
Lord will reign over them forever.
See Cooper, p. 76; Wright, pp. 136-137.
New Testament
Luke 23-24
Luke 24:36-43 36 While they were talking about this, Jesus
himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with
you." 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they
were seeing a ghost (spirit). 38 He said to them, "Why are you
frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at
my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see;
for a ghost (spirit) does not have flesh and bones as you see that
I have." 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his
hands and his feet. 41 While in their joy they were disbelieving
and still wondering, he said to them, "Have you anything here to
eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it
and ate in their presence.
Cooper, p. 114-115.
Acts 4:1-2
Acts 4:1-2 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the
priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them,
2 much annoyed because they were teaching the people and
proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead.
Acts 23.6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees
and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am
a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the
resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” 7 And when he had said
this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees,
and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is
no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge
them all.
Acts 26:4-8, 22-24
Acts 24:14-15 14 But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which
they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything laid
down according to the law or written in the prophets. 15 I have a hope in
God -- a hope that they themselves also accept -- that there will be a
resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.
Acts 26:4-8 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to
testify, that I have belonged to the strictest sect of our religion and lived as a
Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial on account of my hope in the
promise made by God to our ancestors, 7 a promise that our twelve tribes
hope to attain, as they earnestly worship day and night. It is for this hope,
your Excellency,1 that I am accused by Jews! 8 Why is it thought incredible
by any of you that God raises the dead?
Acts 26:4-8, 22-24
1 Pet 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead . . .
1 Pet 1.13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being soberminded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the
revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Pet 1.21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from
the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
1 Pet 3.15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being
prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the
hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
John W. Cooper
Body, Soul & Life Everlasting: Biblical Anthropology & the Monism-Dualism
Debate
Robert H. Gundry
Sōma in Biblical Theology with Emphasis on Pauline Anthropology
Hans Walter Wolff
Anthropology of the Old Testament
Johann Auer and Joseph Ratzinger
Dogmatic Theology 9 Eschatology: Death and Eternal Life