Does animal have spirit?

Jesus_is_Saint said:

Jesus said human has spirit.
How about animal?

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Off the top of my head, I would like to offer the following thoughts. To the people of Jesus' time, the spirit was the life-giving force that animated the physical body. It is what left the body when someone died. So I think they would have seen animals as having spirits. But I think the confusion comes from equating spirit with soul. God creates a soul, which is an image of his eternal nature, and places that within a human baby. Only man possesses an eternal soul, not animals. It is the soul that grants us the gifts of God's graces and allows us to see things as God would. As a proof of point, we do not condemn an animal for killing since they are only fulfilling their animal nature; but we do condemn a man for killing without cause because God calls us to a higher standard of morality.

Jesus_is_Saint said:

Jesus said human has spirit.
How about animal?

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Well, the Scriptures say that all life has a soul (Job 12:10) and that animals will go to Heaven (Romans 8:19-22) (Pay close attention to verse 21).

"In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:10) (KJV).

Romans 8:19-22 says,

19 "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."

It's only logical that if animals have a soul, they have a spirit.

tz620q said:

Off the top of my head, I would like to offer the following thoughts. To the people of Jesus' time, the spirit was the life-giving force that animated the physical body. It is what left the body when someone died. So I think they would have seen animals as having spirits. But I think the confusion comes from equating spirit with soul. God creates a soul, which is an image of his eternal nature, and places that within a human baby. Only man possesses an eternal soul, not animals. It is the soul that grants us the gifts of God's graces and allows us to see things as God would. As a proof of point, we do not condemn an animal for killing since they are only fulfilling their animal nature; but we do condemn a man for killing without cause because God calls us to a higher standard of morality.

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You have it back to front. We are created in the image of God. God is Spirit. It is the spirit that died to God when Adam rebelled. Adam could still think, feel, and choose. His soul was alive. However, it was corrupted progressively as you can see in Romans 1 which traces man's decline.

When we are born again, it is the dead spirit that is replaced with the new, live spirit. This is the place where Lord Jesus lives.

There is a life-source in the soul, which is the "natural man". Adam's spirit was empty when God created him. Adam was instructed not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, otherwise he would die. If Adam had eaten from the tree of life, then his spirit man would have been full of God's life from the beginning and the history of humanity would be entirely different.

This life-source in the soul is what Christians are meant to deny in favour of the life of Christ in the spirit. That's what carrying the cross and denying ourselves is about.

Bible Highlighter said:

Well, the Scriptures say that all life has a soul (Job 12:10) and that animals will go to Heaven (Romans 8:19-22) (Pay close attention to verse 21).

"In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:10) (KJV).

Romans 8:19-22 says,

19 "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."

It's only logical that if animals have a soul, they have a spirit.

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"It's only logical that if animals have a soul, they have a spirit" I'd disagree with that assertion. God is Spirit. Only man is made in the image of God. Yes, animals will be in heaven, but they are not made in God's image. They have not sinned so do not need to be saved.

Jesus_is_Saint said:

Jesus said human has spirit.
How about animal?

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Do animals have a spirit?

According to Scripture... "yes."

"Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" (Ecclesiastes 3:21).

Bible Highlighter said:

21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

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Get a better translation. The NASB:

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

NKJV
21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

I see that as a revocation of the 2nd law of thermodynamics; not talking about animals at all.

Dave-W said:

Get a better translation. The NASB:

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

I see that as a revocation of the 2nd law of thermodynamics.

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The King James (Cambridge Edition circa 1900) is the divinely inspired perfect Word of God for our day. See this thread here:

Reasons why I believe the KJV is the divinely inspired perfect Word of God.

But even if you didn't like the KJV, and you prefer the NASB (for whatever reason that is), it says this in verse 19 in the NASB.


How can the creation wait eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God?

Bible Highlighter said:

Do animals have a spirit?

According to Scripture... "yes."

"Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" (Ecclesiastes 3:21).

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tz620q said:

Off the top of my head, I would like to offer the following thoughts. To the people of Jesus' time, the spirit was the life-giving force that animated the physical body. It is what left the body when someone died. So I think they would have seen animals as having spirits. But I think the confusion comes from equating spirit with soul. God creates a soul, which is an image of his eternal nature, and places that within a human baby. Only man possesses an eternal soul, not animals. It is the soul that grants us the gifts of God's graces and allows us to see things as God would. As a proof of point, we do not condemn an animal for killing since they are only fulfilling their animal nature; but we do condemn a man for killing without cause because God calls us to a higher standard of morality.

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I withdraw my comment about being back to front. I need to quit responding to posts so late at night. The rest of my comments I'll stick with.

Jesus_is_Saint said:

I will see my pet in heaven?

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I believe so, but it's not spelled out in the Bible.

Jesus_is_Saint said:

I will see my pet in heaven?

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Scripture does not say. But in Romans 8:19-22: It does imply that the animal kingdom does eagerly await the bodily resurrection of the saints so as to share in the same hope upon the New Earth (Which is after the Millennium and the Final Judgment).

Side Note:

I believe saints (Those who sought forgiveness with Jesus Christ, and lived faithfully to Him and who did not justify sin) who die physically today go to Abraham's Bosom (until the Rapture).

After the Pre-Trib Rapture and or Mid Tribulation Gathering Up by the saints, then the saint who dies physically will go directly up to Heaven.

For in the Rapture, it describes how the dead in Christ will rise first, and then we which are alive will be caught up together in the air with them to meet the Lord in the air.

But most people are fed repeatedly a belief since childhood that we die and go to Heaven. This is an easy pill to swallow. For who does not want to go to Heaven? So this belief is just accepted, even amongst the Christian community. For if a belief is repeated to a person long enough, it simply becomes true to them. Sure, the faithful saints will go to Heaven, but it will only take place after the Rapture.

Aussie Pete said:

I withdraw my comment about being back to front. I need to quit responding to posts so late at night. The rest of my comments I'll stick with.

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It's all good. I just believe the Bible says beasts have a spirit according to Ecclesiastes.

Bible Highlighter said:

How can the creation wait eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God?

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The Bible is full of statements like that; trees clapping their hands, the waves of the oceans praising God, etc.

I take it there is some kind of consciousness behind everything that is aware of God and praises Him.

WHO was it that obeyed Our Lord when he said this:?

Mark 4:39 NASB
And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.

Clearly the text tells us the wind and the waves both heard HIM and obeyed.

Jesus_is_Saint said:

I will see my pet in heaven?

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That is entirely unknown. There is no scripture to either support or prohibit such a thing.

And that is OK. We do not need to know everything.

Dave-W said:

The Bible is full of statements like that; trees clapping their hands, the waves of the oceans praising God, etc.

I take it there is some kind of consciousness behind everything that is aware of God and praises Him.

WHO was it that obeyed Our Lord when he said this:?

Mark 4:39 NASB
And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.

Clearly the text tells us the wind and the waves both heard HIM and obeyed.

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Determining what is literal and figurative depends on the context, the guiding of the Anointing, and looking at the related cross references on the matter.

The Bible says animals have a soul, and spirit. This seems to fit with Romans 8:19-22 saying that they await the bodily resurrection of the sons of God (the saints) in the New Earth.

Bible Highlighter said:

Determining what is literal and figurative depends on the context, the guiding of the Anointing, and looking at the related cross references on the matter.

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And what does your looking at cross references and guiding of the anointing tell you about Mark 4.39?

Literal or figurative?

Bible Highlighter said:

The Bible says animals have a soul, and spirit.

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Indeed, but be careful how you take that. If you look at all the ways nefesh (soul) is used, it can be quite overwhelming.

Dave-W said:

And what does your looking at cross references and guiding of the anointing tell you about Mark 4.39?

Literal or figurative?

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Literal because God ultimately controls the elements.

You said:

Indeed, but be careful how you take that. If you look at all the ways nefesh (soul) is used, it can be quite overwhelming.

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I just read and believe the Bible in plain English. There is no need to overcomplicate things by trying to know a dead language. Remember, James says God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith. Obviously not all the poor have fat cat scholarly educations. Peter was a fisherman and not an overly educated man.

@Dave-W

While we may have our differences on understanding Scripture, I have been meaning to compliment you on the cuteness of your grandchild. God has blessed you well. Praise be unto Him for such a thing, my friend.

Anyways, your grandchild reminds me of a similar looking child on a photo used for the cover of a container for organic eggs that I buy called Pete and Gerry's.



Anyways, peace be unto you in the Lord (even if we disagree on Scripture).

Bible Highlighter said:

Anyways, peace be unto you in the Lord (even if we disagree on Scripture).

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And to you also my brother!

And yes, Artie is a real cutie! thanks!