A few questions....

[Exist]

This isn't going to be a debate, but I have to ask....

"My friend, I use the King James Version.....don't have any use for 'other' versions of the Holy Bible."
What are you talking about? You don't have other uses for it? Because King James is authentic? How about read the texts in their original languages if you want authentic. If it's not that, then why do you use it?

"I have no reason to defend anything that the Bible says....it stands on it's own. I never will argue the Bible - because I believe it. Sorry if my answers didn't 'suit' you.....I did my best."
I never asked you to doubt the Bible. In fact, I have no idea where this came from. I asked if you believe only humans have souls, because the Bible doesn't say otherwise? And that since it's an argument from silence, it's safe to say that it's possible for other beings to have souls, right?

"By the way, on question 2 about the 'being'/'soul'......very interesting if you've ever seen someone die. When that breath leaves that body for the last time, you can tell that the person on the inside is gone....if that doesn't equal a soul/spirit, then I don't know what does. It just isn't the same when you see an animal die.....I've seen both and there is a difference."

Not to be rude, but you are scientifically incorrect. Death isn't measured by the stopping of breath. If a person ceases to breathe, he is still alive, and it's possible to have him start breathing again. If he ceases to have a heartbeat, he is still alive and can have his heart beat again. So far, the measuring stick of death is the brain waves ceasing. We have never been able to revive a brain dead person, though science.

So yeah, actually...I have a friend who "died." For several minutes, he had no breathe or heartbeat. The doctors brought him back, aka he wasn't truly dead. For those minutes, was his soul out of his body, then when the breath came back, his soul came back? Or is your belief system based on old faulty science?

Wow, I forgot about Dan. He goes to my father's church, and is a strong Christian. He "died" as well, and was brought back by doctors. He said that death didn't hurt, it was coming back that hurt. It felt all the blood in his body went up to his head, then built and built, then exploded.

 

[thepianist]

This isn't going to be a debate, but I have to ask....

"My friend, I use the King James Version.....don't have any use for 'other' versions of the Holy Bible."
What are you talking about? You don't have other uses for it? Because King James is authentic? How about read the texts in their original languages if you want authentic. If it's not that, then why do you use it?

"I have no reason to defend anything that the Bible says....it stands on it's own. I never will argue the Bible - because I believe it. Sorry if my answers didn't 'suit' you.....I did my best."
I never asked you to doubt the Bible. In fact, I have no idea where this came from. I asked if you believe only humans have souls, because the Bible doesn't say otherwise? And that since it's an argument from silence, it's safe to say that it's possible for other beings to have souls, right?

"By the way, on question 2 about the 'being'/'soul'......very interesting if you've ever seen someone die. When that breath leaves that body for the last time, you can tell that the person on the inside is gone....if that doesn't equal a soul/spirit, then I don't know what does. It just isn't the same when you see an animal die.....I've seen both and there is a difference."

Not to be rude, but you are scientifically incorrect. Death isn't measured by the stopping of breath. If a person ceases to breathe, he is still alive, and it's possible to have him start breathing again. If he ceases to have a heartbeat, he is still alive and can have his heart beat again. So far, the measuring stick of death is the brain waves ceasing. We have never been able to revive a brain dead person, though science.

So yeah, actually...I have a friend who "died." For several minutes, he had no breathe or heartbeat. The doctors brought him back, aka he wasn't truly dead. For those minutes, was his soul out of his body, then when the breath came back, his soul came back? Or is your belief system based on old faulty science?

Wow, I forgot about Dan. He goes to my father's church, and is a strong Christian. He "died" as well, and was brought back by doctors. He said that death didn't hurt, it was coming back that hurt. It felt all the blood in his body went up to his head, then built and built, then exploded.

Well, you asked what version I was using....so I told you. I don't find it difficult to understand, therefore I don't use any 'others'. Quite simple.

When it comes to human beings having a soul and not other beings. What I meant was I have never read that God breathed into the nostrils of any other being that He created and it became a living 'soul'.....just man.

As far as the death of a human....fine - if science (something I don't keep up with at all) has discovered the exact reason death is declared is because of the brain......it really doesn't matter to me.

See, my daddy was 'brought back' once.....nothing dramatic to tell, just the fact that it happened. I was there when he did die (and wasn't brought back) and I wasn't really interested in trying to figure out what would cause his SOUL to leave his body....I just know that it did.

Like I said, I have no argument with you at all. Just wanted to try and answer your questions to the best of my ability. My prayer is that you will one day discover Jesus Christ for yourself and accept Him as your personal Saviour.

 

[Exist]

When it comes to human beings having a soul and not other beings. What I meant was I have never read that God breathed into the nostrils of any other being that He created and it became a living 'soul'.....just man.

So it wouldn't be going against the Bible to say that God/angels/demons/animals have souls? It's just that you don't believe it, because the Bible doesn't say either way?

 

[CrazyforYeshua]

I don't think there would be a reason for animals to have souls, tho I don't really know.
God is Spirit, He also does not have a soul.
Yeshua (Jesus) came in human form to save mankind, and being born of a woman, I would think He had a soul, our soul is our emotions/feelings/will. There would be no reason for Him not to have one.

 

[dvd_holc]

“But what if a human or community of humans perceives something is good, but it is not, or percieves it be not, but it is?”

Example: Justice in Iran

Iran to hang teenage girl attacked by rapists


Tehran, Iran, Jan. 07 – An Iranian court has sentenced a teenage rape victim to death by hanging after she weepingly confessed that she had unintentionally killed a man who had tried to rape both her and her niece.

http://www.iranfocus.com/modules/ne...hp?storyid=5184

Taken from:

http://www.christianforums.com/t2519793-iran-to-hang-teenage-girl-attacked-by-rapists.html

Now, America and I saw that a woman defending herself against a rapist is good. But, clearly the justice in Iran is not the same as in America. So then which is good?


“You say "Good is of God". You mean to say that he did not create good, but it has existed forever, being part of him (an eternal being). Right?”


Everything that God and his people of the kingdom of Heaven is good because of God. God’s image and being which is good is transferred through messengers.


“Your next Genesis quote isn't relevant. I'm talking about moral goodness. Moral righteousness.

This coke is "good" to me, because it serves its function well (tasty). That doesn't mean that it is morally good.”

You want to know God’s nature. It is evident in Genesis. You want to know if his action produce good. I have shown you. I also shown you scriptures about all the things of heaven are what is good and holy of this world because it is transferred from Heaven to this world.


“Again, this verse says nothing about souls, unless God has a soul, and he created humans like him, that is, having souls.”

No, it says a great deal, but you have not seen it. First, God is eternal. We have a part which is eternal (soul). Second, God has an effective will. We have a effective will. Third, God is not constrained by anything. We are his creation placed in the midst of his creations. We are limited within his boundaries. Forth, he has identity with responsibility where as if he does not act effectively in the cosmos there is major problems. We have an identity with responsibility; where as, when we sinned our relationship with God, environment, and community was through into disharmony.

“So the Bible is silent about it? And it says nothing on Jesus having a soul, the Father having a soul, angels/demons having souls? It's silent?”


First, Jesus was a human to which had an eternal soul. However, he existed (unlike all other humans) before time began. The Father is eternal and he has a spirit (Holy Spirit). Second, angels and demons are also made eternal which is to say they won’t die. Third, animals are creatures of Earth not made in God’s image. No where is important to God to develop the identities of animals into his image.

“Deut 10:14 says that God is good. But it doesn't say if God can do evil, if he chose. So, actually, yeah...if anybody knows any more verses that say God cannot do evil, I'd really appretiate it.”


It is impossible because the nature of God and his purity of being. As already stated by James, God is purely good.

“In other news: I've been awake for 23 hours, slept five before that, and before that was awake 24. Quite a manic episode, or something. But I'm pretty sleepy now (though I feel like going out and doing something...I probably will...go chill with friends or something). That is all. I think I'm going home now.”

Hope you slept well.

 

[thepianist]

So it wouldn't be going against the Bible to say that God/angels/demons/animals have souls? It's just that you don't believe it, because the Bible doesn't say either way?

I truly believe that IF God had created any other creature/being/animal with a soul, it would be stated that way in the Bible.

 

[Exist]

I truly believe that IF God had created any other creature/being/animal with a soul, it would be stated that way in the Bible.

Why do you think this?

 

[Exegete12]

See, reading back, maybe I'm not being too clear....
Is it His nature to do good, or is it good's nature to conform to God?
Either way, God does nothing but good.
If God raped a baby, would that be moral? I'm asking if acts are instrinsically good, thus God does them, or are acts just acts, but God's views on what is good becomes the standard of goodness.

Hi Exist: God is LOVE, and therefore whatever He does is of Love, so he can only do good. God can do anything, but not all things are ethical, or moral for him to do, his nature is Love and only goodness can come from this. God could not rape a baby, as it is not in his law of love. As for what is good the 10 commandments give us some indication, and further the beatitudes of Jesus Christ give us plenty more. Hope this helps.

 

[Exist]

I've made a new thing just for the soul question, so if you're going to reply to it, please do it there.

Hi Exist: God is LOVE, and therefore whatever He does is of Love, so he can only do good. God can do anything, but not all things are ethical, or moral for him to do, his nature is Love and only goodness can come from this. God could not rape a baby, as it is not in his law of love. As for what is good the 10 commandments give us some indication, and further the beatitudes of Jesus Christ give us plenty more. Hope this helps.

So some acts are intrinsically good, therefore God does those acts, and some are bad, therefore God does not do those?

So goodness and evilness are concepts that are eternal, and God didn't create them?

 

[shinbits]

1> God created everything. Some things, however, God did not create: God, existance, truth, love (debatable), etc. because these concepts are part of God's nature, therefore, have existed as long as God has: eternally.

Yes. Whenever the Bible says things like "God created all things," we are to use common sense. Common sense should let us know that "created all things" doesn't include Himself.

people expect the Bible to spell out every detail of EVERYTHING.
Common sense is a key thing to remember when reading the Bible.

But...what about moral goodness?

"Is God good, or is good God?"

Does acts that God do became good because God did them, or does God do only good acts because he is inherantly good?

God does what is good, because it is good in of itself.
God hates what is evil, because it is evil in of itself.

2> Does the Bible say that souls are unique to humans? Do any other beings in existance have souls? I'm only concerned with what the Bible says; if it is completely silent on the issue, then I don't want opinions.

The Bible doesn't say.

3> Where does the Bible say that the Book of Life "closes" to a person at death?

This is a misquote. One's name is written in the book of life while one is alive, and has accepted Christ as Lord. When that person dies, the book of life is looked at, and if they're name is found, they'll have eteranal life.
Revelation says, whoever's name is not found in the book of life, will be cast in the Lake of Fire.
-------

4> What does the Bible say about the nature of souls? Again, I don't want personal beliefs. I'm interested in what the Bible has to say about it.

The Bible makes it clear that the soul will continue existing for eternity after the body dies.
The soul can think, feel, and move.
The soul is what we really are, and the body is just the casing.

5> Finally, where does the Bible say that God has free will, and that he can choose to do evil, but won't?

In the book of Matthew,
Jesus was sent to the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by Satan himself.
This shows that Jesus has the ability to choose sin. Otherwise, it would've been futile to send Jesus to be tempted to sin, if He didn't even have that ability.

 

[Exist]

The Bible makes it clear that the soul will continue existing for eternity after the body dies.
The soul can think, feel, and move.
The soul is what we really are, and the body is just the casing.

Where in the Bible does it say this?

In the book of Matthew,
Jesus was sent to the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by Satan himself.
This shows that Jesus has the ability to choose sin. Otherwise, it would've been futile to send Jesus to be tempted to sin, if He didn't even have that ability.

I'm talking about the Father God. Jesus may be a part of God, but he is different from the Father in some ways (free will, omniscience, etc). Right now, I believe that since the Father cannot do evil, he has no free will.

 

[shinbits]

Where in the Bible does it say this?.

The Bible says that sinners will be cast in the Lake of fire, where they will suffer torment for eternity.
They must be able to feel for this to happen.

Revelation is one place that mentions this.

Jesus said that in hell, there will be "Weeping and gnashing of teeth" in hell.

Thier souls are able to feel.

Jesus also gives a parable of "Lazarus and the rich man", in where He illustrates that the rich man is in hell, in agony, and thirsty, able to think and desire.

I'm talking about the Father God. Jesus may be a part of God, but he is different from the Father in some ways (free will, omniscience, etc). Right now, I believe that since the Father cannot do evil, he has no free will.

Jesus said, "I and the Father are one." And also, "Those who have seen me have seen the Father."

If Jesus by free will doesn't sin, the same with The Father.

 

[Exist]

Jesus said, "I and the Father are one." And also, "Those who have seen me have seen the Father."

If Jesus by free will doesn't sin, the same with The Father.

Yes, but they are obviously different entities, in some respects at least. By Jesus saying, "The Father and I are one," he doesn't say that since the Father is omniscient, Jesus is omniscient.

Oh, I've got to go, I'll finish later.

 

[dvd_holc]

Jesus said, "I and the Father are one." And also, "Those who have seen me have seen the Father."

If Jesus by free will doesn't sin, the same with The Father.

Yes, but they are obviously different entities, in some respects at least. By Jesus saying, "The Father and I are one," he doesn't say that since the Father is omniscient, Jesus is omniscient.

Oh, I've got to go, I'll finish later.

Jesus are God the Father united in purpose and deed. Jesus in the flesh did not come with all of his glory. Jesus humbled himself to that a complete servant. Jesus transfigured before three of his disciples. Also, he had a parable of the sheep and goats; whereas, he said when he comes in all of his glory...Jesus was as limited as a human and ministried by the Holy Spirit through his life.

 

[dvd_holc]

Phil 2:
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6 ​

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a human being, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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