A few questions....

[Exist]

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. 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?

This is just your opinion. Bible verses (while they help (if you can find some)) aren't neccesary.

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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.

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

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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.

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



Thanks in advance.

 

[tapero]

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. 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?

This is just your opinion. Bible verses (while they help (if you can find some)) aren't neccesary.

------

Hi,

1a) God is good. Bible verse: Only God is good.

1b) I believe God can only do good. It is His nature, who He Is.

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.

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I don't believe the bible says anything on this. Just mentions our souls a lot.

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

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Not sure what you mean, but the bible states: Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

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.

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I can't find anything in the bible on souls, except that we have them, and it is frequently mentioned in the bible.. Things like being obedient, loving God with all our soul, etc.

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


It doesn't say he can choose to do evil that I know of. He would not do evil. That would be a tough verse to find, where he never does evil. God tells us that he owns it all, all creation; that implies I think free will, not sure, but for a quick answer

Thanks in advance.

take care, thanks for the question

 

[CrazyforYeshua]

The only one I'm going to address is the Book of Life, because we have a discussion on the PC/SF board about this. These are all the scriptures on it, see what you think about them

Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.Exodus 32:33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

Psalms 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.


Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Philippians 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.


Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.


Revelation 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.


Basically, all our names are in the book, and whoever does not repent before they die, are taken out. Is that what you meant?

 

[Exist]

Well, I meant in reference to people becoming saved after death. When is their time of free will and choice over? Where does it say this?

I'm new to this place, so I don't quite know the variety of "Christian", but I'd really like opinions on both sides.

Hehe, I find something curious. I don't know much about this, but:

Basically, all our names are in the book, and whoever does not repent before they die, are taken out.

Their names are left in the book their whole life, and when they die, if they didn't repent yet, they're taken out?

Why not: their names aren't in the book, if they repent, their names are put into the book?

1a) God is good. Bible verse: Only God is good.

1b) I believe God can only do good. It is His nature, who He Is.

Yes, but why? What makes it so? That's what I'm asking, and I see only two possible answers. The acts have moral goodness outside and independant of God, and God (being good) only does such acts, or an act will become good because God does it, because God desires it.

So, yes, he only does good acts, it's in His nature. But that works with either answer to my question.

It doesn't say he can choose to do evil that I know of.

So God....can't do evil? If He's omniopotent, shouldn't be be able to do anything? Or are you of the thought that God is all powerful, up to certain limits?

 

[DeaconDean]

Let me try to answer a few of these:

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

They are good because He is inherantly good.

"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." -1 John 1:5
Darkness is an attribute of evil, and that is never an attribute attributed to God. For a real good, deep, exhaustive reading on the "Attributes of God" see this link:
http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Attributes/attributes.htm

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.

[font=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica][/font]

Nave's Topical Bible

[font=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]Spirit:

• Called "the inner man,"

• 
  Romans 7:22; Ephesians 3:16
  

[/font]The soul is unique to mankind. Also see:

"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Gen. 2:7)

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

It does not say that you are specificly closed out at death, but with logic and common sense reading of the scriptures, you will see that you can not ask for forgivness for anything after death.

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." Ec. 9:10

You can't do anything that you used to do while you were alive.


"for the former things are passed away." -Rev. 21:4

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.

Psyche, as its Old Testament counterpart, can indicate the person (Acts 2:41; 27:37). It also serves as the reflexive pronoun designating the self ("I'll say to myself" — Luke 12:19; "as my witness" — 2 Cor 1:23; "share … our lives" — 1 Thess 2:8).

Psyche can express emotions such as grief (Matt 26:38, ; Mark 14:34), anguish (John 12:27), exultation (Luke 1:46), and pleasure (Matt 12:18).

The adjectival form "soulish" indicates a person governed by the sensuous nature with subjection to appetite and passion. Such a person is "natural/unspiritual" and cannot receive the gifts of God's Spirit because they make no sense to him (1 Cor 2:14-15). As in the Old Testament, the soul relates humans to the animal world (1 Cor 15:42-50) while it is the spirit of people that allows a dynamic relationship with God. That is what separates man from animal.
Because the Hebrew word for soul can be rendered a number of ways, the best approach to the Old Testament is to observe the context in which it is used. Sorry for the broad explaination, but your question was rather broad.

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

God's free will...hum...lets see here:

"5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: -Eph. 1:5-11

Although this isn't exactly "God's free will" it does show that God does whatever He pleases according to His good will. (There is that word again, good, relating to God.) This will probably get me into a lot of controversy but I firmly believe in the Sovereignty of God. And as part of His Sovereignty, I believe that God cannot do anything evil. In fact, most people seem to forget that God being inherantly good as I showed already, can't even look upon sin let alone evil:

"Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity:" Hab. 1:13

In the Genesis accounts of the creation: after every act of God, He looked upon it and said "that it was good." (Genesis 1:4) In fact, everything in which God created was good: "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." (Genesis 1:31) If everything in which God created was good, how can He create evil? It would be contrary to His eternal character. It would make God just like the perverbial kid sitting beside an ant hill with a magnifing glass burning ants for His pleasure. That is what separates the God we believe in and the gods of other religions. To see the inherant goodness of God, see any of the following scriptures:

GOODNESS OF
Exodus 33:19; 34:6; Deuteronomy 30:9; 1 Chronicles 16:34; 2 Chronicles 5:13; 7:3; Psalms 8:1-9; 17:7; 25:8-10; 33:5; 34:8; 36:7; 52:1,9; 68:19; 69:16; 73:1; 86:5; 100:5; 106:1; 107:8,9,43; 118:29; 119:64,68; 135:3; 136:1; 139:17,18; 143:10; 144:3; 145:7,9; Isaiah 63:7; Jeremiah 9:24; Lamentations 3:25; Hosea 3:5; Nahum 1:7; Matthew 7:11; 19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 1:53; 6:35; 18:19; Romans 2:4; 11:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; Titus 3:4; James 1:5,17; 1 John 4:8

I hope I was able to help.

 

[Exist]

Hmm, I'm glad I came here with my questions....

They are good because He is inherantly good.

Do you see that you are still not answering my questions? I don't know, maybe I'm misunderstanding you? The acts are good because He is good. So they have no goodness in themselves, only because God does them? Is that what you are saying?

The question about souls, well, one reason for it, is because I'm wondering if angels/demons/God/whatever has a soul as well. Angels have free will, they have physical forms, they thoughts, emotions, they either go to heaven or hell, etc etc....what gives us a soul and not them? I consider the soul to be the ego. The mental/spiritual self, so wouldn't angels/demons/God have a soul as well?

but with logic and common sense reading of the scriptures, you will see that you can not ask for forgivness for anything after death.

So, to put it blunt, people who believe that the dead can "be saved" after they die don't use logic or common sense?

You give one verse, but that's saying that you can't do anything. What are verses that contradict the theory of praying others into heaven?

Sorry for the broad explaination, but your question was rather broad.

Hah, no, no, I'd rather have too much info than too little. I guess it's been building, so sometime I think I will sit down and study the original words/contexts of the "soul" concept.

In fact, most people seem to forget that God being inherantly good as I showed already, can't even look upon sin let alone evil...

This verse is used a lot, but what does it mean? He physically cannot look at one man kill another? He cannot look at a man who has commited murder? But I see what you believe, God does not have the free will to do evil.

If everything in which God created was good, how can He create evil?

Well, either free will/evil (free will being nothing more than the option to choose evil) has existed forever alongside God, or God created it. You already said that you believe that evil/free will isn't in God, so it hasn't existed forever, so he created it. Note that creating the option for evil isn't an evil act, in my mind. Putting myself in a position to where I can be killed by a friend (going to the shooting ranges with him/her. They have the option to shoot me) isn't an evil act, though it makes evil more accesable.

Do I make sense?

That is what separates the God we believe in and the gods of other religions.

Because the others are just kids burning ants with a magnifying glass? Monotheistic religions like yours usually says that God is good. The other religions say that the gods aren't omnipotent/omniscient, so it's not just a game to them, they're actually struggling to do what they want to do.

I hope I was able to help.

You were, thanks.

But if anybody else has more information for me, please, keep going.

 

[CrazyforYeshua]

Being saved comes from a free will choice to receive Yeshua as Saviour. When we die, we can't make that choice, we're dead. It's too late.

The one scripture about not having the chance after we die:

Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Once we die, we go either to Heaven or Hell, no in-between, the choice has been made.

 

[Exist]

But the Bible tells us in Revelation that the Judgement day hasn't happened yet. When it does, that is when the sheep get seperated from the goats, and we're sent to our destination.

A bit to back that up: In the OT, it constantly refers to dead people as being "asleep". It's because now, dead people are dead. They rest. But when Jesus comes back, the dead will rise.

So Old Uncle Bob isn't burning in hell yet, he's rotting in the grave now. If we pray for him, then maybe his soul will get into heaven when he rises?

Seems like this would be incredibly easy to disprove Biblically, but I just want the exact verses.



AND I have another request. I'm extremely sure that there is a verse saying "The universe was created for God's glory," but I CANNOT find it. I have looked and looked. Does anybody have any ideas on about where it would be? I found the one saying he created us so that we may love him, but not the one about his glory.

 

[Exist]

Disregard the last post. I know some people believe that you go straight to heaven/hell, and I don't want to debate it here.

I'm working on this theory, and I really, really would love help from Christians. I just need verses.

Yet another verse I would like is where the Bible says God is omnipotent? I have searched quite a bit, and all I have found is God saying "I'm God, what's too hard for me?" which is pretty weak.

 

[Exist]

Well, I meant in reference to people becoming saved after death. When is their time of free will and choice over? Where does it say this?

Yeah, so that's stupid. I already know the Bible says they're dead....

I'm sorry, I've just been so manic the last two days, and my thoughts have been jumping all over the place. I'm just really wanting to hear the evidence for the whole salvation after death thing. But it's not as important as the other verses, and the first question, to me now.

 

[dvd_holc]

Yeah, so that's stupid. I already know the Bible says they're dead....

I'm sorry, I've just been so manic the last two days, and my thoughts have been jumping all over the place. I'm just really wanting to hear the evidence for the whole salvation after death thing. But it's not as important as the other verses, and the first question, to me now.

I have seen no reference to a person being saved after death. The bible only speaks of developing people to be God's image bearers here and now. When do so, we are of the Kingdom of Heaven here and now (savation is theirs) which will be completely present on Earth one day. Multiple times Jesus tells stories of people who did not listen and get it not coming into the Kingdom. Therefore, not all go to Heaven and those who don't are in Hell (forever).

 

[dvd_holc]

Exist, I have spoken to you. Being that I have spoken to you, I am the one responsible for my words. Since, I am responsible and not anyone else then I am the only one who can held attributed (physically) to my words. Now, my spoken words produce either harmony or disharmony. So then I am can be held accountable for harmony or disharmony. In that day, prayers of a brother or sister have anything to do with my salvation since my idenity is from my own making and not others.

 

[Exist]

haha, come on people. I agree with you. I was wanting the argument from the other side.

Even then: That was the smallest of the questions on my list. I'm working on something pretty big (to me), and I really want to know the verses (if you know them offhand, or can find them easier than I), and I want to know what you think about the first question.

Nobody has answered it yet And I'm not just talking philosophy through a bong, the question is very real, and has very real implications. With what I'm working on, I want to hear your opinions of it.

 

[Exist]

See, reading back, maybe I'm not being too clear....

I believe God can only do good. It is His nature, who He Is.

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.

 

[thepianist]

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. 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?

This is just your opinion. Bible verses (while they help (if you can find some)) aren't neccesary.

------

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.

-------

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

-------

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.

-------

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



Thanks in advance.

1. God is good and good is God.

2. Genesis 2:7 "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Have never seen anything like that to do with any other living being.)

3. Revelation 20:12 "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." (Every living persons name is written in the Book of Life.....what matters is whether or not your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life - that only happens when we accept Jesus as our Saviour.)

4. Psalms 51:5 "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." (We are sinners in our mother's womb.)

5. Titus 1:2 "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;"

Hope these scriptures help answer some of your questions.

 

[Exist]

Oh, greatly. I'm off to work now, now I'll respond as soon as I get home.

 

[dvd_holc]

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. But...what about moral goodness?

Moral goodness is what human or a community of humans perceive or perceives is good.

"Is God good, or is good God?"

Good is of God…or so to speak is God’s presence being present.

Gal 5:
16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
&
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control…

James 3
17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

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

Genesis 1:
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4God saw that the light was good…
9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.
11Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, 15and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.
25God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
26Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, in our likeness, 31God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

James 1:
13When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each of you is tempted when you are dragged away by your own evil desire and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.

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.

Genesis 1:
27 So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

I have not seen any animals reference in the bible that says they have souls. And see below

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

I believe this has been covered…but

Rev 3:
4Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5Those who are victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out their names from the book of life, but will acknowledge their names before my Father and his angels.

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.

Humans have them, some at least appear before the Lord, and their retain their idenities.

Rev 6:
9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.

1 Samuel 28:
8So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”
9But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?”
10Saul swore to her by the LORD, “As surely as the LORD lives, you will not be punished for this.”
11Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?”
“Bring up Samuel,” he said.
12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

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

though what the above quotes cover this…I will continue.

Deut: 10:
14To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. 15Yet the LORD set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today. 16Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. 17For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. 18He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigners residing among you, giving them food and clothing

 

[Exist]

I just replied to this. It didn't take, I guess, so I'm going to have to again. Which is really annoying.

God is good and good is God.

Yeah, note that they don't mean the same thing (I explained).

God does an act because it is good, and that becomes good because God did it, because it was good.

It's circular. Either the act is good whether God wants it to be or not (note that he wouldn't want them to not be good, because he, by his nature, would like what is good), or nothing is intrinsically good, and only becomes good because God decrees it to be so.

I don't know why this is causing so much confusion :s Really, it's not a trick question, you can say what you believe. If you haven't thought about it before, say your gut feeling, then say why.

Genesis 2:7 "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Have never seen anything like that to do with any other living being.)

The word doesn't translate to "soul", but "being". What translation are you using? Do you have any other verses besides this one? And last thing, so the Bible is silent on whether or not other beings have souls, right? We don't know if God has a soul, or if the angels/demons have souls...we just don't know?

Your #4 has nothing to do with souls....at all.

And your five is what I was looking for. He cannot lie. That's good enough for me, God cannot do evil.

 

[thepianist]

I just replied to this. It didn't take, I guess, so I'm going to have to again. Which is really annoying.



Yeah, note that they don't mean the same thing (I explained).

God does an act because it is good, and that becomes good because God did it, because it was good.

It's circular. Either the act is good whether God wants it to be or not (note that he wouldn't want them to not be good, because he, by his nature, would like what is good), or nothing is intrinsically good, and only becomes good because God decrees it to be so.

I don't know why this is causing so much confusion :s Really, it's not a trick question, you can say what you believe. If you haven't thought about it before, say your gut feeling, then say why.


The word doesn't translate to "soul", but "being". What translation are you using? Do you have any other verses besides this one? And last thing, so the Bible is silent on whether or not other beings have souls, right? We don't know if God has a soul, or if the angels/demons have souls...we just don't know?

Your #4 has nothing to do with souls....at all.

And your five is what I was looking for. He cannot lie. That's good enough for me, God cannot do evil.

My friend, I use the King James Version.....don't have any use for 'other' versions of the Holy Bible. 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.

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.

 

[Exist]

Moral goodness is what human or a community of humans perceive or perceives is good.

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?

I don't understand what you meant by what you said there.

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?

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.

So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

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

Rev 6:9. I'll have to study on that when I get home.

I think I just said this, but I'm too lazy to check back:

I have not seen any animals reference in the bible that says they have souls.

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?

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.


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.