The Human soul

[XChristian]

Do Humans have souls? What is a soul? Can it die/be destroyed? What verses in the Bible specifically mention spirits/souls?

 

[Minty]

Do Humans have souls?

Yes, I believe that we do.

What is a soul?

I like to think of it as where our compassion and love come from (hence when someone seems to be soul-less they are filled with hate and don't care about others).

Can it die/be destroyed?

I don't think it can, no. It is the part of us that transcends death and goes to heaven or is cleansed of sin to be made ready for heaven.

What verses in the Bible specifically mention spirits/souls?

Here are a few that I managed to find (all from the ESV)

Gen 27:4 - Deut 30:6:
Deut 30:10 - 2 Chr 15:12
2 Chr 34:31 - Ps 19:7
Ps 22:20 - 44:25 Ps 49:15 - 88:3
Ps 88:14 - 130:5
Ps 130:6 - Prov 23:7
Prov 23:14 - Isa 53:11 Isa 53:12 - Ezek 18:20
Ezek 24:21 - Luke 10:27
Luke 12:19 - 2 Pet 2:8
2 Pet 2:14 - Rev 20:4
Gen 27:4 - Deut 30:6

Deut 30:10 - 2 Chr 15:12:
2 Chr 34:31 - Ps 19:7
Ps 22:20 - 44:25 Ps 49:15 - 88:3
Ps 88:14 - 130:5
Ps 130:6 - Prov 23:7
Prov 23:14 - Isa 53:11 Isa 53:12 - Ezek 18:20
Ezek 24:21 - Luke 10:27
Luke 12:19 - 2 Pet 2:8
2 Pet 2:14 - Rev 20:4


For more just click here and have a browse at the answers, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the arrows forward and back to see every instance of the word soul in Scripture (there are far too many for me to post here).



Hope this helps

 

[XChristian]

Thanks MintyAngel. I looked through some of it but still wonder what exactly a soul is. I did not see a definition of what a soul is. I will look through it more later.

 

[AV1611VET]

Do Humans have souls? What is a soul?

QV please.

 

[Minty]

Thanks MintyAngel. I looked through some of it but still wonder what exactly a soul is. I did not see a definition of what a soul is. I will look through it more later.

If you are looking for a biblical answer for what the human soul actually is, I don't think you'll find it.

Even the medical profession can't explain what a soul is. I just know that they are, not what they are (hope that makes sense? )

 

[Emmy]

Dear XChristian. We are 3 parts when we are born. Flesh and blood, a soul which grows as the body grows, and a small part of God`s Spirit. While we are too small to think much, our souls will grow with our bodies. As we begin wanting things, because we like them, or want to do them, our souls follow the wantings and wishes of our bodies. As we grow towards adult-hood, the still small voice of God`s Spirit within us, starts taking notice, and if God`s Spirit within us makes itself known, our souls will follow the leading of God`s Spirit. But many of us will listen to the wants of our bodies, and consequently the soul will follow. When at the end of our earthly lives, our bodies have been dictating our wishes and deeds, the soul will have grown as our bodies have. With quite a number of men and women, God`s Spirit inside us has been strong, and grown stronger, our souls will have grown stronger too. Our souls will go back to God, if we choose to. God`s Spirit inside us will return to God, where it came from. P.S. I believe when St.Paul talked of our " inner man," he was referring to our souls. I say this with humility and love, XChristian. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

 

[Angeloffire]

The best description I have ever heard for a person's soul is that it is the sum of all one's experiences.

 

[ebia]

Do Humans have souls? What is a soul? Can it die/be destroyed? What verses in the Bible specifically mention spirits/souls?

The hebrew and greek words usually translated 'soul' correspond roughtly in Jewish thinking to what we would call personality, or one's whole personhood. It's not a thing to be separated from our physical body and mind as the word 'soul' tends to connote in modern English.

 

[JTT]

Do Humans have souls? What is a soul? Can it die/be destroyed? What verses in the Bible specifically mention spirits/souls?

If you have ever listened to someone who has experienced a Near Death Experience (NDE) you will notice that they exist outside of their body. Our body is like a car that we get around in, basically. Our soul/Spirit is who we are. We don't NEED the body to exist.

 

[JTT]

Dear XChristian. We are 3 parts when we are born. Flesh and blood, a soul which grows as the body grows, and a small part of God`s Spirit. While we are too small to think much, our souls will grow with our bodies. As we begin wanting things, because we like them, or want to do them, our souls follow the wantings and wishes of our bodies. As we grow towards adult-hood, the still small voice of God`s Spirit within us, starts taking notice, and if God`s Spirit within us makes itself known, our souls will follow the leading of God`s Spirit. But many of us will listen to the wants of our bodies, and consequently the soul will follow. When at the end of our earthly lives, our bodies have been dictating our wishes and deeds, the soul will have grown as our bodies have. With quite a number of men and women, God`s Spirit inside us has been strong, and grown stronger, our souls will have grown stronger too. Our souls will go back to God, if we choose to. God`s Spirit inside us will return to God, where it came from. P.S. I believe when St.Paul talked of our " inner man," he was referring to our souls. I say this with humility and love, XChristian. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

Emmy, this is beautiful. I agree with you, and I appreciate the way you have worded this. Thank you!