Topical Bible: Man: Possessed of a Soul

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The concept of man as a being possessed of a soul is a foundational element in biblical anthropology, reflecting the unique nature of humanity as created by God. The soul, often understood as the immaterial essence of a person, is integral to the biblical understanding of human identity and destiny.

Creation of Man and the Soul

The Bible begins with the account of creation, where man is distinctively formed by God. Genesis 2:7 states, "Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." This verse highlights the dual nature of humanity: the physical body formed from the earth and the spiritual life imparted by God's breath. The "breath of life" is often interpreted as the soul, signifying the divine spark that animates human beings.

The Soul's Immortality and Value

Scripture consistently affirms the immortality and intrinsic value of the soul. In Ecclesiastes 12:7 , it is written, "Then the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it." This passage underscores the belief that while the body is mortal, the soul returns to God, indicating its eternal nature.

The value of the soul is further emphasized by Jesus in the New Testament. In Matthew 16:26 , He poses the rhetorical question, "What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" This highlights the incomparable worth of the soul, surpassing all earthly possessions and achievements.

The Soul's Role in Moral and Spiritual Life

The soul is central to the moral and spiritual life of a person. It is the seat of emotions, will, and intellect, influencing one's relationship with God and others. The Shema, a central declaration of faith in Deuteronomy 6:5 , commands, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This commandment illustrates the soul's involvement in wholehearted devotion to God.

The soul's capacity for moral discernment and spiritual communion is further explored in the Psalms. Psalm 42:1-2 expresses a deep longing for God: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God." This imagery conveys the soul's innate desire for connection with the Creator.

The Soul's Redemption and Salvation

The redemption and salvation of the soul are central themes in the Christian gospel. The soul, tainted by sin, requires divine intervention for restoration. The Apostle Peter speaks to this in 1 Peter 1:9 , "For you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." Salvation is portrayed as the ultimate fulfillment of faith, culminating in the soul's eternal union with God.

The sacrificial work of Jesus Christ is pivotal in the redemption of the soul. Hebrews 9:14 declares, "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" This cleansing of the conscience is understood as the purification of the soul, enabling believers to live in righteousness.

The Soul's Eternal Destiny

The Bible presents a clear dichotomy regarding the eternal destiny of the soul, contingent upon one's relationship with God through Christ. In Matthew 25:46 , Jesus speaks of the final judgment, stating, "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." This passage delineates the two possible outcomes for the soul: eternal separation from God or eternal communion with Him.

The assurance of eternal life for the soul is a source of hope and comfort for believers. In John 14:2-3 , Jesus promises, "In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am." This promise affirms the soul's ultimate destination in the presence of God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 12:20
But God said to him, You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you: then whose shall those things be, which you have provided?
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Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
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1 Peter 4:19
Why let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as to a faithful Creator.
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Library

Man must be Possessed Both of a Body and Soul Hereafter, that the ...
... Chapter XX."Man Must Be Possessed Both of a Body and Soul Hereafter, that
the Judgment Passed Upon Him May Be Just. For either ...
/.../chapter xx man must be possessed.htm

State in which Man was Created. The Faculties of the Soul --The ...
... 8. Therefore, God has provided the soul of man with intellect, by which he ... In this
upright state, man possessed freedom of will, by which, if he chose, he was ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 15 state in which.htm

Apostrophe to Satan.
... For if the Lord were a mere man, possessed of a soul and body only, why dost thou
mutilate and explain away His being born with the common nature of humanity? ...
/.../the epistle of ignatius to the philippians/chapter v apostrophe to satan.htm

The Holy Soul a More Excellent Temple than any Edifice Built by ...
... But were God possessed of a human form, He would need, equally with man, food, and ...
the divine likeness and the holy image in the righteous soul, when it is ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter v the holy soul a.htm

Steps to Perfection.
... his hands, and pure in his heart; who hath not lifted up his soul to vanity ... All the
action, then, of a man possessed of knowledge is right action; and that done ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter x steps to perfection.htm

Some Considerations in Reply Eulogistic of the Flesh it was ...
... to man, is due not to the soul simply, but to the flesh also; if not arising out
of any community in their origin, yet at all events by the privilege possessed ...
/.../on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter v some considerations in reply.htm

Making the Man.
... confirmed in the faith, until the Sabbath became a market-day in his soul. ... The man
possessed of gifts and grace, in whom the people had confidence, and who was ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclean/william black/ii making the man.htm

Showing How the Inward Man Should Exercise Himself, that He May be ...
... When such a quickened man rises up, with his whole ... of the soul; and whenever the
soul's highest powers are ... knowing and feeling of God is possessed in essential ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter viii showing how the.htm

Of the State Wherein Man was Created, and How the Image of God is ...
... devilish invention, the heart of man is possessed with a ... And thus man is left to
the invention and counsel of ... that is black, white, much less redeem the soul. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture xxiii of the state.htm

True Hearing
... All that is created is nothing, all far from and foreign to the soul. ... Supposing a
man possessed all the world, and gave it back to God intact just as he ...
//christianbookshelf.org/eckhart/meister eckharts sermons/iv true hearing.htm