Immortality of the Soul
Trinity
Soul
The Truth about
Man's Nature
Preliminary
Genesis 35:18
1 Sam. 28:8-15
1 Kings 17:21
Ecc. 12:7
Matthew 10:28
Luke 16:19-31
Acts 7:59
1 Thess. 5:23
Hebrews 12:23
1 Peter 3:19
Revelation 6:9
Heaven
Hell
Satan/Demons
"Saved"
Baptism
Resurrection
Antichrist
Unique
Catholic
Mormon
SDA
JW
British Israel
Church
of Christ
Pentecostal
Islam
Science
Miracles
Evolution
Creation
Carbon Dating
Inspiration
Partial
Contradictions
& Inaccuracies
- Matthew 10:28
- "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
- Problem:
- This passage is cited by Pentecostals and Evangelicals as the foundation proof that man is really an indestructible soul clothed with an earthly body.
- Solution:
- "Rather fear him which is able to destroy1 both body and soul in hell" is proof that the soul is destructible and therefore, not immortal.
- Since both soul and body can be destroyed in hell ("Gehenna" - the garbage dump outside the walls of Jerusalem), this indicates that the soul is as destructible as the body since both can be destroyed in the same place. Is this what the immortal soulist wants from this passage?
- What is meant by "not able to kill the soul"? Simply, "Fear not (for an instant) them which kill the body, but are not able to destroy you utterly and finally." For the disciple, his life is "hid with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3) and although men may kill the body, in the resurrection this life will be given back to the body. (See Col. 3:4).
- The Greek word, "psuche" translated "soul" in this verse has the meaning of "life". In Matt. 16:25, "psuche" is translated "life": "For whosoever shall save his life ["psuche"] shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life ["psuche"] for my sake shall find it."2 (In the R.S.V. "psuche" is translated "life" in vs. 26: "For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life.") The similarity of context suggests that "life" in Matt. 10:28 should be read for "soul".
- It is sometimes argued that "destroy" means to "afflict" or "torment" but not to annihilate. The Greek word, "apollu" translated "destroy" means to "destroy utterly". Ethelbert W. Bullinger, A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek Testament, (London: Samuel Bagster and Sons Ltd., 1957), p. 220. There is not the slightest suggestion of torment in any of the places where "apollu" is translated "destroy" in the A.V. (e.g. Matt. 2:13; 12:14; 21:41. 22:7; 27:20). Return
- Obviously if the words "immortal soul" were substituted for "life" in this reference, the result would be absurd. Return