The immortality of the soul – A grievous error of doctrine (Part 3)

Part 3: The New Testament view  

In Part 2, we showed that the word translated as "soul" in our English Bibles is originally the word "Nephesh" in Hebrew. If we translated its correct meaning in Hebrew into English, it would probably be most commonly rendered as "life". Crucially, it contains no connotation of inherent immortality or "ever-livingness" and is used alike for men and animals.   

Psuche

The equivalent word in the New Testament is the Greek word "Psuche" which comes from the Greek meaning to breathe or to blow. Importantly also, there is no connotation of immortality in the word at all.   https://biblehub.com/greek/5590.htm  Strong's Concordance lists the usage of this word as follows "(a) the vital breath, breath of life, (b) the human soul, (c) the soul as the seat of affections and will, (d) the self, (e) a human person, an individual"  From this Greek word, we derive the English word of "psyche" meaning individual personality/ or self. 

In the New Testament, we find Psuche used interchangeably as either life or soul with no distinction made by the translators of our Authorised version. Read the account of Jesus taking to his disciples in Matthew 16 v 25-26  

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life (psuche) shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life (psuche) for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul (psuche)? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul (psuche)?  

The only way this saying makes sense is if all instances are translated as "life". Jesus is talking about the self-denial that came with being his disciple and the futility of gaining everything and losing life itself by not being his disciple and denying himself.   

Let's look also at Mark's gospel record and the story of Jesus healing the man with a withered hand. 

And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life (psuche), or to kill? But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.  Mark 3 v 1-5

Here Jesus is teaching those in attendance at the synagogue an important lesson about the true reason for the Sabbath. In doing so he contrasts saving life against taking life (killing). It's very clear that here, as in the record previously noted above from Matthew, Jesus is talking about our own mortal life and not our supposedly "immortal" soul.   

Paul also uses this word psuche to refer to mortal life. Two examples here are illustrative of this point. 

Firstly, when he was on his way to Jerusalem he was warned of the dangers which awaited him there, with many prophesying that he would be in danger by returning. His response in Acts 20 v 24 is instructive. He said that he did not count his life "dear" to him by returning. He viewed his mortal life as expendable if he could finish his work preaching the Gospel.... 

bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life (psuche) dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20 v 23 (partial),24)  

Every reference made to "life" in Acts 27 refers to the perils which came with the voyage the ship that was carrying him made to Rome. He was concerned enough to warn the centurion that the trip could be with loss of life. Miraculously, after the shipwreck, as God as foretold through Paul, not one life was lost (out of the 276 "Souls" - Gr Psuche) onboard.   

Let's stop and think for a minute about the implications of these two references.  Paul, in Acts 20 did not count his life dear unto him. If psuche means his immortal soul, how could it be that he did not count this dear? This would have been the very thing he counted the most treasured if the alternative here was true.   

Also, in Acts 27, do we seriously think that the mere fact of the ship's voyage to Rome was enough to imperil the passenger's immortal souls? The idea is ludicrous.   

Pneuma

There is a second word which is used in the NT to denote life. 

It is the Greek word "pneuma" which is normally referred to as "spirit" in our English bible.

https://biblehub.com/greek/4151.htm   

As the Strong's reference shows, this word is used in a variety of different places with the context being important. This word pneuma is used with the adjective "Holy" to refer to God's spirit working on earth or being bestowed on man that facilitated his performance of miracles etc. But where "Holy" is not used, the word defaults back to a simpler meaning.   

James' record perhaps best illustrates this point. James 2 v 26  For as the body without the spirit (pneuma - breath) is dead, so faith without works is dead also.  

These examples are but a snapshot of the study that has been done on this topic. I encourage you to view the links embedded here and see where these Greek words are used. It's really important that you don't just take the above at face value but do your own research to determine the truth of the matter. 

Conclusion 

Why spend so much time on this one topic? Well, for the very simple reason that the idea of the immortal soul is responsible for so much of what holds those professing Christianity today back from the truth.   You are a dying creature. You inherited this nature from Adam and your life is counted as nothing more than a vapour in the grand scheme of things that vanishes away. If you have an immortal soul, this ephemeral quality of your life disappears. 

If you believe you endure for ever then you must of necessity throw away so much of the Bible record as to make whatever is left meaningless.   The message of salvation that God gave does not work if you live for ever. It only works if you are a dying creature with a finite amount of time on this planet to work out your salvation.