W H A T T H E B I B L E H A S T O S A Y A B O U T S O U L S , S P I R I T S , H E A R T S , M I N D S , L I V E R S , B O D I E S ,

H E A V E N A N D O T H E R T H I N G S ( I N C L U D I N G T H E I N T E R M E D I A T E S T A T E )

B I L L W I L D E R

THE BIBLE AND THE SOUL

Monism or Dualism?

Monism or Dualism?

Monism or Dualism?

Where’s Life?

Sirach 14:16-19 16 Give, and take, and

indulge yourself (“your soul/psyche”), because in Hades one cannot look for luxury. 17 All living beings (“all flesh/sarx”) become old like a garment, for the decree from of old is, "You must die! 18 Like abundant leaves on a spreading tree that sheds some and puts

forth others, so are the generations of flesh and

blood: one dies and another is born. 19 Every

work decays and ceases to exist, and the one who made it will pass away

with it.

2 Maccabees 7:10-12 10 After him, the third was the victim of their sport.

When it was demanded, he quickly put out his tongue

and courageously stretched forth his hands,

11 and said nobly, "I got these from Heaven, and

because of his laws I disdain them, and from him I hope to get them

back again." 12 As a result the king himself and those with him were astonished at the young man's spirit (“soul”/psyche), for he

regarded his sufferings as nothing.

4 Maccabees 18:23-24 23 But the sons of Abraham

with their victorious mother are gathered

together into the chorus of the fathers, and have

received pure and immortal souls (psyche) from God, 24 to whom be

glory forever and ever. Amen.

See Cooper, p. 76; Wright, pp. 136-137.

Intertestamental Literature Sadducees’ Position Pharisees’ Position Hellenists’ Position

Sirach 14:16-19 16 Give, and take, and

indulge yourself (“your soul/psyche”), because in Hades one cannot look for luxury. 17 All living beings (“all flesh/sarx”) become old like a garment, for the decree from of old is, "You must die! 18 Like abundant leaves on a spreading tree that sheds some and puts

forth others, so are the generations of flesh and

blood: one dies and another is born. 19 Every

work decays and ceases to exist, and the one who made it will pass away

with it.

2 Maccabees 7:10-12 10 After him, the third was the victim of their sport.

When it was demanded, he quickly put out his tongue

and courageously stretched forth his hands,

11 and said nobly, "I got these from Heaven, and

because of his laws I disdain them, and from him I hope to get them

back again." 12 As a result the king himself and those with him were astonished at the young man's spirit (“soul”/psyche), for he

regarded his sufferings as nothing.

4 Maccabees 18:23-24 23 But the sons of Abraham

with their victorious mother are gathered

together into the chorus of the fathers, and have

received pure and immortal souls (psyche) from God, 24 to whom be

glory forever and ever. Amen.

See Cooper, p. 76; Wright, pp. 136-137.

Intertestamental Literature Sadducees’ Position Pharisees’ Position Hellenists’ Position

Wisdom 3:1-8 But the souls (psyche) of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. 2 In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, 3 and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. 4 For though in the sight of others they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. 5 Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; 6 like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them.

7 In the time of their visitation they will shine forth (analampsousin), and will run like sparks through the stubble. 8 They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them forever.

New Testament

Luke 23-24

Luke 24:36-43 36 While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost (spirit). 38 He said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost (spirit) does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence.

Cooper, p. 114-115.

Acts 4:1-2

Acts 4:1-2 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, 2 much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead.

Acts 23.6   Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

Acts 26:4-8, 22-24

Acts 24:14-15 14 But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything laid down according to the law or written in the prophets. 15 I have a hope in God -- a hope that they themselves also accept -- that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

Acts 26:4-8 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I have belonged to the strictest sect of our religion and lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial on account of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors, 7 a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship day and night. It is for this hope, your Excellency,1 that I am accused by Jews! 8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

Acts 26:4-8, 22-24

1 Pet 1.3   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead . . .

1 Pet 1.13   Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Pet 1.21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

1 Pet 3.15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

John W. Cooper Body, Soul & Life Everlasting: Biblical Anthropology & the Monism-Dualism

Debate

Robert H. Gundry Sōma in Biblical Theology with Emphasis on Pauline Anthropology

Hans Walter Wolff Anthropology of the Old Testament

Johann Auer and Joseph Ratzinger Dogmatic Theology 9 Eschatology: Death and Eternal Life