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A question clearly comes to mind on the topic of the immortal soul: Does the Bible contain anywhere in either the Old or New Testaments the combined words “immortal soul?” Is this phrase in Scripture? The surprising answer to most of our readers is, NO! The Bible simply does not contain that phrase!
Prove it with research!
A concordance is a valuable tool for a Bible reader to use to check, study, and verify every distinct word or topic that appears in any of the books of the Bible. Any Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (KJV) will verify that the two words “immortal soul” are not combined in the entirety of the Holy Bible, in either the Old or New Testaments.
When God created man in the beginning, Genesis 2:7 says, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul [being].” God could have taken the opportunity in this second chapter of the Bible to make it simple and clear to everyone that man was given an immortal soul, yet God did not do so because God did not grant humans an “immortal soul.”
Man does have a spirit!
In the book of Job we read, “But there is a spirit in man [humans], and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding” (Job 32:8). God has given each human being a human spirit that grants the powers of reasoning, intellect, and the ability to make choices. We can read of these capacities in Job 20:3, Psalm 51:10, Proverbs 18:14, and in many other verses. Yet none of these refer to the human spirit as being immortal.
So, what does the Bible say about these two words? What does the Bible have to say about the words “immortal” and “soul?”
Where are the words “Immortal” and “Immortality” in Scripture?
It will probably surprise some people to learn that the word “immortal” appears only once in the whole Bible (King James Version). Check any concordance to verify this. It appears in 1Timothy 1:17, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” Notice! The Sovereign God is referred to as being immortal.
The word “immortality” is a separate word derived from “immortal” that appears five times in the entirety of the Bible.
▪ Romans 2:7, Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor and immortality;
▪1 Corinthians 15:53, For this corruptible must put on incorruptible and this mortal must put on immortality.
▪ 1 Corinthians 15:54, So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then it shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
▪ 1 Timothy 6:16, Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
▪ 2 Timothy 1:10, But has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Immortality must be granted!
As most of these verses demonstrate, immortality is something that is attainable, yet other verses show it is granted by grace and faith only through Christ Jesus Who sacrificed His life to give us the GIFT of everlasting life. Clearly, everlasting life cannot be earned by anyone doing any works or any deeds. In addition to everlasting life, God promises reward to those who seek Him, to the true servants of Jesus Christ – those who believe Him, obey His words and understand with the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit to be doers and not just hearers of the Word.
How the Bible Uses the Word “Soul.”
The Bible uses the word soul in a very different way from that which most people have heard expressed. Ezekiel 18:4, “Behold all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die.” Notice, also, in this same chapter, a second reference to the word soul, Ezekiel 18:20, “The soul who sins shall die….”
Twice in this chapter of Ezekiel, we read that the soul that sins will die. The Holy Bible states clearly that a soul can die! It does not state that it is immortal.
Believe the Words of Jesus!
What did our Savior Jesus Christ say about the soul? One surely must believe the words of Jesus. In Matthew 10:28 He said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell [known as gehenna, meaning the lake of fire or the consuming fire].”
In numerous places, the Holy Bible instructs that the soul is not immortal, but temporary or simply mortal. Human beings do not possess immortal life from natural birth. All human beings men or women have but a temporary life span on this earth. There are numerous scriptural witnesses of man’s mortality.
▪ Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh” (John 3:6).
▪ I Corinthians 15:47, “The first man was of the earth, made of dust [referring to Adam]; the second Man is the Lord from heaven [referring to Jesus Christ].”
▪ Wise King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and time to die.”
Immortality Is Available! It Must Be Granted!
God, both Father and Son, alone have immortality (1 Timothy 6:16) at this time. Our Savior Jesus Christ is the One who died for our sins on Mount Calvary. The risen Jesus has life inherent in Himself as declared in John 5:26, “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.” And, now we have access to immortality. Only Almighty God can impart everlasting life to us, through His beloved Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Our all-loving God has made available His Holy Spirit to mankind after Christ Jesus ascended into the heavens. His Holy Spirit is the presence of the Eternal God within believers now.
We encourage readers to examine our articles and look for more written information on the subject of God’s Holy Spirit. In addition, keep studying the Bible, confirming all things and holding onto the weightier matters. Be sure to focus on matters of salvation and a relationship with God and His Son. These things will make a difference in overcoming and being successful in this life. These issues can bear fruit for eternal life.
If you would like encouragement and further details about receiving God’s gifts of immortality and eternal life, please contact us.