What is the "SOUL?"

Traditional Christianity teaches (and in fact nearly all religions teach) that the soul is an immaterial part of a human being that leaves the body at death and lives on either in eternal bliss or eternal punishment. The soul is typically thought to consist of one's consciousness and personality and can sometimes be synonymous with the spirit, mind and self.

But do we go directly to heaven or hell when we die? Or do we get re-incarnated into a plant or a worm or some other life form?

I believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God, and as such, it is the only source for truth in matters such as life, death and immortality. So let's see what the Bible REALLY says about the nature of the soul and what happens when we die.

IS THE SOUL IMMORTAL?

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." (KJV)

The word translated "soul" here is the Hebrew word "nephesh." Nephesh literally means the "complete life of a being." In fact, the NIV and NAS versions translate this verse as "the man became a living BEING." ESV says "the man became a living CREATURE."

Note that Adam did not RECEIVE a soul but instead BECAME a soul. A soul is not something you HAVE. It is something you ARE.

From this, we can see that man's basic element is dust and this is what compromises his body. This body is lifeless without the "breath of life" which is given from God. It is this which animates the body and makes it into a "living soul." We can therefore derive this simple equation:

Dust + Breath of Life = A Living Soul

Psalm 104:29 states: