The Exegetical Anatomy of the Soul

Exegetical Psychology

Under construction, incomplete, not proof read

If you do not recall a day in your life when you received eternal life as a free gift from Jesus, then this article will not make sense to you. Please click the eternal life button now and learn more about finding peace with God and being born again today.  Eternal Life

Understanding the “soul” as described in the New Testament will help us glorify God by changing the way we live. Many people think that the soul and the spirit are the same thing. God used different words to describe them. Now we will go through the New Testament usage of the term soul verse by verse. For quick reference you can see the chart below in Appendix A.

 

Section One

The Soul in You

1.1 Adam and His Soul. In Genesis 2:7, we read that Yahweh Elohim formed the man from dust of the ground and blew into his nose the breath of life; and man became a living soul.  ¹The Hebrew text reads: “וַיצֶר֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֗ם עָפָר֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה וַיִּפַּ֥ח בְּאַפָּ֖יו נִשְׁמַ֣ת חַיִּ֑ים וַֽיְהִ֥י הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְנֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּֽה.” Yahweh Elohim blew (“יִּפַּ֥ח“) into the nose of Adam and he became a living soul (“לְנֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּֽה“). Notice the Lamedh indicating a change happened in the man–he became a living soul.  For the sake of time, I will not go further in discussing the rich Old Testament background of the soul. Because one author, God, wrote the entire Bible (sixty-six inspired books, Old Testament, New Testament), the term soul in the Old Testament will not differ from the New Testament. In the New Testament, however, saints changed greatly with the Holy Spirit taking up residence in believers, giving spiritual gifts, and transforming people into new creatures never seen before among humans. The Old Testament saints were certainly partakers of the nature of God, but these changed with the New Ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Earthly Ministry of Jesus culminating in His death, resurrection and ascension.

•     God created man by placing a living soul in him.

•     With a single breath from God, the God-formed body became a living soul.

•    God created and made alive the soul.

•     With the entry of the soul, man came to life. 

•     God created the physical body of man before He gave it life with the soul.

 

1.2 Children Have Souls. The story of Mary and Joseph fleeing to Egypt shows that children, including the baby Jesus, have souls (Matthew 2:20).

  •   Children have souls.

•    Jesus has a soul.

•   People may seek to kill the soul.

 

Section Two

Body and Soul

2.1 Concern for Soul. Jesus commanded people not to be concerned about their souls (Matthew 6:25). Notice that the concern by part of you is about the soul, another part of you. Concern can be separate from soul. Notice also that concern about bodily functions of eating and drinking. Jesus said that the soul is more than food. Likewise, the body is more than clothing. In this case, the body and the soul have some relationship. Some part of us has concern about eating, drinking and clothing.

 •    People may have concern about their souls.

•     People may worry about their souls having enough to eat and drink. 

•     The soul has a relationship with the body.

•     The soul is more than food.

•    The body may be concerned about clothing, but the soul concerns itself with food.

 

2.2 Goods. People talk to their souls. In some cases, they tell their souls that they have many goods laid up for many years. They command their souls to relax, eat, drink and be merry (Luke 12:19). Jesus taught that material prosperity may slip away at any moment, and should never be a source of comfort and contentment for the soul. God will always be the source of comfort and contentment for the soul. Fools do not understand that their soul may be required of them at any time. Souls do not keep material possessions after death (Luke 12:20).

People talk to their souls.

People command their souls.

Souls can have many goods laid up for years.

Souls can be commanded to relax, eat, drink and be merry.

God may demand your soul at any moment.

After death, souls do not keep goods laid up on earth.

When people trust in goods and command their souls to relax, eat, drink and be merry, they act like fools because God may require their soul tonight.

 

2.3 Soulal Bodies. Paul revealed two types of bodies: the soulal body and the spiritual body. He revealed how the first body is sown soulal and then later raised spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:44). I am using the term “soulal” to be the counterpart to “spiritual.” ²Paul wrote: πείρεται σῶμα ψυχικόν, ἐγείρεται σῶμα πνευματικόν (1 Corinthians 15:44). Paul helped understand the soul as he compared the soulal body with the spiritual body. We were sown as a soulal body, and we will be raised a spiritual body. Paul explained that given there is a soulal body, we will also have a spiritual body. Paul elaborated: “Adam became a living soul.”   ³Paul wrote: “Ἐγένετο ὁ πρῶτος ἄνθρωπος Ἀδὰμ εἰς ψυχὴν ζῶσαν“ More literally, the first man, Adam, became a living soul. In this context, strictly speaking, the body of Adam was created first, and then he became a living soul. Paul emphasizes that order of creation here.  In contrast, the last Adam became a spirit life-making. The only other use of this exact form occurs in John 6:63: The spirit is the life-maker; the flesh profits nothing. The words Jesus spoke are spirit and life. As believers we believe the words Jesus has spoken are spirit and life. ⁴Jesus said: “τὰ ῥήματα  ἃ ἐγὼ λελάληκα ὑμῖν πνεῦμά ἐστιν καὶ ζωή ἐστιν“. This verse contains the only other use of the term “ζῳοποιοῦν.” Jesus described the words he has spoken as spirit and life-making. The spirit is life making; the flesh profits nothing. John revealed that the works spoken by Jesus are spirit and life-making. Jesus did not describe those words as spiritual, but as spirit.

The first Adam became a living soul.

Jesus, the Last Adam, became a life-making spirit.

Spirit and soul are not the same thing.

The soulal body precedes the spiritual body.

The soul makes the body alive.

Salvation means that one day every saint will be resurrected to a spiritual body.

 

2.4 God as Witness to the Soul. Paul called upon God as his witness concerning his motives. Paul did not return to Corinth so that he would spare their souls (2 Corinthians 1:23). 

Paul called God as a witness to His motives.

Paul intended to spare the souls of the Corinthians.

Souls may be spared the souls of Corinthians.

Paul spared the Corinthians which his visit would have brought upon their souls.

People may cause the souls of saints to experience sorrow.

People may choose to spare the souls of saints sorrow.

 

2.5 Spirit, Soul, Body. Paul prayed that God would sanctify the Thessalonians saints. He prayed that God would keep their spirit, soul and body blameless in the appearing of the Lord our Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

God sanctifies saints.

God sanctifies spirits.

God sanctifies souls.

God sanctifies bodies.

God keeps whole spirits, souls and bodies.

God keeps whole spirits, souls and bodies blameless at the appearing of the Lord, our Jesus Christ.

 

2.6 The Living Word of God.  The living word of God penetrates as far as the division of soul and spirit (Hebrews 4:12). ⁵The Greek term for “division” (“μερισμοῦ”) means different parts of a whole. See Mark 3:24 where a kingdom divided (“μερισθῇ”) against itself cannot stand and Luke 12:13 where a person calls upon Jesus to tell his brother to divide (“μερίσασθαι”) the inheritance with him. In this case, we know that spirit and soul exist separately, and a division always exists between them. They are not the same and should never be equated.

 

People have a soul.

People have a spirit.

The soul and spirit have a division between them.

The living word of God penetrates people.

The living word penetrates as far as the division between soul and spirit.

 

Section Three

God and Souls

3.1 Losing Souls and Finding Souls. He who finds his soul will destroy it, and he who destroys his soul for My sake will find it (Matthew 10:39). ⁶While I appreciate the interplay between finding a soul and losing a soul, I like the translation better of finding a soul and destroying a soul because the same word is used to describe the evil vine-growers whom Christ destroys when he returns (Matthew 21:41; Luke 20:16; Mark 12:9). The word destruction describes suffering in the Afterlife–See Section Four in my E-Book on Afterlife. People find (a) the kingdom of God hidden as a treasure in the field (Matthew 13:44); (b) the pearl of great price (Matthew  13:56), (c) the sheep carried on the shoulders (Luke 15:5). Jesus found the Man Born Blind (John 9:35) and a young donkey (John 12:14). Finding means eternal life, as compared to eternal destruction. People may exercise control over their souls.

•  People may search for their souls.

•  People may find their souls.

•  When People  search and find their souls, they destroy their souls. 

•  People may destroy their souls for the sake of Jesus.

•  People who destroy their souls for the sake of Jesus find their souls.

 

3.2 Rest for Souls. Jesus promised rest for every soul that takes His yoke upon him. Notice here that Jesus described Himself as humble in heart, not humble in soul. 

•   Souls need rest which only Jesus provides.

•   Jesus provides rest for our souls when we take His yoke upon us and we learn from Him.

 

3.3 Pleasure with Jesus. The soul of God takes pleasure in His servant, Jesus. ⁷Matthew quoted from the Servant Songs of Isaiah regarding Messiah, the Suffering Servant of God (Isaiah 42:1).

• God has a soul.

• God’s soul feels pleasure.

• God’s soul found pleasure in His Servant Jesus.

 

3.4 Exalt God. Mary also said that her soul exalted the Lord when she visited Elizabeth (Luke 1:45). ⁸The root of the idea of “exalt” (“Μεγαλύνει“) means to enlarge, and so conveys exalt (Matthew 23:5 of tassels). Paul also wrote that Christ is exalted in his body whether through life or through death (“ἐν τῷ σώματί μου, εἴτε διὰ ζωῆς εἴτε διὰ θανάτου“). Compare also that a sword pierced the soul of Mary, that thought may be revealed out of many hearts (Luke 2:35).

Souls exalt.

Souls exalt God.

Mary’s soul exalted God.

 

3.5 Souls Taken Up. Souls may be taken up with suspense. The Jews asked Jesus to tell them openly that He was the Christ because Jesus had taken up their souls (John 10:24). ⁹The Greek phrase was “Εως πότε τὴν ψυχὴν ἡμῶν αἴρεις;“

Souls may be taken up with suspense.

Souls want to know things.

 

3.6 Troubled Soul. Jesus spoke to His disciples about His troubled soul (John 12:27). ¹⁰John described the trouble this ways: “Νῦν ἡ ψυχή μου τετάρακται”–notice the perfect tense of the verb indicating a continuing condition of trouble.   The coming hour of His crucifixion caused the trouble. At the same time, Jesus knew that He came to that hour to offer His soul a ransom for many. He would not ask His Father to save Him from that hour. Jesus then prayed that He would glorify the name of the Father. Then a voice from heaven said: “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again” (John 12:28).

Jesus had a troubled soul.

Looking forward to the hour of torture and death troubled His soul.

A troubled soul may be sinless.

Jesus controlled His troubled soul and did not ask for the hour to be removed.

Jesus spoke of His troubled soul with His disciples Andrew and Philip.

Jesus spoke of His commitment to following His Father’s plan even when His soul was troubled.

Troubled souls may glorify God.

God speaks to troubled souls who pray to Him with clean hearts.

 

3.7 Bless. Bless the LORD, O my soul (Psalm 104:35).

3.8 Praise. Let my soul live, that it may praise You (Psalm 119:175)

 

Section Four

Sin and Souls

4.1 Sin and Death.  All souls belong to God; the soul of the father and the soul of the son belong to God. The soul who sins will die (Ezekiel 18:4). 

 

4.2 Souls Sin. (Micah 6:7).

 

Section Five

Conviction and Souls

5.1 Souls Convicted. The LORD came to convict all souls concerning all their ungodly works (Jude 1:15). 

Souls may do unGodly works.

Souls may be convicted. 

God may convict souls.

God may convict souls of unGodly works.

 

Section Six

The Gospel and Souls

6.1 Ransom. The Son of Man came to give His soul as the ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). ¹¹Some translators equate soul with life and employ that error in theology into their translations. The Greek term for “the soul” (“τὴν ψυχὴν“) has a special meaning throughout the Bible and should not be viewed merely as the “immaterial” part of man, subsuming soul, spirit, and other things under the single heading of “life” or some other general rubric. God inspired the words of the Bible and should be viewed with special care when God used different words such as soul and life and spirit and heart and will. Jesus did not come to be served.

Jesus has a soul.

Jesus came to give His soul.

Souls may be given for someone else.

Souls may be given as ransom for other people.

The soul of Jesus was required for atonement.

The soul of Jesus was required for salvation.

Jesus gave His soul as a ransom for many people.

 

6.2 Saving Souls. Religious people were watching people to see if He would heal in the synagogue on the Sabbath (Mark 3:4). After calling a man with a withered hand to Him, Jesus asked the audience if it were lawful on the Sabbath to save souls or to kill? ¹²Translators display their bias by equating the terms life and soul. In this verse, Jesus used the term “soul” (“ψυχὴν“), not life, as the object of to save (“σῶσαι“) or to kill (“ἀποκτεῖναι“). Jesus saved the soul on the Sabbath, and did good.

Jesus saves souls.

If Jesus does not save your soul, you will be killed.

 

6.3 Three Thousand Souls in One day. At Pentecost people received the word of God and were baptized. In that day, about three thousand souls were added to the church (Acts 2:41). 

Some people hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ receive it.

Souls receiving the Gospel of Jesus Christ are added to the church immediately.

Souls are saved by receiving the word.

Souls comprise the church.

Three thousand souls were added in one day.

 

6.4 Imparting the Soul. Paul revealed that he and the ministry team at Thessalonica not only imparted the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but also their very souls to the Thessalonians, because the Thessalonians had become beloved by Paul and the ministry team (1 Thessalonians 2:8).

People may impart their souls.

People may impart the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

People may impart their souls to the people they long for and love.

People may impart both the Gospel of Jesus Christ and their souls to people they long for and love.

 

Section Seven

Salvation and Souls

7.1 Ransom. The Son of Man came to give His soul as the ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). ¹³Some translators equate soul with life and employ that error in theology into their translations. The Greek term for “the soul” (“τὴν ψυχὴν“) has a special meaning throughout the Bible and should not be viewed merely as the “immaterial” part of man, subsuming soul, spirit, and other things under the single heading of “life” or some other general rubric. God inspired the words of the Bible and should be viewed with special care when God used different words such as soul and life and spirit and heart and will. Jesus did not come to be served.Unchanged:

Jesus has a soul.

Jesus came to give His soul.

Souls may be given for someone else.

Souls may be given as ransom for other people.

The soul of Jesus was required for atonement.

The soul of Jesus was required for salvation.

Jesus gave His soul as a ransom for many people.

 

7.2 Souls Redeemed. Souls may be redeemed, but it costly (Psalm 49:8).

 

7.3 God Redeems. God redeems the soul from the power of Sheol (Psalm 49:10). 

 

7.4 Saving Souls. Religious people were watching people to see if He would heal in the synagogue on the Sabbath (Mark 3:4). After calling a man with a withered hand to Him, Jesus asked the audience if it were lawful on the Sabbath to save souls or to kill? ¹⁴Translators display their bias by equating the terms life and soul. In this verse, Jesus used the term “soul” (“ψυχὴν”), not life, as the object of to save (“σῶσαι”) or to kill (“ἀποκτεῖναι”). Jesus saved the soul on the Sabbath and did good.

Jesus saves souls.

If Jesus does not save your soul, you will be killed.

 

7.5 The Implanted Word. Saints must put aside all filthiness and the which remains of wickedness, in humility receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls (James 1:21). ¹⁵James wrote: “τὸν δυνάμενον σῶσαι τὰς ψυχὰς ὑμῶν.”

The word may be implanted in people.

The implanted has the power to save the souls of people.

 

7.6 The End of Faith. Saints receive the outcome of their faith, the salvation of souls (1 Peter 1:9). ¹⁶The Greek participle  “κομιζόμενοι” has other uses of the root word indicating it may mean to receive back or be paid back  as in Ephesians 6:8; Colossians 4:25), but that meaning tends to undermine grace in this context which talks about faith without seeing Jesus.

Souls may obtain salvation.

The outcome of faith is salvation of souls.

 

7.7 Hear the Prophet. Shortly after Pentecost, Peter preached a second sermon about Jesus Messiah. Peter alluded to the Old Testament prophecy about Jesus the Prophet coming and every soul must heed ¹⁷Peter used the Greek term ” ἀκούσῃ“ for heed.  that prophet or be destroyed from among the people. ¹⁸Peter used the word “will be ruined” (“ἐξολεθρευθήσεται”). Compare the related word  ὄλεθρον to describe Satan destroying the body, but the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 5:5); and the penalty of eternal ruin  (“ὄλεθρον αἰώνιον“) (2 Thessalonians 1:9); and the ruin of destruction (“εἰς ὄλεθρον καὶ ἀπώλειαν“) (1 Timothy 6:9); and destruction (” ὄλεθρος “) coming upon people after they heard “Peace and safety!” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:3).  Translating ὄλεθρον as destruction causes problems in distinguishing it from ἀπώλειαν used repeatedly to describe destruction of the soul in the Afterlife. Verbal correspondence of terms for English readers must be considered to communicate the verbal inspiration of Scripture.  I repeatedly fail to apply that principle in my work, but I am growing far more sensitive to verbal correspondence. The ὄλεθρον appears to relate to bodily ruin and ἀπώλειαν certainly relates to soul destruction. Further study would be required here and for many other terms in this study. Peter’s use of the related term for ruin may mean the person not heeding Jesus will die bodily, and so be removed from the living congregation of Israel.

People must listen to Jesus the Prophet and heed His words.

Souls may be ruined for not heeding.

Every soul must heed Jesus the Prophet or be ruined.

 

7.8 Gain and Forfeit. Jesus spoke about gaining the world. ¹⁹The Greek term for “gain” (“κερδήσῃ“) means to acquire, in this case through human effort or success. This third class condition speaks to a probable event; wide is the path to destruction and many people enter there. The Greek term for “forfeit” (“ζημιωθῇ“) occurs in the subjunctive mood, indicating the certain outcome of gaining the world and losing eternity. Paul used a similar term in describing the loss of cargo on a ship during a storm (Acts 27:10). Gaining the entire world profits nothing if you forfeit your soul. Jesus implied that you have nothing to exchange your soul once forfeited (Matthew 16:26). Only Jesus can redeem your soul after you forfeit it.

 

People may gain the entire world and forfeit their souls.

People may have nothing to give in exchange for their souls.

 

7.9 Endurance and Gain. Jesus commanded saints to gain their souls through endurance. ²⁰Jesus put it this way in Greek: ἐν τῇ ὑπομονῇ ὑμῶν κτήσασθε τὰς ψυχὰς ὑμῶν. The term “gain” (“κτήσασθε“) in this context means to acquire. The same term for gain was used in Matthew 10:19 where Jesus commissioned the twelve and directed them not to “gain” gold, silver or copper for their money belts. Jesus emphasized that parents, brothers, relatives and friends will betray saints already facing intense persecution for their faith in Jesus. Everyone will hate the saints. As the saints endure, then they gain their souls. Remember that destroying your soul for the sake of Jesus and His Gospel means you find your soul.

Souls may be persecuted.

People gain their souls while they endure persecution for the sake of Jesus.  

Souls may remain sinless during persecution.

 

 

Section Eight

Turning Souls

8. 1 Turns a Sinner. Saints who turn a sinner out of his evil way saves his soul out of death and covers a multitude of sins (James 5:20–see Ezekiel 3:20).  ²¹James described it this way: “ὁ ἐπιστρέψας ἁμαρτωλὸν ἐκ πλάνης ὁδοῦ αὐτοῦ σώσει ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐκ θανάτου“.

Sinners have souls.

Souls may be saved out of death.

 

Section Nine

Blessing and Souls

9.1 Blessing Souls. Genesis 27:4 Isaac wanted to bless his son before he died. He actually blessed Jacob through deception (Genesis 27:19).

 

Section Ten

Life and Souls

10.1 Your Life and Your Soul. Uriah said that by the life of David and the soul of David, Uriah would not go to see his wife (2 Samuel 11:11).

 

 

Section Eleven

Love and Souls

11.1 Love God. God commands us to love Him in all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind (Matthew 22:37). ²²God used three distinct Greek terms there: the heart (“τῇ καρδίᾳ“), soul (“τῇ ψυχῇ“) and mind (“τῇ διανοίᾳ“). I prefer the translation in your heart, in your mind, and in your heart to capture the preposition ἐν with the dative case.  Just as worry may be in the soul (Luke 12:22), so also love is in the soul and comes from the soul, as well as the heart and the mind. Apparently your heart, soul and mind all have love to give and love is not confined to only one of them. Therefore, because God distinguished heart, soul, and mind, we must do likewise. We must avoid any temptation to equate hear with soul or soul with mind or any combination of the three. In that passage, God commanded us to love with our soul. Compare also Mark 12:30 where we must also love God with all our strength.

People have hearts.

People have souls.

People have minds.

God commands people to love Him with all their heart, soul and mind.

Souls must love God.

Love from the soul may be all or some.

God commands us to love Him with all our soul.

Hearts may love God.

Minds may love God.

Your soul, mind and heart are not the same thing.

Your heart, mind and soul all must love God.

All your heart, mind and soul must love God.

Love for God must never be compromised or partial in your heart, soul and mind.

 

11.2 Souls Love God. God commanded people to love Him with all their heart and with all their souls (Deturonomy 11:13;13:3;).

Paul said he will spend and will be spent for the souls of the Corinthians.

People can purposefully be spent for Souls of other people. 

People can purposefully spend their souls for other people.

Souls were a focus of Paul’s ministry.

Paul will spend and be spent for the souls of the Corinthians with gladness.

People may spend themselves with gladness for the souls of others.

People who spend themselves gladly for the souls of others may be loved less by the others.

 

11.3 The Good Shepherd. Jesus said He was the Good Shepherd who laid down His soul for the sheep (John 10:11, 15). When the hired hand fled, Jesus stayed to guard the sheep. The Father loves Jesus because Jesus laid down His soul, so that He may take it again. ²³John used the Greek phrase: ἐγὼ τίθημι τὴν ψυχήν μου, ἵνα πάλιν λάβω αὐτήν. Jesus emphasized that He laid down His life and no one took it from Him (John 10:18). 

Souls may be laid down for others.

Jesus laid down His soul for the saints.

Jesus took up His soul after laying it down.

The Father loves Jesus for laying down His soul for the saints.

Souls may be taken up again by the power of God.

 

11.4 Jesus and Love. Jesus linked laying down your soul with love for your friends (John 15:3). He said no one has greater love than laying down your soul for your friends.

People may lay down their souls for their friends.

Jesus linked laying down your soul with love for your friends.

No one has greater love for their friends than laying down your soul for your friends.

 

11.5 Peter and His Soul. Jesus said He was leaving and Peter could not follow Him immediately. Peter then responded that he would lay down his soul for Jesus. Jesus then asked Peter: “Will you lay down your soul for me?” Jesus went on to say that Peter would actually deny him three times that night, but do not let you heart be afraid. Believe in God, believe also in Me.(John 13:37-14:1). 

People may say great things about laying down their soul for another person.

Peter reminds us that we may say one thing about our souls, and then do another thing under pressure.

Jesus linked denying Him to the heart, and said the heart should not be afraid, even before or after denying Jesus. 

People may lay down their lives for Jesus, but they may also deny Him under pressure.

 

11.6 Laid Down His Soul. Saints know love because Jesus laid down His soul for us, and so we ought to lay down our souls for the brethren (1 John 3:16). 

Souls can be laid down for others.

Jesus laid down His soul for us.

We should lay down our souls for the brethren.

 

Section Twelve

Heart and Souls

12.1 God’s Heart and Soul. God has both a heart and a soul (1 Samuel 2:35).

 

Section Thirteen

Souls Given Over

13.1 Souls Given Over. People recognized that Paul and Barnabas gave over their souls for the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 15:26–compare Matthew 10:39). ²⁴The phrase “risked their lives” completely misses the point. Luke described Paul and Barnabas as men “who gave over their souls” (“παραδεδωκόσι τὰς ψυχὰς αὐτῶν” followed by ” ὑπὲρ “). Again, the word for soul should never be confused with the term “life.” Luke did not talk about risk, but about giving the soul to the Lord Jesus (see Pilate handing over “παραδεδώκεισαν” Jesus to the Jews (Mark 15:10); and the devil offering to hand over (“παραδέδοται “) the world (Luke 4:6). They gave their souls to the Lord Jesus Who then directed their lives.

People may hand over their souls.

Paul and Barnabas handed over their souls to the Lord Jesus.

 

 

Section Fourteen

Souls Risked

14.1 Risking the Soul. Epaphroditus became dear to Paul as they labored together for Christ. Paul revealed that Epaphroditus came near to death, risking his soul, that he might complete the service of the Philippians to Paul (Philippians 2:30). 

Souls deliberately may be put at risk of death.

Souls may draw near to death for the work of Christ.

People may notice when you risk your soul to serve other people.

God may call upon you to risk your soul for the work of Christ.

 

 

Section Fifteen

Spent Souls

15.1 Spent for Souls. Just as Jesus sacrificed His soul as a ransom for many, so also Paul said he will spend and will be spent for  the souls of the Corinthians. ²⁵In Acts 21.24, Paul was directed to pay the expenses (“δαπάνησον”) for men under a vow. Same root word used of paying for the soul of the Corinthians. The concepts of spending and being spent reflect the love and devotion Paul felt for the Corinthians.  Consider Jesus talking about destroying your soul and you will find it.

 

Section Sixteen

Unity and Souls

16.1 One in Heart and Soul. In the early church, the multitudes believing in Jesus were one in heart and soul (Acts 4:32).

People may be one in heart.

People may be one in soul.

Multitudes of believers may be one in heart and soul.

Heart and soul are not the same thing.

 

16.2 Relatives in Souls. Joseph invited his father Jacob and all relative in souls (about seventy-five people) to come to him in Egypt. ²⁶Luke used the phrase “the relative in souls” (“τὴν συγγένειαν ἐνψυχαῖς“).

People may be relative in souls.

Joseph had relative in soul seventy-five people.

Some of those relative in souls people once threw Joseph into a pit and sold him into slavery.

People relative in souls may do some very evil things.

People may forgive their  relative in souls.

 

16.3 Striving in One Soul. Not only may people be standing fast in one spirit, but they may also be striving together in one soul in faith of the Gospel (Philippians 1:27).

People may stand fast in one spirit.

People may strive together in one soul.

People may strive together in one soul in faith of the Gospel.

 

16.4 United Souls. Paul described Christian unity: souls thinking the same, having the same love, united souls, one in thinking. ²⁷Paul put it this way: “πληρώσατέ μου τὴν χαρὰν ἵνα τὸ αὐτὸ φρονῆτε, τὴν αὐτὴν ἀγάπην ἔχοντες, σύμψυχοι, τὸ ἓν φρονοῦντες“. Paul actually commanded them to make his joy full. Regarding thinking, Paul may have also meant to think the one thing.

Paul commanded souls to think the same.

Paul commanded souls to have the same love.

Paul commanded souls to be united.

Paul commanded souls to think the same.

 

16.5 Souls Knit. The souls of Jonathan and David were knit together (1 Samuel 18:1).

 

 

Section Seventeen

Wisdom and Souls

17.1 Soulish Wisdom. James contrasted the gentleness of wisdom which comes down from above, with the earthly, soulish, and demonic wisdom (James 3:15).  ²⁸James the wisdom not from above as “ἐπίγειος, ψυχική, δαιμονιώδης”.

The wisdom not from above is soulish.

Soulish wisdom opposes the wisdom of God.

Soulish wisdom is earthly, and demonic.

 

Section Eighteen

Hope and Souls

18.1 Anchor of the Soul. The hope of saints provides an anchor for the soul, safe and steadfast and enters inside the veil, where Jesus entered  (Hebrews 6:19).

Souls hope.

Hope provides anchor for the soul.

The anchor of hope holds the soul safe and steadfast inside the veil, where Jesus entered.

 

Section Nineteen

Fear and Souls

19.1 Fear in Souls. After receiving the word at Pentecost, all the souls of the saints had fear come into being in those souls. They witnessed many signs and wonders come into being through the apostles.

Souls may fear.

Souls may fear after salvation.

Fear comes into being in the souls of people after salvation.

 

19.2 Loss of Soul. Nearing shipwreck, Paul told the people on the ship that they should take courage, because not one soul would be lost (Acts 27:22). ²⁹Luke used the phrase “ἀποβολὴ γὰρ ψυχῆς οὐδεμία ἔσται ἐξ ὑμῶν.“ The ship had two-hundred seventy souls on board (Acts 27:37); they would be saved, but the ship lost.

Souls may be lost.

Souls may be lost by dying during a shipwreck.

Paul encourage people by letting them know their souls would not be lost during shipwreck.

Luke referred to people facing death in a storm-tossed ship as souls.

 

Section Twenty

Grief and Souls

20.1 Jesus’ Soul Grieved. In the Garden of Gethsemane, on the night of His arrest and the day before His crucifixion and death, Jesus grieved deeply in His soul (Matthew 26:38). ³⁰Matthew used the Greek term “grieved deeply” (“Περίλυπός“) ; Greek has a nice phrase for “deeply grieved” (“ἐλυπήθησαν σφόδρα“–Matthew 17:23). Περίλυπός also appears in Mark 6:26 to describe Herod’s sorrow over having to behead John the Baptist and in Luke 18:23 to describe the rich ruler after Jesus told him to sell everything so that he may inherit eternal life. Therefore, in Matthew 17:23, we see the additional phrase of deeply grieved until death (“ἕως θανάτου”–this preposition generally speaks of time; so Jesus was grieved until the time of His death, not as a description of how badly He grieved at the moment; after death, glory and rejoicing). This grief lasted until His death. Because commanded us to be anxious for nothing, we know that all anxiety amounts to sin ( Philippians 4:6).

Souls can deeply grieve.

Souls can deeply grieve without sin.

All anxiety is sinful. 

Souls can deeply grieve without anxiety.

Souls can deeply grieve over impending death.

Jesus grieved deeply in His soul the night before His crucifixion and death.

Jesus shared the deep grief in His soul with others and requested prayer.

 

20.2 Souls Spared Grief. God told Eli that He would not kill every man of his household so that Eli’s soul would not grieve (1 Samuel 2:23).

 

20.3 Wasting Grief. Eyes, souls and bodies may waste away from grief (Psalm 31:9). 

 

 

Section Twenty One

Discouragement and Souls

21.1 Discouraged Souls. People enduring hostility must consider the example of Jesus, Who enduring the hostility of sinner against Himself. As saints consider Jesus suffering hostility, we do not give up, because our souls have been discouraged (Hebrews 12:3). ³¹The Greek text reads: “ἵνα μὴ κάμητε ταῖς ψυχαῖς ὑμῶν ἐκλυόμενοι.” This common “ἵνα ” clause with a negative means that we avoid this result. In this case, the result is that our souls are not discouraged (“κάμητε”–aorist subjunctive with the “μὴ“) and we do not give up (“ἐκλυόμενοι”). Verbal correspondence also plays a role here. To translate give up as the colloquial “lose heart” introduces the term heart into a passage where it does not exist. Translators must be conscious not to bring terms, such as “heart” which has very particular meaning, into the discussion of souls not giving up. Furthermore, when translators translate the phrase “ἵνα μὴ ἀθυμῶσιν–similar negative clause” as “that they will not lose heart,” they introduce the term “heart” into a passage that does not contain that term (Colossians 3:21).  The problem also appears in Ephesians 3:13 with “μὴ ἐγκακεῖν” translated as “not to lose heart” ; and Galatians 6:9 with “μὴ ἐγκακῶμεν” translated as “not lose heart”; and 2 Corinthians 4:1, 16 with “οὐκ ἐγκακοῦμεν” not lose heart. 

 

 

Section Twenty Two

Hatred and Souls

22.1 Hate. Jesus taught people that they must hate their father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters and their own souls, if they were to follow Him (Luke 14;26). Jesus meant that we must have an absolute love for Him, and by comparison, we hate everyone else, including our own souls. Remember that as we destroy our souls for the sake of Jesus and His Gospel, we find our souls.

Following Jesus means you hate your father, mother, children, brothers, sisters, and your own soul.

You can hate your soul and not sin.

 

22.2 Souls Abhor the Ordinances of God. Some souls abhor the ordinances of God (Leviticus 26:15). Likewise, the soul of God may abhor people who fall into idolatry (Leviticus 26:30). ³²The verbs were “תִּגְעַ֣ל” and “וְגָעֲלָ֥ה” respectively.

 

 

Section Twenty Three

Upset Souls

23.3 Souls Upset. Some people came to believers in Antioch and disturbed believers there with words, upsetting the the souls of the believers. ³³Luke used the Greek phrase: “ἐτάραξαν ὑμᾶς λόγοις ἀνασκευάζοντες τὰς ψυχὰς ὑμῶν” (Acts 15:24).

Souls may be upset.

Words can upset the souls of believers.

 

Section Twenty Four

Stirred Up and Mistreated Souls

24.1 Souls Stirred Up and Mistreated. Certain disbelieving Jews stirred up and mistreated the souls of the Gentiles against the brethren (Acts 14:2). ³⁴The Greek phrase was “ἐπήγειραν καὶ ἐκάκωσαν τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν ἐθνῶν κατὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν.” New Testament Greek has a nice word for embittered which is “πικραίνεσθε” (Colossians 3:19; see also Revelation 10:9 about honey and bitterness.) A very similar term “ἐκάκωσαν” occurred in Acts 7:19 where Luke said that Pharaoh mistreated our fathers so that  they would expose their infants.  The term “embittered” does not capture the actual acts involved with the word “ἐκάκωσαν.” So, verbal correspondence makes a big difference, again.

Souls may be stirred up.

Souls may be embittered.

People may stir up the souls of other people.

People may cause the souls of other people to be embittered.

Unbelievers may stir up souls and embitter souls against others.

 

Section Twenty Five

Annoyed Souls

25.1 Soul Annoyed. Delilah annoyed daily the soul of Samson (Judges 16:16).

 

 

Section Twenty Six

Delighted Souls

26.1  Delighted Souls. God consolations delight the soul, when anxious thoughts multiply inside me (Psalm 94:19).

 

 

Section Twenty Seven

Composed and Quieted Souls

27.1 Composed and Quieted Souls. Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child against his mother, my soul is like a weaned child within me (Psalm 131:2). 

 

27.2 Souls Tremble. (Isaiah 15:4).

 

 

Section Twenty Eight

Bowed Down Souls

28.1 Souls Remember and Bow Down. Jeremiah described his soul as bowed down when he remembered his afflictions and wanderings, bitterness and wormwood (Lamentations 3:19-20). 

 

 

Section Twenty Nine

Longing Souls

29.1 Longing of Soul. Babylon longed for the fruit of the soul, but it left (Revelation 18:14).

Souls can long for things.

 

Section Thirty

Prosperity and Souls

30.1 Souls Prosper. John said that  a soul prospers (3 John 1:2). ³⁵John used the phrase “αθὼς εὐοδοῦταί σου ἡ ψυχή“.

Souls may prosper.

 

Section Thirty One

Strengthened Souls

31.1 Souls Strengthened. Barnabas and Paul preached the Gospel in various places, and then returned “strengthening the souls” of the disciples, encouraging them to remain in the faith, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). ³⁶Luke used the phrase “ἐπιστηρίζοντες τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν μαθητῶν“. 

Souls may be strengthened.

Souls may be encouraged.

Souls may undergo tribulation.

Reminding disciples that they must pass through many tribulations to enter the kingdom of God will strengthen their souls.

Souls may be strengthened  and encouraged in the faith as they pass through tribulations.

 

 

Section Thirty Two

Purified Souls

32.1 Purify Souls. Peter revealed that obedience to the truth in a sincere brotherly love purifies the soul (1 Peter 1:22).

Souls may be purified.

Our obedience purifies our souls.

Obedience to the truth purifies souls.

Sincere brotherly love out of the heart purifies souls.

Fervent love for the brethren purifies our souls.

 

 

Section Thirty Three

Leaders and Souls

33.1 The Shepherd and Overseer of the Souls. Peter descried saints as sheep once straying, but now have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of souls (1 Peter 2:11).

Souls stray like sheep.

Souls have a Shepherd and Overseer.

Souls return to the Shepherd and Overseer of Souls.

Jesus is the Shepherd and Overseer of souls.

 

33.2 Subjection of Souls. Paul commanded that every soul must be in subjection to the governing authorities, for God established all governments (Romans 13:1). ³⁷Paul wrote that “every soul” (“Πᾶσα ψυχὴ“) must “be in subjection” (“ὑποτασσέσθω“) to the authorities (“ἐξουσίαις”).  

All souls may live in subjection.

All souls must in subjection to authorities.

Saints must keep their souls in subjection to authorities.

 

33.3. Attending to Souls. Leaders have attend to the souls of saints as ones who render an account (Hebrews 13:17).  ³⁸God ordered: Obey your leaders The souls of saints obey their leaders and  accept authority (“Πείθεσθε τοῖς ἡγουμένοις ὑμῶν καὶ ὑπείκετε“), for they attend to your souls as ones who render an account (“αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀγρυπνοῦσιν ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν ὡς λόγον ἀποδώσοντες”).

Souls of saints are attended to by leaders.

Leaders must give an account for the service as soul attendants.

 

 

Section Thirty Four

Work and Souls

34.1 Souls Work. Paul commanded believers in all that they do, work as to the Lord and not to men (Colossians 3:3).

Believers work.

Souls may work.

Some work may not be from the soul.

God commands believers to work from the soul, as to the Lord, and not to men.

All work must be done out of the soul.

 

34.2 Work out of Soul. Servants must serve their masters not according to eyeservice, or men-pleasing, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God out of soul. ³⁹Paul used the term “soul” (“ψυχῆς“) referring to soul and not the heart. Verbal correspondence requires the translation using the word soul; using the term heart means the translator has equated heart and soul and substituted his opinion for God’s word. Furthermore, if a translator believes heart and soul refer to the same thing, when why not leave the word soul in the translation?

God has a will.

God has a will for slaves of Christ.

God wills that slaves work from the soul.

Soul work means you do not aim to please men or work with eyeservice, but you do the will of God as the slave of Christ.

Section Thirty Five

Tribulation and Distressed Souls

35.1 No Value Souls. Paul considered his soul to be of no value (“οὐδενὸς λόγου ποιοῦμαι τὴν ψυχὴν τιμίαν ἐμαυτῷ “) as he considered that bonds and afflictions awaited him in Jerusalem. Instead, Paul intended to finish the course and the ministry he received from the Lord Jesus to testify solemnly of the Gospel of the Grace of God (Acts 20:23-24). 

People may consider their souls of no value as they pursue the ministry Jesus gave to them.

Paul considered his soul of no value as considered bonds and afflictions awaiting him as he pursued the ministry of the Gospel of the Grace of God.

People may choose ministry which destroys their souls.

 

35.2 Souls undergoing Tribulation and Distress. Tribulation and distress come upon every soul of man doing evil, to the Jew first and then the Gentile. [Luke used the terms “θλῖψις” and “στενοχωρία”.]]

Souls may do evil.

Tribulation and distress come upon souls doing evil.

Jews first, then Gentiles, doing evil experience tribulation and distress in their souls.

 

 

Section Thirty Six

Attacks upon the Soul

36.1 Attack upon the Soul of Jesus. Herod and his men tried to kill Jesus. They specifically targeted His soul (Matthew 2:20).

•   People may target a soul and kill the body.

•  No One but God can destroy body and soul in Hell.

 

36.2 War against the Soul. Peter beseeched the saints as aliens and strangers to avoid lusts of the flesh which wage ware against the soul (1 Peter 2:11).

Internal wars affect the soul.

Lusts of the flesh wage war against the soul.

Avoiding fleshly lusts avoids that ware with the soul.

Lusts of the flesh do not arise in the soul.

Our soul and our flesh are different things.

 

36.3 Souls Set Before a Faithful Creator . Believers suffering according to the will of God were setting their souls before a faithful creator by doing good (1 Peter 4:19). ⁴⁰Peter used the Greek term “παρατιθέσθωσαν” in the imperative with a dative following. In Mark 6:41, this same root word was used of giving the loaves to the disciples to set it before the people, using a similar verb with dative following (“παρατιθῶσιν αὐτοῖς“). Therefore, I prefer the translation “set before.”

Souls may be set before a faithful Creator.

Souls may be set before a faithful Creator by doing good.

Souls may be set before a faithful creator by doing good, even when suffering according to the will of God.

 

36.4 Souls Tormented. The righteous soul of Lot was continuously tormented day by day by the lawless deeds he heard and saw as lived among evil people (2 Peter 2:8). ⁴¹Peter emphasized the ongoing nature of the torment with “ἐβασάνιζεν“–imperfect, active, indicative. The righteous soul experiences this continuous torment.

Souls may be righteous.

Souls may be tormented continuously.

Lawless deeds seen and heard torment righteous souls.

Living among people doing lawless things torments the righteous soul.

 

36.5 Enticing Souls. Peter also warned against evil people with eyes full of adultery enticing unsteady souls (2 Peter 2:14). ⁴²Peter used the term “δελεάζοντες“–present active participle. He also described souls as “ἀστηρίκτους“.

Souls may be enticed.

Souls may be unsteady. 

People with eyes full of adultery may entice unsteady souls.

 

36.6 Souls Sought. Elijah prayed to the Lord about evil people seeking his soul (Romans 11:3). 

People may seek the souls of others.

Evil People sought the soul of Elijah, to kill him.

 

 

Section Thirty Seven

Numbered Souls

37.1 Souls Safe. Noah’s ark brought eight souls safely through the water (1 Peter 3:20).

God saved souls from the flood.

God used Noah’s ark to bring eight souls safely through the water.

 

 

Section Thirty Eight

Bought and Sold Souls

13.9 Souls Bought and Sold. Babylon considered the souls of men commodities to be bought and sold (Revelation 18:13).

Some souls may be bought and sold.

Babylon trades the souls of man like other commodities.

 

 

Section Thirty Nine

Aberrant Souls

39.1 Soulers. Some people cause divisions in the body of Christ, soulers, not having a spirit (Jude 1:19). I use the term “soulers” to describe the plural noun ” ψυχικοί” to describe the soul dominating a person for evil. That soulish person has no spirit. ⁴³Jude described certain evil men as “Οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἀποδιορίζοντες, ψυχικοί, πνεῦμα μὴ ἔχοντες“. This verse raises many interesting points and issues. First, evil people causing divisions have a problem with their souls dominating them. Second, those same people are best described as soulish have no spirit. Three, it appears as soulish actions take over, the person has no spirit. Fourth. soul and spirit may be inversely proportional at times. Fifth, at times, the spirit may restrain the soul from evil behavior, particularly dividing the saints.

Some People are soulers.

Soulers people have no spirit.

Soulers people divide believers.

Spirit may restrain the soul from evil? 

 

 

Section Forty

Death and Souls

40.1 Souls Beg to Die. The soul of Jonah begged to die, saying that death is better than life (Jonah 4:8). ⁴⁴Jonah used the phrase “וַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל אֶת־נַפְשֹׁו֙ לָמ֔וּת“.

 

40.2 Souls Delivered. Souls may be delivered from death (Psalm 33:19). 

 

40.3 Beheaded. The souls of people beheaded during the Tribulation because of the word of God and their testimony and who did not worship the beast nor take his mark and did not worship his image lived with Christ and reigned with Him for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4).

Souls may die.

Souls may live and reign with Christ after death.

 

40.5 Soul in Him. Eutychus fell asleep and fell from the third floor. Paul embraced him and said, “Do not be troubled for his soul is in him” (Acts 20:10). 

People do not die physically so long as the soul remains in them.

 

40.6 Souls in Sea Creatures. Some sea creatures have souls and die (Revelation 8:9; 16:13).

Some creatures have souls.

Some sea creatures have souls.

In the future, all living souls in the sea will die.

 

 

Section Forty One

Destruction of Souls

41.1 Will To Save. If a person wills to save his soul, he will destroy it (Matthew 16:25). ⁴⁵The Greek word for “will” (“θέλῃ“) appears in the subjunctive mood, as part of a third class condition. People tend to try to save their own souls, but end up in Hell because they did not give up their lives to Jesus as Savior. The term destroy (“ἀπολέσει“) has strong associations with eternal destruction after the body dies on earth. Here the will of a person acts toward saving the soul. The soul and the will are not the same thing. The will remains separate from the soul, because we see that the soul receives action of the will–I will to save my soul.

People have wills.

People will to save their souls.

People who will to save their souls destroy them.

People who destroy their souls for the sake of Jesus save them.

You can destroy your soul and not sin.

 

41.2 Loving Life in This World. Jesus taught that if you love your life in this world, then you destroy it. ⁴⁶The Greek term for “destroy” (“ἀπολλύει“–present active indicative) emphasizes the ongoing nature of that destruction as you love your life in this world. Paul said if we hoped in this life only, then we are of all men most to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:19). In contrast, if you hate your life in this world, then you will guard it to eternal life. ⁴⁷The Greek includes present active participles related to the main verbs of destroys and guards.

People can love their souls.

As you love your soul in this world, you are destroying it.

People can hate their soul in this world.

As you hate your soul in this world, then you guard it to eternal life.

 

41.3 Shrinking Back. When righteous people shrink back from living in faith, then the soul of God takes no pleasure in that person (Hebrews 10:38). Righteous people never shrink back to destruction, because they have faith to the preserving of the soul (Hebrews 10:39). ⁴⁸Righteous people never shrink back to destruction (“ἀπώλειαν“–associated with destruction of the soul in the Afterlife, which only happens to unbelievers). Here, saving faith means you may shrink back for a time, like Peter and John Mark, and the soul of God does not take pleasure in such decisions. In fact, the Holy Spirit grieves over our shrinking back. Even so, once restored and we again stand firm in our faith (often through the ministry to us from other believers Ezekiel 3:20; Matthew 18:15; Luke 17:3; Galatians 6:1-10) , then the soul of God takes pleasure in us again.

Saving faith makes people righteous.

Righteous people may live by faith.

Righteous people may shrink back from living in faith.

The soul of God takes no pleasure in righteous people who shrink back from living in faith.

Saving people never shrink back to destruction, because their saving faith always preserves their soul.

 

41.4 Attacks upon the Body. Jesus warned us not to be afraid of the ones able to kill the body (Matthew 1028). Instead, we should afraid of God who is able to destroy body and soul in Hell. 

•   Souls may be destroyed in Hell.

•   Souls survive the death of the body.

•   Souls continue existence after the death of the physical body.

•   People fear destruction of their body in death.

•   God says fear Him because He can destroy both body and soul in Hell.

 

 

Section Forty Two

The Afterlife and Souls

42.1 Hades and the Soul. When the body of an unbeliever dies, their soul goes straight to Hades (Luke 16:23–see Free E-Book on the Afterlife.) When Jesus died, God did not forsake His soul to Hades nor did His body undergo decay in the ground (Acts 2:27; Psalm 16:10–see study on Ephesians 4:7-11.)

The souls of unbelievers go to Hades when their bodies die.

Jesus has a soul. 

The soul of Jesus never went to Hades.

The body of Jesus never underwent decay in the grave.

The souls of believers never go to Hades.

The bodies of saints undergo decay in the grave after death.

 

42.2 Testimony of Souls. During the Tribulation, the souls under the altar in heaven, slain because of their testimony for God, cried out (Revelation 6:9). 

Souls continue after the body dies.

Some souls go to heaven.

Some souls in heaven appear under the altar in heaven.

Some souls bear testimony to God during the tribulation.

Some souls go to heaven because of their testimony on earth.

Some souls were slain on earth because of the word of God and their testimony.

 

42.3 Not Loved. Some people overcame the accuser of the brethren through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony; they did not love their souls unto death (Revelation 12:11). ⁴⁹John wrote: “καὶ οὐκ ἠγάπησαν τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτῶν ἄχρι θανάτου“.

Some people overcome evil.

Some people overcome evil by not loving their souls unto death.

 

43.4 Sheol Power.  Sheol exercises power over souls (Psalm 89:48).

 

43.5 The Rod and Sheol.  You shall strike your child with a rod and deliver his soul from Sheol (Proverbs 23:14).