Expert: Sal - 11/12/2006

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Does "immortal soul" doctrine of our Church has its origin in the Bible? Hebrew word in Gen.2:7 - nephesh is generally translated to soul or being. The Bible indicates that this is what man is, rather than what man has. New Testament in Matt.10:28 says: "And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, rather be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna." If the soul can be destroyed by God, it by definition, cannot be immortal. Similar statement in Ezekiel 18:4, 20 or in Eccl. 3:19, 20. Would not this indicate eternal punishment rather than eternal punishing as our Church teaches about hell?
The Greek word in New Testament for soul is pneuma which is translated by most scholars as nonphysical component - spirit. Spirit that, as Bible teaches us, survives the body.
Let us consider the biblical statement in Eccl. 9:5 - "For the living know that they are to die, but the dead no longer know anything." In Eccl. 12:7 - "And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it." Similar statement in Psalm 146:4.
Would the Bible indicate the state of our spirit - unconsciousness - waiting for the resurrection rather than "immortal soul" living after physical death? - As John 5:28, Daniel 12:2 and Daniel 12:13 talk about. Similar passage dealing with unconsciousness we can find in Psalm 6:5, Psalm 115:17 or in Isaiah 38:18 or in Job 7:21. In Deuteronomy 31:16 God said to Moses: "Behold, you will rest with your Fathers."

The Scriptures tell us only about Elijah and Enoch that they were taken up to the heaven long before Christ was born. Elijah – 2 Kings 2 and Enoch - Genesis 5:24. The other case would be of course Mary – mother of our Lord, although this is not directly supported by the Bible, but we have her appearances.
I know that all of the Scriptures must be considered when we build theologies, and that is why I gave quite a few Bible examples which may suggest otherwise.  
The interested thing is that Christ many times referred to the dead as “sleeping” – the Official’s daughter (Matt.9:24), Lazarus (John 11:11-13) and more.
1Tessalonians 4:13 says – “We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep…”  
Let’s also consider Christ words in John 3:13 – “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.” Let's consider also Peter's words in Acts 2:34 – “For David did not go up into heaven, but ……..” Or Daniel 12:2 – “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake ……..” or Matt. 27:52-53 "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who has fallen asleep were raised ….."
There are many other remarks of that nature in the Bible, which fog my picture about state of souls between death and resurrection.
1 Peter 3:18-19 seems to touch the subject, but in my opinion, this is a passage which refers, as indicated further down (v.20), to the spirits in prison being fallen angels – demons rather than spirits of dead people.
I know that this may sound a little bit protestant, but I do am Catholic looking for the truth.
Also, in my Bible search I cannot find anything telling us about individual judgment after death and going to heaven, purgatory or hell. It seems to me (after extensive search of the Bible) that our only hope is in the resurrection of the dead, which all Apostles wrote about, and the last judgment Jesus Christ was referring to it, many times.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said in John 14:3 –“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be”.
Does it contradict the Church teaching about saints in heaven at the present time?
All the above and many other passages in the Bible may indicate a different state of the dead - between time of death and resurrection - that we believe.

Dear Sal,
Thank you for your detail look at Eccl. 9. It is helpful and I will study it more deeply.
I am wondering what is your view on Eccl.12:7 - would it indicate plainly that God keeps our spirit until resurrection? Thank you and God Bless, Stan

Answer
Dear Stan:

My view on Eccl. 12:7 is that it shows that the body dies, but the soul remains conscious, and if it is righteous, it will be with God. At the resurrection our soul and body will be reunited for the General Judgment.

I will get back to you concerning the many verses that you mentioned as showing that the soul is unconscious after the body dies.

God Bless,
Sal