Substance Dualism and the Immortal Soul

     

Estimated reading time: 3 min.
The orthodox Christian view of man is one of “substance dualism.” “Substance dualism” has been earlier defined as: comprised of dual substances — physical and nonphysical; body and soul respectively[1]. The soul, also called mind, is the locus of the individual identity, and is nonphysical. The body is the vehicle for the soul, and is physical. Earlier in this work man has been called a tripartite being; meaning, made up of three parts: body, soul and spirit. Biblically the terms soul and spirit have been, at times, used interchangeably. Technically, however, the two terms identify two different aspects of human reality. The “spirit” does not, strictly speaking, belong to man, but is the “god-spark” that all men possess and that returns to God upon death, regardless of the righteousness or unrighteousness of the person[2]. By the soul man has self-awareness and by the spirit man has God-awareness. The body and soul are proper properties of man and make up the “substance duality” in a primary sense, but the spirit of man, the “god-spark,” is also included in the nonphysical substance of man’s “substance duality;” in unregenerate man minimally[3], in regenerated man majorly[4]. 

Substance Dualism and the Immortal Soul

  First, we need to be very clear that the soul of man, according to Jesus, cannot be killed as can the body: “fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: …” (Matthew  10:28). This Jesus-saying supports the “substance dualism” of man by affirming that the body can be killed (dead) but the soul remain (alive).

  Those who reject the idea of an immortal soul often cite 1 Timothy 6:15-16[5] where only God is said to have immortality. It is true that all life is of God and from God; He is the fountain of all life. He only possesses life in and of Himself. It follows, then, as the possessor of all life, He may give that live to whomever He will. He has willed that all men share in His immortality. This is part of what is meant by Adam being made in the likeness and the image of God[6]. No one should ever suggest that man is immortal in and of himself. Certainly not. The immortality of man is only an extension of God’s personal immortality.

  Speaking of the eternality of his soul the apostle Paul writes that although the outward man (i.e. the body) is perishing the inner man (i.e. the soul) is being renewed day by day. The apostle references his body as that which is seen and is temporal, and his soul as not seen and is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18[7]). Peter agrees, for in 1 Peter 3:4 the chief apostle references the qualities of the sanctified inner man as being imperishable[8]. The apostle John adds his voice to the fact of an immortal soul when he writes that though the physical world is passing away the one who does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:17[9]). Jesus, Himself, bears witness to the eternal life of the believer in John 5:24[10] and 6:47[11]. Lastly, not to be overlooked is the single most popular texts of the entire Bible where Jesus states "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). 

  Since it is true that those who are born again do not die, but have everlasting life, it follows, then, that that life can never be interrupted — not for a second. Only the reality of an immortal soul can assure eternal like. If, as some suggest, the soul is mortal and dies with the body, one may only speak of eternal life after the creation of an eternal body. But that is not the proposition of holy Scripture. Holy Scripture promises eternal life in this life, to the one who believes and confesses Christ, in this life. (See, John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  And John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”) If the life received upon believing is interrupted at the death of the body it was not eternal life, and the Bible’s promises are not yea and amen[12]. It is important that we remember when the Bible speaks of death it is referencing “separation” and not “extinction.” And when the Bible speaks of “eternal life” it is making a proclamation of the perpetual presence of the Creator.  So, when Jesus said “He that believeth on me hath everlasting life” what He assured was:  The souls of believers would never be separated from His glorious presence. 

Continuity of the Life of the Soul

  The continuity of the life of the soul is assured in holy Scripture. The heretical teachings of such groups as the Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventist and followers of Herbert W. Armstrong, argue for “soul sleep” in a manner that affirms “soul death” – even for the righteous. In their poor un-informed view, the soul has no existence apart from the body. When the body dies, they postulate, so does the soul. But fear not, they say, at the resurrection the soul will be re-created along with the body. The problem with that view is it makes our Lord and the holy apostles out to be liars. Why? Because our Lord Jesus Christ and His holy apostles have promised that the souls of believers would never die (2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 1 Peter 3:4; 1 John 2:17; John 5:24; 6:47).

Apostolically Speaking,

☩☩ Jerry L Hayes

End Notes
1. For the argument for “substance dualism” see page 36 this work.

2. Ecclesiastes. 12:7 …the spirit returns to God who gave it.

3. Because in unregenerate man the “spirit” (god-spark) lies dormant and exerts little or no influence upon the soul of the person.

4. Because in the regenerated man the spirit (god-spark) exerts much influence upon the soul, imprinting itself there.

5. 1 Timothy 6:15-16, Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

6. Genesis 1:26-27, And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

7. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18,  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

8. 1 Peter 3:4, But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, …

9. 1 John 2:17, And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

10. John 5:24, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

11.  John 6:47, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

12. 2 Corinthians 1:20, For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.


Read more epistles from the Bishop on the subject of The Intermediate State of the Soul at the links provided here:

The Intermediate State of the soul, Part One; An Examination of Soul Sleep, aka Christian Mortalism
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-intermediate-state-of-soul-part-one.html

Substance Dualism and the Immortal Soul
http://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/10/substance-dualism-and-immortal-soul.html

Intermediate State of the Soul (Substance Dualism and the Immortal Soul #2)
http://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-intermediate-state-substance.html

Intermediate State of the Soul (Substance Dualism and the Immortal Soul #3)
http://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-intermediate-state-substance_15.html

Intermediate State of the Soul (Substance Dualism and the Immortal Soul #4) Jesus Preaches to Spirits in Prison
http://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-intermediate-state-substance_16.html

Intermediate State of the Soul #5 (The Theology of Paul the Apostle)
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-intermediate-state-theology-of-paul.html

Intermediate State of the Soul #6 (The Rich Man Is Conscious In Hell)
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/10/intermediate-state-of-soul-rich-man-is.html

This essay is excerpted from the Bishop's book "Biblical Anthropology."
Biblical Anthropology is a study in what the Bible teaches concerning the origin, nature (ontology), history and destiny of mankind. Reviewed in this work is the debate over whether or not the human being is bipartite—such as only body and soul, or tripartite—such as body, soul and spirit. Biblical Anthropology addresses the question of whether or not the soul is mortal or immortal; that is, does the soul have existence apart from the body.  What, exactly happens at death? Will there be a resurrection of the body, and if so what nature will the resurrected body take?  These are important questions addressed in this book. Bishop Jerry L Hayes presents a very orthodox view of Christian biblical anthropology which relies heavily on holy Scripture with a generous sprinkling of quotes from the ancient churchmen such as Athenagoras, Tertullian, and Augustine to name a few. 
Order your personal copy of this classic work on biblical anthropology by clicking the link provided here:
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