A Clearer Examination of Claims About Russell, the Great Pyramid and “Occultism”

Is the Soul of a Man Immortal? – A Brief Summary

And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath [neshamah: Strong's Hebrew #5397] of life; and man became a living soul [nephesh, Strong's Hebrew #5315]. -- Genesis 2:7, American Standard Version.

Also it is written, the first man Adam became a living soul [psuché: Strongs Greek #5590]. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. -- 1 Corinthians 15:45, ASV

The Scriptures present a clear picture of the human soul. In Genesis 2:7, we read that God formed man from the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the “breath of life” (Hebrew neshamah). As a result, man became a “living soul” (Hebrew nephesh). From this passage, it is evident that a human being consists of two essential elements: the physical body, which originates from the ground, and the divine breath of life that animates it.

When a person dies, the life‑giving breath departs, and the soul ceases to exist as a conscious, living entity. This reversal of the original life process is affirmed in passages such as Psalm 104:30, Psalm 146:4, and Ecclesiastes 12:7, which describe the return of the spirit to God and the cessation of life.

The biblical teaching that the soul is mortal, rather than immortal, is supported by numerous texts:

The soul dies -- Job 36:14; Psalm 56:13; Psalm 78:50; Psalm 116:8; Ezekiel 18:4,20; James 5:20.


The dead soul is not alive -- Psalm 22:29; Psalm 30:3; Psalm 33:18‑19; Isaiah 55:3; Ezekiel 13:19; Ezekiel 18:27.


The wicked soul is destroyed, consumed, devoured, or cut off -- Psalm 35:17; Psalm 40:14; Proverbs 6:32; Ezekiel 22:27; Matthew 10:28; Acts 3:23; James 4:12; Isaiah 10:18; Ezekiel 22:25; Leviticus 22:3; Numbers 15:30.

Both the Hebrew nephesh and the Greek psuché are used in these passages to denote a living being that can die. The notion that the soul is inherently immortal and continues to possess consciousness after death finds its origin in heathen philosophy, not in the biblical record, but it has been blended into many scriptures of the Bible.

Conclusion

Scripture consistently presents the soul as a composite of body and breath, which ceases to be alive at death. The belief in an immortal soul has its origins outside the Bible. 

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