MATTHEW 3:12

Q: This seems to hint at an everlasting existence for unbelievers. Does the Bible really teach the immortality of the “soul”?

The first problem to address is the biblical definition of soul (psyche). In some passages the word applies the whole person (I Thessalonians 2:8); in others it (or “spirit”) is contrasted with the body (I Corinthians 7:34); and in yet others there appears to be a tripartite make-up of humanity: body, spirit and soul (I Thessalonians 5:23). However, even where there seems to be division within man, that does not indicate that a person is, for example, 50% soul and 50% body. We are, instead, 100% both at the same time. Each descriptive word is a way of viewing the whole person from a different perspective. Also, no supposed division should be taken to teach, as did the Greek dualists, that the physical is inferior to the spiritual. Both will have a part in the resurrection (See J. K. Chamblin, “Psychology” in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, pp. 765-775 for a complete treatment of this subject.)

Paul makes an interesting statement in I Timothy 6:16 concerning Christ: “It is he alone who has immortality...” The Reformed scholar Anthony Hoekema states: “The Scriptures do not teach the continued existence of the soul by virtue of its inherent indestructibility...Since, according to the Scriptures, man has been created by God and continues to be dependent on God for his existence, we cannot point to any inherent quality in man or in any aspect of man which makes him indestructible.” (The Bible and the Future) But Paul does not stop there. In 2 Timothy 1:10 he states that immortality can be conveyed to believers: “Christ abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

But what of non-believers? Do they also have an immortal existence through Christ's abolition of death? Many, but not all, who believe in conditional immortality teach that unbelievers will not suffer conscious eternal separation from God since they have not obtained immortality from Christ. Instead, unbelievers will be annihilated (perhaps after a short period of suffering). This view is appealing to many who have trouble with the concept of eternal damnation, but it flies in the face of many clear passages which teach that an immortal existence, for better of worse, will belong to all mankind, not just the saved. Some scriptures to consider in this regard, besides John the Baptist's words in Matthew 3:12 are: Isaiah 66:24; Daniel 12:2; Matt. 9:43-48; Matt. 18:6-9; John 5:28-29; Matt. 13:41-42; Matt. 18:34-35; Matt. 25:30; Matt. 25:41-48; Luke 16:23-25; John 3:36; Rom. 6:20-23; 2 Thess. 1:8-9; Heb. 10:28-31; 2 Peter 2:9; Jude 6-7; Jude 12-13; Rev. 14:9-11; Rev. 19:3; Rev. 20:10-1