Addressing soul sleep and the belief that the soul came from the Greeks

Restorationists such as the Jehovah Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist and Christadelphians contend that the soul is not conscious after death. They believe in the concept of soul sleep, that the soul is unconscious and "sleeps" in death until the resurrection at Christ's second coming. It's true, the Bible does refer to death as "sleep" on occasion, but it does so as a euphemism, as someone dead has the appearance of someone asleep. I will address their primary arguments and then provide scriptural support to the contrary.

1. Restorationists argue that the Bible does not teach that humans have a soul, nephesh in Hebrew, but that humans are souls. This belief in interpreted from Genesis 2:7, when man became a living soul (nephesh). Nephesh, they say, is the whole living person and that when the body dies, so does the soul. However, nephesh does not exclude the possibility of life after death. And not everything in Scripture is purely in relation to the physical. When Scriptures speak of the nephesh dying, as in Ezekiel 18:4, death does not necessarily allude to physical death but to the second death, separation from God.

Also, it does not exclude humans from being more than nephesh. Nephesh is part of our being but not necessarily all of our being. Nephesh also applies to animals, but clearly, there is a distinction between animals and humans. Humans were created in the image of God. So, what does that mean? God is not physical or mortal, so it can't refer to that. It has to refer to His immaterial, eternal attributes. God is the only uncreated eternal being. But as beings created in His image, we possess immortality derivatively, just like the angels in heaven (Luke 20:35–36).

Nephesh is translated to "psyche" in the Septuagint and New Testament. If nephesh were strictly biological in nature, they could have used the Greek word "bios." By using the word "psyche," it suggests something that includes the physical but is also something more than just physical.

2. Much is made that the Hebrew Bible (i.e. The Old Testament) speaks very little of the afterlife. However, it shouldn't be presumed that the Hebrews had all the answers. In fact, they seemed to have had a limited revelation with regards to the spiritual world in general, and some of it was borrowed from their Mesopotamian neighbors. For example, the Hebrews’ concept of the underworld, Sheol, is very similar to Kur in Sumerian and Irkalla in Akkadian. The Hebrew Bible's primary focus was on earthly matters, specifically, God's dealings with Israel.

Still, the concept of an afterlife was known to the Hebrews. Sheol was more than just the grave, it was an underworld, the abode of the dead. The implication is that while their body went to the grave, their soul went to the underworld. That's why when they died, it says they were gathered to their ancestors. It doesn't mean they were merely gathered in the tomb, but they were gathered with their people in the afterlife. Ecclesiastes 12:7 says, "And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit (rûaḥ) returns to God who gave it," demonstrating a distinction and separation between the body and soul after death.

The reason why wasn't much was said of the afterlife was twofold. First, they simply weren't given that revelation (knowledge/understanding) by God. Second, Sheol was all they really knew. It's where they all went when they died and there was no means for them to ascend to the third heaven with God before Christ came. They did, however, have the hope that God would provide the means for them. That’s why they spoke mostly about the grave (Sheol) in the Old Testament with little emphasis on the afterlife.

3. Restorationists assert that Christians adopted the concept of the immortal soul from the Greeks. There is a variation of this that they got it from the Egyptians. For that reason, they reject the soul, which explains their shared belief in annihilationism. Ironically, they have no problems with adopting the use of allegory, which also originates from Greek thought.

So, did Christians via the Jews get the concept of the immortal soul from the Greeks (or Egyptians)? First things first, the Greeks didn't invent the soul, they merely philosophized it. The concept of the human soul was universal across all cultures. The concept of soul sleep, on the other hand, would have been foreign to them.

Second, it's easy to dispel that theory from the story of the Witch of Endor alone. Recall that Saul went to see the Witch of Endor to summon the ghost or spirit of Samuel. Much to the witch's surprise, she summoned what appeared to be the spirit of Samuel (1Sa 28). Now, whether this spirit was actually Samuel or a trick, demon, or hallucination does not really matter to this discussion. What's important is it clearly demonstrates that the ancient Israelites understood the concept of an immortal, disembodied spirit (soul) existing apart from the body by at least 1010 BC. This was well before Greek influence and Hellenization began around 332 BC and peaked from 175 to 167 BC in Judea. For more about the Witch of Endor and if it was a parable or not, see here.

Do similarities exist between the Greek understanding of the soul and predominant Christian understanding of the soul? Sure, just as similarities exist between the Hebrews’ nephesh and the Akkadian napīštu. Ironically, they never consider that maybe the Hebrews also adopted ideas from their pagan neighbors. In any case, just because similarities exist does not prove borrowing in itself. There are many biblical motifs, for example, that share similar themes with pagan motifs without adoption. Also, similarities don’t automatically invalidate something as untrue. The Genesis flood account mirrors the Chaldean flood tradition as told in the Epic of Gilgamesh. However, no one would accuse Moses, the believed writer of Genesis, of adopting pagan flood traditions.

Moreover, whatever similarities exist, there exists a multitude of differences. The Greeks may have believed in disembodied souls but not bodily resurrection like the Christians. Nor did Christians believe in eternal disembodied souls as the Greeks did. Likewise, the Egyptians believed in the concept of the soul, but it vastly differed from Christian belief. They believed the soul was comprised of multiple components, wasn't fully disembodied, and could even come back to the tomb to revisit the body and partake of food and drink offerings. So, to say that Christians got their ideas of the soul and the afterlife from the pagans ignores the major differences between them.

There were some Christian theologians who were in part influenced by Aristotle's understanding of the soul, such as Thomas Aquinas. However, it wasn’t without justification. Thomas Aquinas’ rationale was that even pagans could discover the truth through philosophical reasoning, and if something is true, it belongs to the Lord, no matter the source. Therefore, it wasn’t so much as borrowing as arriving to the same or similar conclusions. It's also why many Greek philosophers came to believe in the existence of a supreme being, because it was reasonable and logical to do so. So, just because something is found in Greek philosophy shouldn't automatically disqualify it. The Greeks philosophized about a great many things, such as atoms. Should we then discount the existence of atoms because the Greeks philosophized about them? No, of course not.

4. Scripture itself speaks of the soul existing outside the body after death if taken literal. We have already mentioned the Old Testament story of the Witch of Endor summoning the spirit of Samuel. But there is also Enoch and Elijah. Enoch walked or pleased God and was taken (Gen 5:24), meaning that he did not die. If there are any doubts, Hebrews 11:5 affirms that Enoch was taken up so he wouldn't see death. Elijah, likewise, was taken to heaven in a whirlwind (2Ki 2:1-12). This poses a problem for those that believe in soul sleep, as it clearly demonstrates that the righteous go to paradise once they leave this earth. The Jehovah Witnesses will try to get around this by saying that only a select few (144,000) chosen by God will rule with Jesus Christ in heaven as part of a heavenly government, even though it doesn't say this in Revelation or anywhere else in Scripture.

In the New Testament it become even more apparent of a soul and an afterlife. After the resurrection of Jesus, there is a distinct shift in tone when speaking of the afterlife. There is more emphasis on heaven, the afterlife, and eternal rewards. That’s because there's something known as progressive revelation. Not everything was revealed to the Old Testament saints. They didn't know, for example, that the Messiah would be born of a virgin, though there were hints given. Nor did they foresee the church age or the inclusion of the gentiles. Such things would have been foreign to them. There was more revealed to the New Testament saints, including greater insights into the soul and the afterlife. If not allegorized, the New Testament unequivocally supports the notion of an immortal soul that departs the body after death, dispelling the concept of soul sleep. The following are but a few of those verses:

"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." (2Co 5:8)

"I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." (2Co 2-4)

"And he (Jesus) was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. (Mat 17:2-3). The apostilles here witnessed Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus long after they had died."

Objection: Mat 17:2-3 is an intangible "vision,".

Response: Multiple people typically don't have the same vision. It would be like multiple people having the same exact dream; it doesn't happen. It's true that some translations use the word "vision," but when we look at the Greek word behind it, "horama," it doesn't necessarily mean something that isn't real, like a dream, but is something extraordinary or significant. The context determines the interpretation. Clearly, the apostles present believed it was real; why else would Jesus tell them not to talk about it? A variation of this word is used to describe Moses "seeing" a burning bush (Acts 7:31). There is no one arguing that Moses actually saw a burning bush.

"When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne." (Rev 6:9)

Objection: Rev 6:9 is symbolic only.

Response: You can’t cry out to God if your soul is dead or “asleep.” In Revelation 20:4, John sees a flashforward where they come to life and reign with Christ for a thousand years. Clearly then, they were crying out to God AFTER they had died but BEFORE they are resurrected and reign with Christ.

"And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luk 23:43).

Objection: The Greek lacked punctuation in the original text. It could just as easily be interpreted as, "Verily I say unto thee today, shalt thou be with me in paradise."

Response: It's true that the original Greek text lacked modern punctuation. However, the consensus of most biblical scholars is to place a comma before "today" and not after and early translations, such as the Latin Vulgate, were already doing that. "Verily I say unto thee" was a commonly used fixed expression that stood on its own. When the soldiers came to break the legs of the thieves on the cross to hasten their death, Jesus was already dead. Jesus likely included "today" because he knew they would all die that day.

"After Jesus was resurrected, the tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who died were also raised from the dead." (Mat 27:52).

For those who believe in soul sleep, this verse is problematic. Where did these resurrected saints come from? Most importantly, where did they go after they were resurrected if only a select few go to heaven? If that were true, then it would mean they are still walking among us today, as it's appointed for man to die only once. The only logical conclusion is they ascended to heaven with Jesus.

Lastly, there's the parable, or story, of the rich man and Lazarus spoken about by Jesus. Again, whether it’s meant to be taken literally or figuratively is not what’s important. What is important is that the rich man and Lazarus are depicted as having souls that live on beyond the grave, just as the spirit of Samuel. If the concept of the immortal soul came from the Greeks, it wouldn’t explain why Jesus thought to include such pagan ideas in his sermon. It also doesn’t explain why he never refuted it as being a false pagan concept. In fact, nowhere in the Bible will you find such a repudiation. For more about the rich man and Lazarus and if it was a parable or not, see here.

5. Is there a way we can know for sure if the soul persists after physical death? Perhaps the closest we can get to knowing without actually dying is Near Death Experiences (NDEs). NDEs are not always unverifiable or uncorroborated. There have been instances where those who have had near-death experiences were able to recount things they shouldn't have been able to know. One of the best documented cases is that of Pam Reynolds. For Pam's story, and more on the immortal mind, see here.

Then there is hard problem of consciousness. Science hasn't been able to prove that consciousness resides in the brain, and it may never. Science deals with the material, tangible world. But the consciousness is immaterial and intangible. Therefore, it is unquantifiable. Neurosurgeons can stimulate the brain with electrodes to produce emotions, memories, and movements, but they can't stimulate consciousness itself. Parts of the brain can be removed or be missing from birth, yet the person can still retain consciousness and a sense of self. If you remove a single gear in a mechanical watch, it will cease to function. But if parts of the brain are missing or taken out, consciousness can remain intact. It might result in physical impairments, but consciousness can remain unaffected.

There is clearly a relationship between the brain and the mind, but they are also two distinct substances. When you think about the mind, thoughts are abstract and subjective. Something that is abstract is not physical, like numbers. We know numbers exist, but they are not physical things. They exist only as abstract concepts. The mind is very much intangible\abstract with no discernible parts. And if the mind is not tangible, how can it be destroyed? And if it can't be destroyed, then it can exist apart from the body. Physical things die; intangible things do not. The enigma that is consciousnesses may, in fact, be the greatest argument for the immortal soul.