Lesson 16

There are conflicting opinions about mankind’s mortality. Studying in the Berean style demands that we should look deeper at what the scriptures tell us. The Old Testament scriptures describe humans as mortal beings that die. God promises a future resurrection into a physical world with physical mortal people. His promise would have given the faithfull who knew these scriptures hope that a physical, just society, will arrive here on earth. Noting for there to be a resurrection from the dead, there must first be a death. 

Those believing in the immortal soul doctrine may describe how a resurrection could be fulfilled, by God simply installing human’s immortal soul back into their physical bodies. Those holding to the immortal soul doctrine may point to these Old Testament scriptures describing humans being created in the image of God or how Adam became a living soul when created to support their belief.

Genesis 1:27 New International Version

27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Genesis 2:7 King James Version

7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Some will reason God is an immortal Spirit and since we were created in his image, along with the clear fact that we became a living soul at creation, we definitely possess an immortal soul now. Satisfied the scriptures clearly support their belief, most stop scrutinizing their doctrine at this point. 

If the immortal soul doctrine is to encompass everyone, humanity would need to have been created with an immortal soul. We should look deeper at those scriptures as they conflict with scripture that quote God explaining humans are mortal.

Genesis 6:3. New International Version

3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”

Being Immortal, like a spirit being, means you cannot die. Mortal means you can. God clearly believes man is mortal. Do you see another way of understanding Genesis 6:3? What scripture would you use to support your ideas? Take note of them now to see if your thoughts are contradicted by other Bible verses as you search scripture like the Bereans did. Can humans be mortal and immortal at the same time?