Killing the Body But Not the Soul

Question:  According to the Genesis 2:7 equation, the body is a component of the soul. How, then, do you explain Matthew 10:28? “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Does not this teach that the body is one thing and the soul another, and therefore the soul is a separate entity from the body?

Answer:  We must be careful not to read into this verse any more than it actually says. The text does not say that the soul continues to live when the body dies. It does not say that the dead retain consciousness.

The word “soul” refers to the person as an individual life, and Jesus here assures the Christian of eternal life, even though they may experience temporary death in this world, and their present bodies decay. Job said, “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” Job 19:26. At the resurrection, clothed in new flesh—new bodies that will never die—we shall see God.

The context of Matthew 10:28 is Christ’s forewarning that persecution will come to His followers. His point is that although in this life we may be killed, no one can steal our eternal inheritance. When God declares that you shall have eternal life, no man can take that privilege from you, no matter what he does to you. Whether you live or die, you still have the assurance of receiving immortality when Jesus comes.

Now notice what the rest of the verse says. “Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Clearly, this text teaches that no sinner has an immortal soul. Sinners’ souls are destroyed in hell. The verse also clearly states that the bodies of sinners are included in what burns in hell. So the fact that dead bodies can still be dug up today indicates that the wicked have not yet gone to the flames. If I was looking for Biblical evidence for the natural immortality of the soul or for a presently burning hell, I would want to avoid this verse.