Matthew 10:28 Can the Soul Die?

 

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 ^gehenna

Comments: ^{Matthew 10:28} Soul: The body and the soul are not the same thing. Jesus made a difference between the two. The soul is the part of us that is always alive whether the body is dead or not. Jesus just said it. He said our bodies could be killed but only God can kill the soul (i.e., bring true death, which is destruction from ^{separation from} the presence and power of God ^{2 Thessalonians 1:8-9}). True death, according to Jesus, is not cessation of existence. Gehenna: This is surely not the Gehenna outside the city where trash was burned, as it was not possible for that Gehenna to destroy the soul. Jesus said the soul is the part of us that lives on after the body is killed. When Jesus referenced Gehenna, he was speaking of the Second Death in theLake of Fire ^{Revelation 20:13-15}.

2 Thessalonians 1 Commentary

    1: Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ 2: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ[1] 3: We are bound to thank God always for you brethren as it is deserving because that your faith grows exceedingly and the love of every one of you all toward each other abounds 4: So that we ourselves boast in you in ^{[we brag on you to]} the Churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations which you endure 5: Which is evidence of the righteous judgment of God that you [are] accounted worthy of the Kingdom of God for which you indeed suffer[2] 6: Since it is [also] a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you 7: And to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed in the heavens with his mighty angels 8: In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 9: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power[3] 10: When he shall come to be glorified in his saints and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day 11: Wherefore also we pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power 12: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and you in him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ

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[1] “…from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ…” In verses one and two, the word, “the,” has been supplemented twice. The New Testament is rife with this type of Translator Supplement (TS), which was done to in an attempt at human understanding of, separation of, and introducing hierarchy into, the Godhead. Punctuation (the biblical languages do not have punctuation) achieves the same purpose in the formation of English-Translation-Theology (ETT). Since God is our father and Jesus Christ is the Lord, why should this matter? Because it matters. Without TS or punctuation, the verses read, “…from God our father and Lord Jesus Christ. With punctuation, there are a couple of options (as follows): “…from God, our father and Lord, Jesus Christ.” “”…from God our father and Lord, Jesus Christ.”  Since the fullness of the Godhead resides in Jesus in physical form—Jesus is God—both of the above phrases [with the punctuation's] would be correct. Adding the TS “the,” shifts the focus just enough to add a hierarchal flavor to the Eternal Godhead, which it does not possess. For this reason, the Hungry Hearts Bible Commentary removes as many TS’s as possible, along with almost all completely subjective [and optional] punctuation. 

[2] 2 Thessalonians 1:5 is an example of English-Translation-Theology (ETT). In this case, the translation assumes an interpretation which is at odds with the message of the cross as a whole and the righteousness which is already possessed by those who belong to Christ ^{I John 5:11-13}. In virtually every translation of this verse, translator supplements (TS’s) are added, which make it appear as if Christians must be tested after they are saved in order to be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, when in reality, the text says no such thing. Requirements for salvation and Bible prophecy positions on the timing of the resurrection and the harpazo ^rapture, are significantly influenced by TS’s which lead to ETT. Fortunately, today, we have unparalleled resources for study of the Hebrew and Greek texts that under-gird our Bibles, more than at any other time in history. It was foretold that knowledge will increase in the latter days, and no one will argue that it has. So also, to the lay person, has access to knowledge [along with resources to understand the Word of God] increased.  

[3] This is the scriptural definition of death. Jesus alluded to this when he spoke of those physically alive as being dead (“Let the “dead” bury their dead” ^{Luke 9:60})...

Romans Chapter 6: Godhead Physical Resurrection and Falling Away

       1: What shall we say then Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound 2: God forbid How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein 3: Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death 4: Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life 5: For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection[1] 6: Knowing this that our old being is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that from now on we should not serve sin 7: For they that are dead are freed from sin 8: Now if we be dead with Christ we believe that we shall also live with him[2] 9: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more Death has no more dominion over him 10: For in that he died he died to sin once but in that he lives he lives to God[3] 11: Likewise reckon you also yourselves to be dead indeed to sin but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord 12: Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body that you should obey it in the lusts thereof 13: Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin but yield yourselves to God as those that are alive from the dead[4] and your members as instruments of righteousness to God 14: For sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under the law but under grace 15: What then shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace God forbid 16: Know ye not that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey his servants you are to whom you obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness[5] 17: But God be thanked that you were the servants of sin but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you 18: Being then made free from sin you became the servants of righteousness 19: I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh for as you have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto [even more] iniquity even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness 20: For when you were the servants of sin you were free from righteousness 21: What fruit had you then in those things whereof you are now ashamed for the end of those things is death 22: But now being made free from sin and become servants to God you have your fruit to holiness and the end everlasting life 23: For the wages of sin[6] is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord

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[1] During baptism by immersion, no air enters the nasal passages or lungs (just as in death), and the water completely closes around the body, sealing it in like a tomb. Rising from the water, and again drawing air into the lungs, is figurative of Christ’s resurrection from the dead and the Christian’s entrance into a new life. The old is dead, and the new is re-born.  

[2] Paul preached a physical resurrection from the dead, for Christ and for all believers.

[3] The fact of Jesus’ humanity (and his submission to God as a human) in no way diminishes the fact that he is Jehovah in the flesh. There is no hierarchy within the Godhead. In Jesus, the man, dwells all the fullness of the Godhead in physical form ^{Colossians 2:9}.

[4] Jesus referred to those who were separated from God through unbelief as “dead” when he said, “Let the dead bury their dead.” Paul defined death, not as annihilation or loss of consciousness, but as being destroyed “from” something ^{2 Thessalonians 1:9}. Scripturally, death is defined as being separated from the presence and power of God. That is what happened to Jesus, when he bore our sins on the cross and he cried out, “Father, Father why have you forsaken me!?” The Bible says God cannot look on sin, and for a brief moment, Jesus became sin.

[5] Just as grace is progressive, leading not only to eternal life, but to transformation of our persons from glory to more glory (the Bible says we can grow in grace), sin is also progressive and, if not stemmed, always leads to more sin. The scriptures explicitly state the dangers of sin include the possibility of falling away and falling from grace ^{Hebrews 10, Galatians 5} .

[6] Death is always earned, but eternal life is given, through faith in the risen Son of God.