Question:
Kindly explain how I can harmonize what you teach regarding the condition of the dead with Matthew 10:28: “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul.”
Answer:
The passage does not say that a person remains conscious after death. That idea has to be read into it. We must also consider the rest of the verse:
“But rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
—Matthew 10:28
If God can destroy the soul, then the soul is not inherently immortal.
The Greek word translated “soul” is psuchē, the same word translated “life” in Matthew 16:25 and “soul” in verse 26. Its meaning must be understood from the context; the word itself does not establish the existence of a conscious being living independently of the body. See Matthew 16:25, 26 in Greek.
Christ’s point is that men may take our present life, but they cannot take away the life God will restore at the resurrection. Our future rests with Him. God alone has authority over our final destiny, including the destruction of both soul and body.
The distinction is between temporary death at the hands of men and the final destruction from which there is no resurrection. Far from proving the soul’s immortality, the complete verse teaches that the soul can be destroyed.
We have examined the condition of the dead, the meaning of “soul,” and related questions more fully in other posts. We encourage you to search our website and read those studies alongside this answer.
