What does the Bible say about souls?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that every person belongs to God, bears moral responsibility before him, and faces eternal judgment, while believers receive eternal life through Jesus Christ. Genesis 2:7 describes humanity as a living creature formed by God’s breath. Ezekiel 18:4 and 18:20 stress that the soul who sins shall die, rejecting the idea that one person is finally condemned for another’s guilt. Ecclesiastes 12:7 says the spirit returns to God at death, and Matthew 10:28 calls us to fear God, who judges both body and soul. Acts 2:41 uses “souls” for people saved and added to the church. Romans 6:23 contrasts sin’s wages, death, with God’s gift of eternal life in Christ.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Ezekiel 18:4 17 votes
Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins, he shall die.
- Matthew 10:28 15 votes
Don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
- Ecclesiastes 12:7 14 votes
And the dust returns to the earth as it was, And the spirit returns to God who gave it.
- Genesis 2:7 11 votes
Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
- Ezekiel 18:20 9 votes
The soul who sins, he shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.
- Acts 2:41 9 votes
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.
- Romans 6:23 8 votes
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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