Study 1: What Is Man? — Answer Key¶
Biblical Anthropology and Human Nature
A Note on How to Study
Throughout this series, we will learn to distinguish between what the Bible explicitly says and what people infer from the Bible. These are not the same thing.
- Explicit: You can point to a verse and quote it. The text directly says this.
- Inference: Someone claims the Bible teaches something, but no single verse says it. They have drawn a conclusion — possibly a good one, possibly not — but the conclusion itself is not in the text.
This distinction matters more than you might think. Many beliefs people hold about the Bible are inferences, not explicit statements. Learning to tell the difference is one of the most important Bible study skills you can develop.
Section A: How Was Man Created?¶
1. Read Genesis 2:7. What two things did God use to create man? What was the result?
God used (1) the dust of the ground and (2) the breath of life (neshamah). The result: "man became a living soul (nephesh chayyah)." The formula is: dust + breath of life = living soul.
"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." — Genesis 2:7
2. Did man receive a soul, or did man become a soul? What does the text say?
Man became a living soul. The Hebrew word hayah means "became." The text does not say God placed a soul inside a body — it says the combination of dust and breath resulted in a living soul. The soul is what man is, not something he has.
3. Read Genesis 1:20-21, 24. What does God call the animals?
Animals are called nephesh chayyah — the exact same Hebrew phrase translated "living soul" for man in Genesis 2:7. English Bibles typically translate it as "living creature" for animals and "living soul" for humans, but the Hebrew is identical.
4. If animals and humans are both called nephesh chayyah, what makes humans different? Read Genesis 1:26-27.
What distinguishes humans is the image of God (imago Dei), not the possession of a soul. Both humans and animals are nephesh chayyah. Only humans are made "in the image of God."
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him." — Genesis 1:27
Section B: What Happens at Death?¶
5. Read Ecclesiastes 12:7. What happens to the body at death? What happens to the spirit?
The dust (body) returns to the earth, and the spirit (ruach) returns to God who gave it.
"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." — Ecclesiastes 12:7
6. Compare Ecclesiastes 12:7 with Genesis 2:7. If creation was dust + breath = living soul, what is death?
Death is the reversal of creation. At creation: dust + breath = living soul. At death: dust returns to earth + spirit returns to God = the living soul ceases. What God assembled, death disassembles.
7. Read Psalm 146:4. When a person's breath leaves, what happens to their thoughts?
Their thoughts perish — "in that very day." The cessation of thought is immediate upon death.
"His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." — Psalm 146:4
8. Read Ecclesiastes 9:5. What do the dead know?
Nothing. "The dead know not any thing."
"For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten." — Ecclesiastes 9:5
9. Read Ecclesiastes 9:10. What work, knowledge, or wisdom exists in the grave?
None. "There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave."
10. Read Psalm 115:17 and Psalm 6:5. Do the dead praise God? Is there remembrance of God in death?
No. "The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence" (Ps 115:17). "In death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?" (Ps 6:5). Multiple authors — David, Solomon, Hezekiah (Isa 38:18-19) — all say the same thing.
Section C: Can a Soul Die?¶
11. Read Ezekiel 18:4, 20. What happens to the soul that sins?
It dies. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." The Hebrew word mut means to die. God directly says the nephesh (soul) is subject to death.
12. Read Matthew 10:28. What is God able to do to "both soul and body"?
Destroy them. "Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell [gehenna]." The Greek word apollymi means to destroy. Jesus says the soul can be destroyed.
13. Read Leviticus 21:11 and Numbers 6:6. The Hebrew here literally says nephesh meth — "dead soul." What does this tell you about whether a soul can die?
The Bible itself uses the phrase "dead soul" (translated "dead body" in English). A soul is not inherently immortal — Scripture applies the word "dead" directly to nephesh.
Section D: Who Has Immortality?¶
14. Read 1 Timothy 6:16. Who has immortality? Does the text say "God and humans" or "God only"?
God only. The Greek word monos means "alone" or "only." "Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto."
15. Read Romans 2:7. Must immortality be sought, or do we already have it?
It must be sought. "To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality [aphtharsia], eternal life."
16. Read 1 Corinthians 15:53-54. When do believers receive immortality — at death, or at the resurrection?
At the resurrection. "This mortal must put on immortality." The language "must put on" indicates we do not currently possess it.
17. Read Genesis 3:22-24. Why was Adam barred from the tree of life? What would it have given him?
God barred Adam "lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever." If man already had an immortal soul, barring him from the tree of life to prevent him from living forever would be meaningless.
Section E: What Does the Bible Call Death?¶
18. Read John 11:11-14. What did Jesus call Lazarus' death? Then what did He clarify?
Jesus said "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth" — then clarified plainly: "Lazarus is dead." Jesus equated death with sleep.
19. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 and Acts 7:60. What term did Paul and Luke use for death?
Both use the language of sleep. Paul: "them which are asleep." Luke: Stephen "fell asleep." At least seven biblical authors use this metaphor for death.
20. Read James 2:26. What is the body without the spirit?
Dead. "The body without the spirit is dead." The spirit is what animates the body — when it departs, the person is dead. The verse does not say the spirit is conscious after leaving; it says the body is dead without it.
Explicit or Inference? — Answers¶
A. "Man became a living soul." - Explicit. Genesis 2:7 directly states this.
B. "The human soul is immortal and cannot die." - Inference. No verse says this. In fact, Ezekiel 18:4 says "the soul that sinneth, it shall die," and Matthew 10:28 says God can "destroy both soul and body." The claim of an immortal soul requires adding a concept that Scripture does not state — and overriding verses that say the opposite.
C. "The dead know not any thing." - Explicit. Ecclesiastes 9:5 directly states this.
D. "When a person dies, their spirit goes to heaven as a conscious being." - Inference. Ecclesiastes 12:7 says the spirit returns to God, but Psalm 146:4 says thoughts perish at death. No verse says the returning spirit is conscious. The claim requires adding the concept of consciousness to a text that does not mention it.
E. "God only hath immortality." - Explicit. 1 Timothy 6:16 directly states this.
What the Bible Says vs. What People Say the Bible Teaches¶
| The Bible explicitly says... | People often claim the Bible teaches... |
|---|---|
| Man became a living soul (Gen 2:7) | Man has an immortal soul |
| The soul that sins dies (Ezek 18:4) | The soul cannot die |
| The dead know nothing (Ecc 9:5) | The dead are conscious |
| God only has immortality (1 Tim 6:16) | All humans have immortality |
| Thoughts perish at death (Ps 146:4) | Thoughts continue after death |
| Immortality is put on at resurrection (1 Cor 15:53) | Immortality begins at death |