Question for jehovah's witness

[Frank Goad]

Why in genesis 2:7 does it say we have no soul.But in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 it says we do?

 

[Earthling]

Why in genesis 2:7 does it say we have no soul.But in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 it says we do?

I'm not a JW, but in Genesis 2:7 it doesn't say that we don't have a soul, it says that man became a living soul. All living breathing creatures have and are a soul. Genesis 1:30 / Matthew 10:39

Journal of Biblical Literature (Vol. XVI, p. 30 - 1897), Professor C. A. Briggs: “Soul in English usage at the present time conveys usually a very different meaning from נפש [ne′phesh] in Hebrew, and it is easy for the incautious reader to misinterpret.”

The pagan concept of a soul as a separate part of the body which is immortal isn't a biblical teaching, so for this reason you have to be careful of what exactly you mean by soul. It really isn't a very good word to translate from the Hebrew and Greek words, but its problematic in that other than "life" and "blood" there are no other English words that come close to conveying the original words.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Why in genesis 2:7 does it say we have no soul.But in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 it says we do?

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 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.​

Because soul, in this case, means the person rather than carnation that lives. So our personality and what makes us, us as opposed to physical flesh and blood. So, god breathes into a person life or their soul just means god took a carnated body and breathed into him life so he can think and have personality etc. He became a living person.

Soul is the person within the incarnation of physical flesh and blood of a person
Spirit is the life within which brings that person's soul alive in his physical blood and flesh
Body is the incarnated flesh with which possess a soul and brings for life via spirit

I pray to god your whole spirit (your full life) and soul (person) and body (physical flesh and blood) be blameless when jesus comes. Basically, purify you. Your life, resurrection, and death thereof.

Without spirit/life we are just dirt. God bring forth life into us to where we are no longer just flesh but a life that moves and lives in the flesh via spirit (god/life/breath).

Im not christian but this is how I understand it when reflecting on it in full.

 

[nPeace]

Why in genesis 2:7 does it say we have no soul.But in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 it says we do?

1 Thessalonians 5:23 can also be read
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and life and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

However, I'll let @Deeje discuss this one with you.
Love your questions though. Keep 'em coming.

 

[Deeje]

Why in genesis 2:7 does it say we have no soul.But in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 it says we do?

The words "soul" and "spirit" in their original languages have had their meaning obscured in English because of the way Christendom has interpreted them. Jews did not believe in an immortal soul that was separate from the body. Their belief was that the body + spirit (breath) = a soul. The soul is the living breathing person or animal.

Like satan in the garden of Eden....he used God's words to deceive the woman by putting a different spin on them.

"The traditional rendering of the Hebrew word neʹphesh and the Greek word psy·kheʹ. In examining the way these terms are used in the Bible, it becomes evident that they basically refer to (1) people, (2) animals, or (3) the life that a person or an animal has. (Ge 1:20; 2:7; Nu 31:28; 1Pe 3:20; also ftns.) In contrast to the way that the term “soul” is used in many religious contexts, the Bible shows that both neʹphesh and psy·kheʹ, in connection with earthly creatures, refer to that which is material, tangible, visible, and mortal.. . . . When referring to doing something with one’s whole soul, it means to do it with one’s whole being, wholeheartedly, or with one’s whole life. (De 6:5; Mt 22:37) In some contexts, these original-language words can be used to refer to the desire or appetite of a living creature. They can also refer to a dead person or a dead body.—Nu 6:6; Pr 23:2; Isa 56:11; Hag 2:13."

Soul — Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY