In Hebrew thought, the word for soul is נפש (nephesh) — meaning “living being,” not an immaterial essence. In Greek, the word is ψυχή (psyche), which also just means “life” or “breath.” The “soul” is not inherently immortal — it is part of the psyche/sarx realm, tied to the corruptible material body.By contrast, the divine spark is called πνεῦμα (pneuma) in Greek — “spirit.” Paul himself distinguishes between psyche (soul-life, natural) and pneuma (spirit, divine) in 1 Corinthians 2:14–15 and 1 Corinthians 15:44–46. Only the spirit (pneuma), not the soul (psyche), can ascend to the Pleroma.Some claim that sin taints the whole person (body/soul/spirit), so a new body is given at resurrection (Philippians 3:21, 1 Corinthians 15:52).The truth? It's not just sin but matter itself that is corrupt, because it is the creation of the Demiurge (see John 8:44, where Jesus calls the “ruler of this world” the father of lies). Thus, salvation isn’t waiting for a new body but escaping embodiment altogether.The truth? Jesus redeems by awakening the gnosis that we are spirit trapped in flesh. His resurrection appearances were interpreted as spiritual, not bodily. 1 Corinthians 15:50:> “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.”The corruptible body/soul cannot enter heaven. Only the spirit, awakened by gnosis, can.In the 1st–2nd centuries, Judaism itself was diverse. The Pharisees believed in resurrection of the dead, the Sadducees denied it (Mark 12:18). Essenes (with affinities to Gnosticism) believed in a more spiritual afterlife. The Gnostics, especially the Sethians and Valentinians, leaned on this: Christianity inherited competing Jewish views of the afterlife. Resurrection theology was just one strand — not the only one.You have to remember also that not all of the Bible reflects Jesus' teachings, but the apostles and other works. So it's not perfect.
>>18005897>All Scripture is "God-breathed" (or "inspired by God") and is beneficial for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that a person of God may be complete and equipped for every good work.(2 Timothy 3:16)Pharisees Belief in Resurrection: Yes, a bodily resurrection at the end of days (Daniel 12:2, Isaiah 26:19).Angels & Spirits: Affirmed the existence of angels, spirits, and the afterlife.Law (Torah): Believed in both the Written Law and the Oral Law (traditions of the elders). This is what Jesus rebuked them for in passages like Mark 7:6–8.View of Purity: Very focused on ritual purity, tithing, and separation from the “unclean.”Jesus often criticized them for hypocrisy — keeping rules externally but not inwardly transformed (Matthew 23:27).SadduceesBelief in Resurrection: Denied it. They believed this life is it; no resurrection or afterlife reward. (Matthew 22:23 says they denied the resurrection).Angels & Spirits: Denied angels, spirits, and the afterlife entirely (Acts 23:8).Law (Torah): Only accepted the Written Torah (Pentateuch). They rejected Oral Law and later prophetic/apocalyptic teachings.Social Status: Wealthy, priestly elite tied to the Temple system.Jesus criticized them for unbelief and for being tied to worldly power (they collaborated with Rome to keep control of the Temple).
>>18005899EssenesBelief in Resurrection / Afterlife: Yes, but different from Pharisees. They leaned toward a spiritual immortality of the soul, not a bodily resurrection. Josephus says they believed the soul was immortal and escaped the body (sounds almost Platonic or proto-Gnostic).Angels & Spirits: Very much affirmed — the Dead Sea Scrolls are full of angelology, dualism (Sons of Light vs. Sons of Darkness), and belief in heavenly mysteries.Law (Torah): They were even stricter than Pharisees in purity, but also mystical — with secret teachings, solar calendar, and esoteric interpretations of the Law.View of the World: Strongly dualistic — light vs. darkness, truth vs. falsehood. Matter was tainted, but spirit sought purity.Community: Withdrew into monastic communities (like Qumran). Practiced communal living, celibacy (in some sects), and ritual baths (mikvah proto-baptism).Messianic Expectation: Believed in two Messiahs: a Priestly Messiah and a Davidic Warrior Messiah.Many scholars think John the Baptist was influenced by (or part of) the Essenes, because of his asceticism, wilderness living, and baptismal practices.Why Jesus Didn’t Attack the Essenes?Pharisees = legalistic hypocrisy.Sadducees = disbelief in spiritual realities.Essenes = closer to Jesus’ worldview:Dualism (light vs darkness: John’s Gospel has this language).Mystical secrets of the Kingdom (“to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom” – Luke 8:10).Communal purity and eschatological expectation.Baptism as initiation.In fact, some scholars argue that Jesus’ teachings sound like a reform of Essene ideas: instead of withdrawing into the desert, he brought the Kingdom into the world. Instead of rigid purity laws, he preached inner purity. Instead of two Messiahs, he embodied both priestly and kingly roles in one.
>>18005897>afterlife and the BibleThere is no afterlife in the Bible. Christians stole it from the pagans. Christians should expect to be resurrected in their own bodies and await the arrival of a heavenly cube (the heavenly Jerusalem is described as a cube in the Revelation of John).
>>18005902>dualism (Sons of Light vs. Sons of Darkness)ZoroastrianismChristians exterminated the Gnostics, as well as those who rejected the Old Testament.so no
>>18005907Essenes believed in the resurrection of bodies/souls, however spirits went to heaven or the abyss immediately after death. They were closer to Gnostic/Kabbalah teachings (and what Jesus/John The Baptist taught).
>>18005897So what is the spirit then? Like how do I intellectually determine my spirit? Like, I know I have a body, I know I have a psyche, and my psyche consists of conscious and unconscious thoughts, but where is my spirit? I'm not sure like what the parameters are or where it fits in me
I think I might believe in bodily resurrection.
