Does the Bible teach that a human soul is immortal? If so, which scriptures?

The Bible does not explicitly teach that the human soul is inherently immortal. Instead, its teachings on the soul and immortality are nuanced and depend on interpretation. Let’s explore this:

The Old Testament uses the Hebrew word nephesh (often translated as “soul”) to refer to a living being—both humans and animals—emphasizing life or breath rather than an immortal essence. For example, Genesis 2:7 says, “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” (KJV). Here, nephesh suggests a living creature, not an eternal entity separate from the body.

In the New Testament, the Greek word psyche (also translated as “soul”) similarly refers to life or the self, not necessarily an immortal component. The idea of immortality is more closely tied to God’s nature and the gift of eternal life through Christ, rather than an innate quality of the soul. For instance, 1 Timothy 6:16 describes God as the one “who alone has immortality” (ESV), implying that immortality is not inherent to humans but granted by God.

A key scripture often cited in discussions of eternal life is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (NIV). This suggests that immortality (eternal life) is conditional, received through faith, rather than a default state of the soul. Similarly, 1 Corinthians 15:53-54 speaks of a future transformation: “For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality” (NIV), indicating that humans are mortal by nature and only gain immortality at the resurrection.

Some Christian traditions interpret these and other passages (like Matthew 10:28, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul“) to argue for an immortal soul that persists after death. But it goes on to say, ” Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Others, such as those who hold to “soul sleep” or conditional immortality, argue that the soul is not naturally immortal and that eternal life is a divine gift, not an intrinsic property.

In short, the Bible does not explicitly state that the human soul is immortal on its own. Scriptures like 1 Timothy 6:16 and John 3:16 suggest immortality is a gift from God, not an inherent trait, though interpretations vary widely among theologians.