Bible Study What is the Soul?

[BFSmith764]

Because of the ever changing meaning of our English words of which the word soul is from, I believe it would be better to ask the question, what is man? What are we comprised of? Is mankind just made up of flesh and bones, or is there something else in addition to that?

Here is what the Bible has to about what we are.

Genesis 2:7 (ASV)
7 And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Psalms 74:19 (KJV)
19 O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.

In these two verses man (a human being) does not seem to be any different than that of an animal; the word soul here means a living thing that breath air or receives air in some form into it’s lungs in order to live, this would also include those in the sea and rivers.

Soul:
Hebrew Word: â€Âנֶפֶש×Â‎
Transliteration: nepesh
Phonetic Pronunciation: neh'-fesh
Root: from <H5314>
Cross Reference: TWOT - 1395a
Part of Speech: n f
Vine's Words: None




from <H5314> (naphash); properly a breathing creature, i.e. animal or (abstract) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental) :- any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, × dead (-ly), desire, × [dis-] contented, × fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart (-y), (hath, × jeopardy of) life (× in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they, thing, (× she) will, × would have it.

â€â€Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary


But what does the New Testament have to tell us about what we are?

Matthew 10:28 (KJV)
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Here Jesus has revealed that we have something in addition to the body, which the Old Testament in the Hebrew is called nepesh. In this verse Jesus gives us more insight as to what we are; something that is in us that is called psychē. The word soul is used here as well, but pay no attention to this. I believe that the translators have erred in that some have used the one word “Soul†to translated not only two different words, but two different words from two different languages that means two different things.

It also important to understand for those who believe that this psychē cannot be destroyed, which is translated soul; Jesus is suggesting here that God will destroy not only the body in hell/fire, but the psychē as well. No one can destroy psychē except God and I believe He will in the end, after the white throne judgment, not to be confused with the second coming of Jesus. The white Throne Judgment is a different time period than when Jesus returns.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 (ASV)
7 and the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.

Ecclesiastes 3:21 (ASV)
21 Who knoweth the spirit of man, whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goeth downward to the earth?

The spirit that is mentioned in Ecclesiastes 3 and 12 is translated from the Hebrew word rûah which means the mind with all its expressions.̣

I would also like to mention that as far as I can see from what is revealed in the scriptures, is that the dead in Christ are not in heaven. The Bible says that at death, saved or unsaved there spirit goes back to God. Some say the saints are in heaven, but it does not say that they are in heaven; it simply says the spirit goes back to God. They also say that heaven is wherever God is, but I see no scripture to support this. God is omnipresent, but the Bible does not tell me that heaven is omnipresent; the Bible tells me that heaven was created by God, just like everything else that He created, so there was a time when heaven did not exist, but God has always been.

I realize that some will use the scripture below to support that they believe that the dead saints are in heaven.

Revelation 6:9-11 (KJV)
9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

This is a vision seen by John, and in this vision the spirits of the dead saints were seen under an alter. What is an alter? An alter is a place where animal sacrifice is burnt. The saints are God’s lambs who were in a sense sacrifice for what they believe, and God is about to avenge their death. Remember that Jesus said that He sent out His disciples as lambs among wolves. These are symbolic language being used to present a message. Jesus is also called the Lamb of God and He was sacrifice for the sin of the world. The Bible tells us that we will be like Jesus, so a part of being like Jesus is to experience some of the things that He went through.

The story of Lazarus and the rich man tells me that the saved and the unsaved are basically in the same place, but are separated by a chasma, because they are able to see and communicate with each other, but none from one side or the other are able get to the other side. Those who are on the side that Abraham is on are at peace and contentment, and those who are on the other side, where the rich man is on is in a state of fear, anguish and torment.

Luke 16:25-26 (KJV)
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

This place that the dead are seem to be a waiting place of some kind; they are all (those on either side) waiting to be resurrect (given back a physical body) from the dead, when they will hear the voice of God calling them and come forth.

John 5:28-29 (ASV)
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice,
29 and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.
Take note that Jesus said all that are in the grave; all includes saints and sinner alike.

Soul:
Greek Word: ÈÅÇή
Transliteration: psychē
Phonetic Pronunciation: psoo-khay'
Root: from <G5594>
Cross Reference: TDNT - 9:608,1342
Part of Speech: n f
Vine's Words: Doubt (be in; make to), Doubtful, Doubting, Heart, Heartily, Life, Living, Lifetime, Life-giving, Soul



from <G5594> (psucho); breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstract or concrete (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from <G4151> (pneuma), which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from <G2222> (zoe), which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew <H5315> (nephesh), <H7307> (ruwach) and <H2416> (chay)) :- heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you.

â€â€Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary

Only human beings of all God’s physical creation has a psychē /spirit

Job 32:8 (ASV)
8 But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
The spirit in man/human beings is the same psychē that Jesus mentioned in Mathew 10:28.

Spirit:
Hebrew Word: â€Âרוּחַ‎
Transliteration: rûaḥ
Phonetic Pronunciation: roo'-akh
Root: from <H7306>
Cross Reference: TWOT - 2131a
Part of Speech: n f
Vine's Words: Spirit



from <H7306> (ruwach); wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figurative life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extensive a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions) :- air, anger, blast, breath, × cool, courage, mind, × quarter, × side, spirit ([-ual]), tempest, × vain, ([whirl-]) wind (-y).

â€â€Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary

The scriptures do not tell us that animals have a mind; they have a brain, but a brain does not mean that it has a mind. If they did, then that would mean that they were created in God’s image and the Bible tells us that only human beings were created in God’s image. God created mankind (man and woman) in His image, but what does that mean? It means that unlike animals, human beings have the ability to have a relationship both with each other and with God. Only human beings have the ability to receive the Holy Spirit because we have a mind or spirit that can unite with the Spirit or mind of God.

Romans 8:16 (ASV)
16 The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God:

Spirit:
Greek Word: Àνεῦμα
Transliteration: pneuma
Phonetic Pronunciation: pnyoo'-mah
Root: from <G4154>
Cross Reference: TDNT - 6:332,876
Part of Speech: n n
Vine's Words: Breath, Breathe, Spirit, Wind



from <G4154> (pneo); a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figurative a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implicaiton) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, dæmon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit :- ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind. Compare <G5590> (psuche).

â€â€Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary

The Bible never said that animals, any animal can or has any hope after death. An animal knows neither good or evil, in fact they have no self awareness; they are only able to act and react according to what happens around them because of the instinct that God placed in them.
The Bible through the Spirit of God should be our guide to spiritual truths, not personal opinions and sentiments.

 

[Bick]

Hi B.F. The constitution of man is indeed a complex subject. You have done well in showing the various words "translated" from "nephesh" and "psuche."

Gen. 2:7 is the place to start, alright. For it is clear that a separate soul was not joined to a prepared body as God breathed the spirit of the breath of life into the first man's nostrils.

Therefore, man's soul is not immortal. Using a concordance, I have studied many of the scriptures where "soul" is used, and I think it will be seen that the Scriptures relate knowledge, memory, thought, love, joy, delight, bitterness, distress, impatience, mourning, sorow, grief, abhorrence, and hatred to the soul.

So, man being a living soul ("being" in many versions), he is a sensate human being.

Since animals are sensate creatures, they are said to be 'soul creatures.' See Gen. 1:20-21, 24.
NOTE: a concordance will show that "soul" is translated "life" or "creature" in these verses.

Many times man is called a "soul" in the Scriptures. And, even today we might call someone a "happy soul", or a "sad soul." See Gen.12:5; 46:26; Ex. 12:4; Acts 2:41, 43; 7:14; 27:37; Rom 2:9; 13:1; Rev. 6:9; 18:13; and 20:4.

Can the soul die or be dead? Yes, for when a man dies his soul is said to die, for man is a living soul. And, thus, can be a dead soul. See Josh. 10:28, 30, 32, 35, 37, 39; Jer. 2:34; Ez. 13:19.

So many scriptures in the OT speak of a man being thirsty, or hungry, or happy, to satisfy his soul. And we can bless God with all our feelings and senses, thus, our soul. It is with our senses that we can enjoy the good things of this life.

My understanding of Matt. 10:28 is, that Jesus telling his disciples to not fear their enemies who could kill them (their body) but could not kill their soul (by which they would enjoy all the blessings of the resurrection in the mellennial kingdom. No, it is God (or Christ) who is to be feared, who, in the coming kingdom will judge many unbelieving Jews and cast them into Gehenna (hell) where they will completely perish.

 

[BFSmith764]

My understanding of Matt. 10:28 is, that Jesus telling his disciples to not fear their enemies who could kill them (their body) but could not kill their soul (by which they would enjoy all the blessings of the resurrection in the mellennial kingdom. No, it is God (or Christ) who is to be feared, who, in the coming kingdom will judge many unbelieving Jews and cast them into Gehenna (hell) where they will completely perish.

Thanks for your response; it's good to know that some of us have been doing our own Bible study and research. Now to Matt. 10:28; what Jesus was referring to was the spirit that leaves the body after the person dies. You see as Jesus said anyone can kill the body, but no one, except God can destroy the spirit. I would also like to say that God has no intention of keeping an unrepentant sinner's spirit alive forever, when that person has no intention of ever repenting, (the only reason why the rich man and no dought others like him is in that place is that God intends to resurrect them again, and offer salvation to them) in fact even Satan himself will not be around forever, for God will remove him from existence.

 

[Bick]

My understanding of Matt. 10:28 is, that Jesus telling his disciples to not fear their enemies who could kill them (their body) but could not kill their soul (by which they would enjoy all the blessings of the resurrection in the mellennial kingdom. No, it is God (or Christ) who is to be feared, who, in the coming kingdom will judge many unbelieving Jews and cast them into Gehenna (hell) where they will completely perish.

Thanks for your response; it's good to know that some of us have been doing our own Bible study and research. Now to Matt. 10:28; what Jesus was referring to was the spirit that leaves the body after the person dies. You see as Jesus said anyone can kill the body, but no one, except God can destroy the spirit. I would also like to say that God has no intention of keeping an unrepentant sinner's spirit alive forever, when that person has no intention of ever repenting, (the only reason why the rich man and no dought others like him is in that place is that God intends to resurrect them again, and offer salvation to them) in fact even Satan himself will not be around forever, for God will remove him from existence.

MY COMMENTS: I don't follow your reasoning, B.F. "Soul" and "spirit" are two different words and have different meanings.
Since Jesus said "soul" how could it be constured as "man's spirit"?

We know man's make up is body, soul and spirit.

"Spirit" basically means "invisible force, energy, power", but will have different interpretaions depending on the context.

Our life comes with every breath of air, and in Zech. 12:1 we read "The Lord who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him.."

It is our inner life force, but it is not eternal, it is a gift of God, just like the air we breathe. And
Ecc. 12:7 tells us, "..the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it." Speaking of man after death.

Here is another interesting one: "If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all mankind would perish together and man would return to dust." Job 34:14-15. God's life giving spirit is in all mankind, and actually, in all air breathing creatures.

I understand that when man dies, he is completely dead. The cure for death is resurrection. And God, who knows every detail of every human being who ever lived, will resurrect them in their proper time and place.

 

[brakelite2]

Hey guys, great to see some sound biblical truth being published. I have nothing to add to your study except to say. 'go for it'. :D

 

[BFSmith764]

My understanding of Matt. 10:28 is, that Jesus telling his disciples to not fear their enemies who could kill them (their body) but could not kill their soul (by which they would enjoy all the blessings of the resurrection in the mellennial kingdom. No, it is God (or Christ) who is to be feared, who, in the coming kingdom will judge many unbelieving Jews and cast them into Gehenna (hell) where they will completely perish.

Thanks for your response; it's good to know that some of us have been doing our own Bible study and research. Now to Matt. 10:28; what Jesus was referring to was the spirit that leaves the body after the person dies. You see as Jesus said anyone can kill the body, but no one, except God can destroy the spirit. I would also like to say that God has no intention of keeping an unrepentant sinner's spirit alive forever, when that person has no intention of ever repenting, (the only reason why the rich man and no dought others like him is in that place is that God intends to resurrect them again, and offer salvation to them) in fact even Satan himself will not be around forever, for God will remove him from existence.

MY COMMENTS: I don't follow your reasoning, B.F. "Soul" and "spirit" are two different words and have different meanings.
Since Jesus said "soul" how could it be constured as "man's spirit"?

We know man's make up is body, soul and spirit.

"Spirit" basically means "invisible force, energy, power", but will have different interpretaions depending on the context.

Our life comes with every breath of air, and in Zech. 12:1 we read "The Lord who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him.."

It is our inner life force, but it is not eternal, it is a gift of God, just like the air we breathe. And
Ecc. 12:7 tells us, "..the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it." Speaking of man after death.

Here is another interesting one: "If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all mankind would perish together and man would return to dust." Job 34:14-15. God's life giving spirit is in all mankind, and actually, in all air breathing creatures.

I understand that when man dies, he is completely dead. The cure for death is resurrection. And God, who knows every detail of every human being who ever lived, will resurrect them in their proper time and place.

I think I made my point about the confusion about the word soul, since that one word soul is used to translate at least two different meaning words in Hebrew and the Greek (at least in the KJV), so instead of using the word soul, I use the word body and spirit instead....there is another word for the mind, which is a different word from body and spirit. Remember, the Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek, so it always good to go to the original language to see what each word really mean.

When someone dies, saint or sinner, the body dies but the spirit goes back to God. Jesus gave us a little more insight as to what happens to the spirit when the body dies; it's with God in an unknown place; the saints are on one side and the others are on another side, separated by an uncrossable gap. At death the person cease to exist to us, but to God they are with Him, which is why at the appointed time all that are in the grave, meaning those who have died will hear His voice and come forth form where they are.

John 5:28-29 (ESV)
28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

 

[brakelite2]

From the way I read that last scripture, if all that are in the graves come forth at the voice of the Son of God, (the same voice that calls out at the last trumpet), then the obvious place from which they come is the graves. Because that is precisely the place where Jesus said they are.
Just as when Jesus called out, "Lazarus come forth!" He didn't say come up, or down, but come forth! From where? Obviously, from the grave where Lazarus lay.

 

[BFSmith764]

From the way I read that last scripture, if all that are in the graves come forth at the voice of the Son of God, (the same voice that calls out at the last trumpet), then the obvious place from which they come is the graves. Because that is precisely the place where Jesus said they are.
Just as when Jesus called out, "Lazarus come forth!" He didn't say come up, or down, but come forth! From where? Obviously, from the grave where Lazarus lay.

One must be carful when taking a single scripture out of context or in isolation of the other scriptures. We cannot see spirit, so it means that when the spirit departs from a body, all we know is that that person is no longer with us. At death, we burry the body, that's all we can see and our connection to that person is that fact that we know that he or she is buried in such and such a place. But Jesus did not mean that that person is actually in the grave (the body is but not the spirit), but when they are resurrected they will come forth from that unknown place, and the place that the body was buried, they will rise up from.

I have in light of the scriptures had to modify some-what what I have believed for years, even as recent as a few weeks ago, because as Jesus said one must receive the kingdom like a little child before you can enter it, which means that we should be teachable when it comes to God’s words. We don’t have complete understanding of all things, so we should be open to learn or as the scripture says, “grow in grace and in knowledge….One cannot grow if they believe that whatsoever they believed all their lives is the total truth, and there is not need to them to grow. Of course, once you have proven something to be true/correct, then we should hold on to that without changing.

 

[CP_Mike]

Hi BFSmith,
One must be very careful in stating that the spirit is the essence of the person. Lazarus was in the grave (The Hebrews believed when someone died, they were no longer Nephesh, but 'Repahaim' in Sheol). The spirit (the breath of God, the life giving principle, not another word for 'nephesh') returns to God (ecclesiates 12:7) The dead do not go anywhere else other than the grave!!

 

[BFSmith764]

Hi BFSmith,
One must be very careful in stating that the spirit is the essence of the person. Lazarus was in the grave (The Hebrews believed when someone died, they were no longer Nephesh, but 'Repahaim' in Sheol). The spirit (the breath of God, the life giving principle, not another word for 'nephesh') returns to God (ecclesiates 12:7) The dead do not go anywhere else other than the grave!!

I have made my point, and you disagree, so I'll leave it there.

 

[CP_Mike]

Here are the definitions of what 'soul' and 'spirit' mean from a biblical perspective and not a dualistic one!

From 'Workshop' a UK based interdenominational theology course.

Nephesh - Psyche - Soul

The important passage in Genesis 2:7 sets the scene for this 'window - word' into the nature of personhood. An individual becomes a 'nephesh' from the infusion of divine breath into moulded dust. In physical terms 'nephesh' means, 'neck', 'throat', 'gullet' and came to mean 'life', that 'vital motion' which distinguishes a living being from a corpse.
'Nephesh' has such a variety of senses that we must make a careful definition in each particular case. Meanings overlap and are used side by side. It is easy to end up with contradictory statements about 'nephesh'. Here are some of the central statements about 'nephesh':-
• it is that vital life which is shared by both humans and animals [Gen 2:19].
• it is life that is bound up with the body, blood is the vehicle of nephesh [Dt 12:23], at death it dies [Nu 23:10] [judges 16:30] draining away with the blood, with resuscitation it 'returns'; not that it has gone anywhere.
• it can denote 'the living individual themselves' [Gen 14:21], and can replace the personal pronoun to create special emphasis [Ps 42:6], God uses it of himself [Am 6:8].
• it is strongly instinctive [animal] activity; desire, vital urge, feeling, emotion, mood [Dt 14:26].
• it is feelings and emotions of a spiritual kind; grief, pain, joy, peace, love [Ezk 27:31]; its highest expression is longing for God [Ps 25:1].
The New Testament uses the Greek 'psyche' with the sense of the Hebrew 'nephesh'. Paul's writings are significant for how rarely he uses it. The Synoptics are interesting in that one third of their usage refers to life beyond death [Mt 10:28,39; 16:25-26; Mk 8:35-37; Lk 9:24; 21:19], due to the overlap of present and future in the Kingdom of God; revolutionary in terms of its Hebrew roots.
This 'nephesh' is primarily the life of the whole person in terms of strongly instinctive [animal] activity. It reflects the glory and richness of God's gift of life to him though susceptible to death. It is not an independent substance which, as many have argued, survives death. It is, as we shall see a highly complex image very easy to misinterpret.

Ruah - Pneuma - Spirit

This 'picture - window' into personhood highlights our unique relationship with God.'Ruah' has its roots in the 'wind' which emphasises both its powerful and yet subtle nature. 'Ruah' is used in a number of different contexts:-
• for the wind in nature.
• for the nature of God's being ['Spirit of God', 'Holy Spirit']; dynamic, overwhelming, at times completely dominating [Jg 6:34], the root of prophesying [ISam 10:5-6] and abnormal strength [Jg 14:6].
• for demonic activity [ISam 16:14].
• for the 'principle of life' [akin to 'nephesh' often used interchangeably]. It is the life force present everywhere; independent, universal, it does not die.
• for the vital energy dwelling within each individual, that force which affects temperament.
Human 'ruah' is more than just the natural breath we breathe [which is 'nesama']. There is a vital energy within each person which is the result of the special 'in-breathing' of God; the centre of thoughts, decisions, moods, and is the dimension of personhood most directly open to the influence of God. 'Ruah' particularly stresses:-
• the direction of the will, it is the energy behind willing and acting, that which urges good and evil [Isa 29:24; Ps 51:12].
• the deep emotions; passion [Jg 8:3], grief [Gen 26:35] zeal [Hag 1:14], often seen in the panting of excitement or distress which is different from normal breathing.
• the seat of individual moral qualities and attitudes [Ecc 7:8; Isa 57:15; Num 14:24]. Ezekiel sees the Messianic age as a period when individuals will be permeated by Yahweh's 'ruah' which in turn will renew their own [11; 19; 18:31; 36:26; 39:29]. This is one of the most important words in Paul's vocabulary with his emphasis on regeneration, sanctification, fellowship with God [Gal. 5:22-23 etc].
• the experience of being in touch with God and under God's influence. The human 'ruah' searches out God's ways [Ps 77:7; Isa 26;9], it can be stirred or hardened by God [Jer 51; 11; Dt 2:30].
'Ruah' presents us with human nature's in interplay with the nature of God. It is stressing a person open to and transmitting the life of God [Rm 8:16; ICor 2:10-11]. It has no physical 'animal' character, [never associated with blood], transcending mere desire or feeling.

 

[one_lost_coin]

Fascinating topic and in researching it not a topic very suitable to a forum discussion because of the amount of information on it.

here is a link to the relevant section in St. Thomas "Summa Theologica" a very famous and competant work on many things including this one. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/summa.FP_Q75.html

here are some qoutes to wet your appetites.

Concerning the first, two points have to be considered; the first is the nature of the soul considered in itself; the second is the union of the soul with the body. Under the first head there are seven points of inquiry.
(1) Whether the soul is a body?
(2) Whether the human soul is a subsistence?
(3) Whether the souls of brute animals are subsistent?
(4) Whether the soul is man, or is man composed of soul and body?
(5) Whether the soul is composed of matter and form?
(6) Whether the soul is incorruptible?
(7) Whether the soul is of the same species as an angel?

and since this was brought up in the original post.

Objection 1: It would seem that the human soul is corruptible. For those things that have a like beginning and process seemingly have a like end. But the beginning, by generation, of men is like that of animals, for they are made from the earth. And the process of life is alike in both; because "all things breathe alike, and man hath nothing more than the beast," as it is written (Eccles. 3:19). Therefore, as the same text concludes, "the death of man and beast is one, and the condition of both is equal." But the souls of brute animals are corruptible. Therefore, also, the human soul is corruptible.

Reply to Objection 1: Solomon reasons thus in the person of the foolish, as expressed in the words of Wisdom 2. Therefore the saying that man and animals have a like beginning in generation is true of the body; for all animals alike are made of earth. But it is not true of the soul. For the souls of brutes are produced by some power of the body; whereas the human soul is produced by God. To signify this it is written as to other animals: "Let the earth bring forth the living soul" (Gn. 1:24): while of man it is written (Gn. 2:7) that "He breathed into his face the breath of life." And so in the last chapter of Ecclesiastes (12:7) it is concluded: "(Before) the dust return into its earth from whence it was; and the spirit return to God Who gave it." Again the process of life is alike as to the body, concerning which it is written (Eccles. 3:19): "All things breathe alike," and (Wis. 2:2), "The breath in our nostrils is smoke." But the process is not alike of the soul; for man is intelligent, whereas animals are not. Hence it is false to say: "Man has nothing more than beasts." Thus death comes to both alike as to the body, by not as to the soul.

 

[one_lost_coin]

This also couldn't hurt the discussion any http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14153a.htm

a quote from the link.

It was Christianity that, after many centuries of struggle, applied the final criticisms to the various psychologies of antiquity, and brought their scattered elements of truth to full focus. The tendency of Christ's teaching was to centre all interest in the spiritual side of man's nature; the salvation or loss of the soul is the great issue of existence. The Gospel language is popular, not technical. Psyche and pneuma are used indifferently either for the principle of natural life or for spirit in the strict sense. Body and soul are recognized as a dualism and their values contrasted: "Fear ye not them that kill the body . . . but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell."
In St. Paul we find a more technical phraseology employed with great consistency. Psyche is now appropriated to the purely natural life; pneuma to the life of supernatural religion, the principle of which is the Holy Spirit, dwelling and operating in the heart. The opposition of flesh and spirit is accentuated afresh (Romans 1:18, etc.). This Pauline system, presented to a world already prepossessed in favour of a quasi-Platonic Dualism, occasioned one of the earliest widespread forms of error among Christian writers -- the doctrine of the Trichotomy. According to this, man, perfect man (teleios) consists of three parts: body, soul, spirit (soma, psyche, pneuma). Body and soul come by natural generation; spirit is given to the regenerate Christian alone. Thus, the "newness of life", of which St. Paul speaks, was conceived by some as a superadded entity, a kind of oversoul sublimating the "natural man" into a higher species. This doctrine was variously distorted in the different Gnostic systems

 

[one_lost_coin]

If you are also suggesting that there won't be any animals in heaven you may find a rereading of the bible to be most illuminating. I could recommend particular events in the bible if you need or I could recommend some cs lewis. C.S Lewis writing in the his book "The Problem of Pain" On animals in heaven: "The redemptive function" of man toward animals -- "It seems to me possible that certain animals may have an immortality, not in themselves, but in the immortality of their masters" (PP, pp.136,139-140).

Just because they don't have souls like us doesn't mean they can't live. They are alive now without them. The above quote and many stories of the bible may not constitute an explicit doctrine/proof of animals in heaven but definately provides a considerable amount of evidence to deny the statement "there cannot be animals in heaven" rather I think requires the question to remain open.