This is the beginning ...
Greetings HNJ
Regarding the article "Soul in the Bible". Tis a subject difficult to get ones mind around, thank you for your contributions, gets me thinking more, very helpful. I agree that Nephesh, refers to the whole creature, I,m also a monist (smile), a spiritual monist. Nephesh is derived from Neshamah Divine breath/Spirit, Adam is derived from Adamah red earth. Physical monists choose the physical, as the totality of the nature of Man. With Nephesh, God directs our self image to Neshamah the Devine Breath/Spirit. Physical monists do the opposite, pointing to Adamah the ground as the self image of Man. Your repeat assertions that Jewish belief in the time of Jesus was pagan is unrealistic, given that Jesus and St. Paul agreed with Pharisees concerning the spiritual nature of Man, including divisibility of Nephesh into flesh and spirit. To me, physical monism is Sadducee in origin, that is why you do not say resurrection, but re creation. Monism in the Bible is spiritual, not earthly. Best wishes--Latarnia (talk) 01:36, 15 July 2012 (UTC)