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Man's Spirit
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How Can a Man's Spirit Merely Be "Breath"?
But I have another question. I"m told by the Jehovah's Witnesses that there is no immaterial component of man as such. The Greek word €œpneuma" and the Greek word €œpsuchei" are virtually synonymous, they simply mean €œbreath". Now I know what those words mean. €œPsuchei" means €œconsciousness" €“ from which we get the word €œpsychology", and €œpneuma" does come from the word for €œbreath" or €œbreathes". But when you die you are asleep. The dead know nothing, there is no spiritual component of man as such; no spirit. There is none. That"s what I am told by my friends who are Jehovah's Witnesses, by my acquaintances who I've met over the years who were Jehovah's Witnesses, who"ve come to my door. That's what they"ve told me.
I have a question: In Genesis 1:26 we"re made in God's image and He breathed into them and put a spirit into them. When Jesus died on the cross He said, €œFather, into Your hands I commend my spirit".(Lk. 23:46) In the book of Acts when Stephen was martyred he said, €œLord I commend my spirit". (Acts 7:59) Why would Jesus say, €œI commend My spirit to You" if it"s only breath? If it is not some kind of eternal consciousness that goes beyond biological life, why commend it? How can you commend your breath? €œGod take my breath; I"m going to die." That does not exactly make too much sense. How can it only be breath? It must be consciousness. €œFather, into Your hands I commend My spirit." If there is not a spiritual component of men and women made in God's image and likeness that go beyond this that is conscious, why did Jesus commend it? Why did Stephen commend it?