Question: In your July [’97] Q&A you cannot use a parable (the rich man and Lazarus) to support ...

Question [composite of several]: In your July [’97] Q&A you cannot use a parable (the rich man and Lazarus) to support the pagan idea of the immortality of the soul. What scripture do you use to support the idea that the “soul” is a separate entity from the body? Ecclesiastes:9:5For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
See All... very clearly tells us that “the dead know not any thing....” 1 Thessalonians:4:13-18 [13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
See All... says that the dead in Christ are “asleep.”

Response: Briefly regarding your comments on 1 Thessalonians:4:13-18 [13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
See All... and the other scriptures you refer to, we must respectfully disagree with your conclusions about the state of the dead. To speak of the dead as those “asleep” is a common metaphor and particularly applicable to someone like Paul, who was fond of using what some commentators refer to as “Paulisms.” Just one example is his usage of “letter” as a metaphor for a legalistic approach to the gospel.

You mention that the Scriptures support soul sleep. It is interesting to note how heavily supporters of this doctrine rely on passages from the Psalms and Ecclesiastes. To agree with such a conclusion, the context of these verses must be ignored. Ecclesiastes is very clear that its observations are drawn from the viewpoint of the natural man. To the limited vision of the “natural man” walking this planet, it does appear that the dead know nothing. If Ecclesiastes:9:5For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
See All... is speaking as literally as some indicate, is it then literally also true that their memory is forgotten as well? Consider the implications of this. Verse 6 explains that they (the dead) do not have a portion for ever in anything “that is done under the sun.” That is all the writer is commenting on. A similar observation may be made about the psalms cited.

Further, we need to understand the clear statements in the New Testament. Paul did not say that it was better to depart and “sleep until the Resurrection,” but rather to “be with Christ” (Phil:1:23For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
See All...). Neither did Paul say that to be absent from the body was to be “asleep” (2 Cor:5:8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
See All...).

The words used in these scriptures help us discern where the misunderstanding takes place. It involves the makeup of a man. Those who would deny the “spirit, soul, and body” (1 Thes:5:23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
See All...) will certainly have trouble distinguishing the differences and implications involved. As Peter pointed out in Acts:2:34For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
See All..., David (his body) certainly had not ascended into heaven. Nevertheless, it is a reasonable conclusion that David expected to see his son and wasn’t waiting until the resurrection of the body (2 Sm 12:23).

As the old hymn tells us, “’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word.” We must seek to avoid the trap of letting our preconceptions establish our doctrine. Consider the case of the thief on the cross. Jesus did not say, “Today verily I say unto thee,” but “Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Neither did He say, “You will sleep today.”

Some feel that the teaching of soul sleep avoids contradictions in the Scriptures, but a few examples would seem to create a myriad contradictions. When Jesus led captivity captive (Eph:4:8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
See All...), who was He leading? What about the spirits in prison? What about the story of the rich man and Lazarus? (No parable specifically names a person.) And, even if it were only a parable, what does it mean? What was Christ teaching from it? Certainly He was not teaching soul sleep. What kind of parable would talk about someone conscious and communicating in hell and intend to teach soul sleep from it? So the argument that this is just a parable does not help the proponents of soul sleep at all. Finally, what about the Old Testament references that have men in hades speaking, questioning, and otherwise engaging in actions only possible by conscious entities? (Ez 32:21-32; Is 14:9-10).

Most important, however, the Lord promised to never leave us or forsake us and that nothing could separate us from His love...even for a moment. Neither death, nor life, nor anything else! In view of the scriptures already cited, it becomes most difficult to reconcile back to the Scriptures the scenario presented by soul sleep.