Abstract. In his article entitled “Is the human soul eternal?” author Yu. Repetski answers a series of questions posed by his friend concerning the eternal or non-eternal existence of the human soul. The article begins with three questions then passes onto a longer article in which the author refers to Biblical teaching concerning the eternal nature of the soul following the death of one’s body. The three questions raised are as follows. 1) Do noted places speaking of the soul’s eternal existence indicate that this is a case of its eternal, never dying state? 2) How can it be that the Lord God does not judge separate souls of humans but whole nations? 3) Why should any of us accept as adequate the final Biblical explanation (on the soul’s eternal nature) since we see in the Bible various explanations?

Following this we find various explanations in the longer article by the author in which he brings to our attention various places in the Bible where it speaks of conscious human souls following the physical death of their bodies. The question is raised how death entered humanity after the first person created by God, Adam, broke God’s command. The coming of Jesus Christ to earth is introduced into this discussion. He was condemned to death by humans but His death on the cross in fact served as the sacrificial death for humanity’s sins. The author states that an offer is extended to all persons to hear the “Good News” of salvation and respond to the call of being saved through personal faith in Jesus Christ and belief in his sacrificial death for their personal sins. The author reminds us of two persons, a rich man and beggar Lazarus, who saw each other having both gone through physical death of their bodies. Four points of view concerning the question of eternal punishment are reviewed and at the end the author expresses his view on which of the four views he sees as most convincing and probable.

Categories: Культура, Мараль, Рэлігія