The Apostle John, in passing remark, related the health of the body to the health of the soul. His words mean more than concerned sentiments about spiritual and physical health. There is certainly some complementary observation here, but more. The study of the soul relates to one of the eminent topics of Scripture – from the time Adam and Eve were made living souls, as recorded in Genesis, to the identity of souls, as noted in Revelation. Soul, in Scripture, is used in two large meanings – the principle of life found in living things that incorporate man and animals; and, the meaning of those who possess undying souls related only to human (god’s image) life.
Many years ago an English chaplain reported that the soul weighed seventeen grams. His way of finding out was to weigh the beds holding bodies of dying persons. On the demise of each of his subjects he found that the weight of the remains was a consistent 17 grams less after a patient’s final breath. The information was widely reported, but gained little attention. One would assume that his experiment might be replicated or tested with care. Writer Emilio DeGrazia wrote a book with the title: Seventeen Grams of Soul, which title was taken from the results of the intrepid chaplain. The book was reviewed by critics with affirmations of both artistry and hope found in the book. DeGrazia told soul stories, even touching literary excellence. His purpose appears to have been to tell stories of disease and death, with the persons moving through their ordeals toward individual personal or small victories. They reflected common life contexts.
The most important thing for us is the principle of life, life which we have thought of as invisible, likely weightless, mysterious, tenuous, and utterly important to us. For nearly all persons, high importance is afforded to issues of life and health. For the godly, these remain important, but possess a spiritual dimension, adding immortality and that invariably involves the soul. What we know of immortality is related, not to the mind, or the heart, or to any other physical organ, but to the soul. Somewhere inside all persons there is a soul. Whether it is weighted or not, we must know that it is there, and that it has some future not related to the known physical elements of our bodies. Any bodily restoration for immortality, for those of faith, is accommodation for soul/spirit, and understanding. Scripture argues that redeemed persons possess immortal souls.
That status may well relate to the meaning of the image of God noted in Scripture as special for mankind.
Apparently the soul may, or may not be, in health else John would not refer to the hope that the condition of physical health of the reader is as good as the health of the soul. The soul may be out of health, as in the case when one chooses to be soulish – a state that relates to soul illnesses such as greed, lust, jealousy – soul diseases of persons. The soul can catch carnality, and reduce whatever there is in its health (found in righteousness/virtue) that makes human life better, unique, more satisfying, more pleasing to mankind – and to God. We read: . . . we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:39 – KJV) Before any intervention of Christ, the soul is in unsatisfactory character. Redemption and nurture changes that situation radically – to perpetuity. Jesus related the change to new birth and new life. There is spiritual health. Evidence of life ought to arrest our attention. Apparently the soul/body must seek life and health, or it becomes sickly. Remaining sickly, it will finally die. Without that consequence to either healing or death, there would be no such thing as a sin-sick soul. We seek the unique meaning of the human soul. It demands a personal verdict. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020