The word 'sin' appears 281 times in the KJV Bible.
IN one translation it appears as sin, some 500 times!

In the King James Version:

Sin 448x, Sinneth 22x, Sinning 2x, Sinners 48x, Sinner 41x = 561x

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King James Statistics are at the link

(not case sensitive)

Sin (447)

Sin-- (1)

Sinneth (22)

Sinning (2)

Sinners (48)

Sinner (21)

Sinful (8)

Sinned (119)

Sinnest (1)

Sins (172)-------------841x
In the King James version:

the word - sin - appears 447 times

and

the word - sinful - appears 8 times

the word - sinned - appears 119 times

the word - sinner - appears 21 times

the word - sinners - appears 48 times

the word - sinning - appears twice

the word - sins - appears 173 times

The phrase: He that despiseth his neighbour sinnet, but he that hath mercy on the poor happy is he" means that you should love others to achieve happiness in your life.

This statement is in parables, and oftentimes people tends to view them literally, but the neighbor as depicted in this is the "spirit" within, and not a physical person next door. I am rather amazed of how many Bible-believers have not realized that they should give attention to the spirit, rather that trying so hard to secure a place for the flesh which is considered the evil, until it is purged. So when "Effectual Fervent Prayers" are given it is helping the good spirit which is also considered to be the poor.

Answer:

The Bible doesn't say the soul is immortal. Plato and the Greek philosophers said it.

The Bible says that the soul dies: "...the soul that sinneth, it shall die..." (Ezek.18:4 & 20). That makes it "mortal."

But wait... there is one passage in the Bible that says the soul is immortal. Satan said it:

"...the serpent said unto the woman, YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE..." (Gen.3:4).

Perhaps the philosophers got their vain ideas from him.

"...The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain..." (I Cor.3:20).

"...Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Colossians 2:8)

Ezek:18:20: The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Mt:10:28: And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Ezek:18:4: Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

1Timothy:6:14-16: That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

15: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

16: Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Jn:3:15: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

1Cor:15:53: For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1Cor:15:54: So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Rom:2:7: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

"Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?" Job 4:17

Because the Bible tells us we will do so - in 1 Corinthians 6.3.

They need to be judged too, according to the Bible in Revelation 12.7

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

Also:

Speaking humanly... after being deceived and accused by them all our lives [Rev.12:9-10]... don't we want some say-so as witnesses in their trial on Judgment Day?

"...the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the Judgment of the Great Day." (Jude 1:6)

You can't have a trial without "witnesses."

One witness shall not rise up against a man [or angel] for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established." (Deut.19:15)

At the mouth of untold millions of witnesses... the testimony will be established... and overwhelming.

But, off course... we'll have to have survived our own trial, first [Rev.20:11-15].

In the King James version

the word - ignorant - appears 17 times

1. Psa 73:22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
2. Isa 56:10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
3. Isa 63:16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
4. Act 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
5. Rom 1:13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
6. Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
7. Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
8. 1 Cor 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
9. 1 Cor 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
10. 1 Cor 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
11. 2 Cor 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
12. 2 Cor 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
13. 1 The 4:13 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. Heb 5:2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
15. 2 Pet 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
16. 2 Pet 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

the word - ignorantly - appears 4 times

1. Num 15:28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
2. Deu 19:4 And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;
3. Act 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
4. 1 Tim 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

the word - ignorance - appears 18 times

1. Lev 4:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:
2. Lev 4:13 And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;
3. Lev 4:22 When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;
4. Lev 4:27 And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;
5. Lev 5:15 If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering.
6. Lev 5:18 And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him.
7. Num 15:24 Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.
8. Num 15:25 And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their ignorance:
9. Num 15:26 And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in ignorance.
10. Num 15:27 And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.
11. Num 15:28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
12. Num 15:29 Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.
13. Act 3:17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
14. Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
15. Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
16. 1 Pet 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
17. 1 Pet 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

Christ followers keep his commandments.
They walk just as he did: Sin free.

"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin" (1 John iii, 9).

"He that committeth sin is of the devil" (8). Judged by this standard what is the comparative strength of these sovereigns' subjects?

"There is no man that sinneth not" (1 Kings viii, 46).

"There is not a just man upon earth" (Ecclesiastes vii, 20).

"There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans iii, 10).

If some one is a true christian then they should reflect what Jesus would say and do. Kind of like the W.W.J.D stuff.
If something was sinful or wrong they would not do it. They would rebuke the Devil and do nothing to encourage His evil ways.

Isn't a follower of Christ someone who feels it and believes in it. Were people and do things that the Bible tells us not to do, but a follower would stay close to what the Bible says. It my opinion, but really a believer can't be said it's a feeling that you feel. No one can judge you otherwise.

Sex is God's way of allowing men to participate in His act of creation. This is the only reason for sex, a man and his wife participate in God's creation of life, and in doing so, give themselves to each other in the sacrament of Matrimony (marriage). All sex outside of marriage is wrong, in the Christian view of things. All sex inside of marriage that frustrates its primary purposes is also wrong. But we have to look at the positive side of fulfilling God's plan and remember that we are all of us, just His creatures with free will (which He gave us) - to follow His Will for us, or to not (to sin).

Yes, the Bible calls it fornication and says that anyone who does it (and doesn't repent, meaning QUIT doing it), will not go to Heaven. Here are some Bible verses about fornication (premarital sex): 1 Corinthians 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

It would not be loving or just if that were the case.

However, not all religions teach a hellfire doctrine. Some consider the doctrine to be a teaching not found in the Bible, and the exact opposite of what a God of love and perfect justice would do. There are Christian religions out there that teach the dead are conscious of nothing, that the soul actually dies, the wages of sin is death, and that when someone has died, they have been freed of their sin.

Ecclesiastes 9:5 (KJV) "For 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."

Ecclesiastes 9:10 (KJV) "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."

Ezekiel 18:4 (KJV) "Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die."

Romans 6:23 (KJV) "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Romans 6:7 (KJV) "For he that is dead is freed from sin."

Children born out of wedlock can certainly enter heaven if they fulfil the conditions for salvation, namely repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. They are not excluded under the New Testament system of religion although there were some prohibitions which were in place in the Old Testament under the Mosaic Law.

At the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 this matter of keeping the law was specifically discussed and those who wished to impose the Old Testament legal system on Christians were soundly 'defeated'. No such prohibition was mentioned or even considered there or in any subsequent deliberations of the Christian church.

According to the Old Testament

*** They cannot (implied)***

Deuteronomy 23:2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.

Addendum; If the B's cannot attend the "congregation of the Lord", then it is implied that the B's cannot enter heaven.

*** They can (implied) ***

Deuteronomy 24;16. The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

2Kings 14:6. But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

Jeremiah 31:29-30. In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity.

Exekiel 18:20. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

forgiveness letter

How to write a forgiveness letter

It`s always difficult to write the first words of a letter. How do you start? What do you write?How do we open our heart and let everything out?

We will try and help you in writing forgivenes letter.

The following are a few opening sentences that will hopefully allow the rest to flow out naturally.

Good luck

If you have any further ideas, we would love to hear them.

1. It`s true I should have written a long time ago, but as they say, "better late than never". So…
2. This is amazing! What I am about to write has already made me feel that a weight is being lifted off my chest…
3. Do you remember…
4. You won`t believe this, but I have been sitting here for an hour, my fingers on the keyboard, trying to find the right words, not knowing where to begin. So I will just start with what happened…
5. I just wanted to tell you that…
6. Believe me, what happened between us has been weighing on my heart for a while now. I have only just worked up the courage to tell you that…
7. What can I say, you were right, and I was wrong…. In this letter, I would like to make amends for what happened between us…
8. "For there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not". Well, I admit it - I have sinned…
9. "Do not seek to appease thy friend in the hour of his passion". I am hoping that you are less angry now, so I would like to tell you that…
10. A Chinese proverb says: "Even a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step". Since as I am interested in a long journey with you from now on, I will start by taking the first step…
11. "Do as you would be done by". Sadly, I have not, and would like to make amends…
12. Without beating around the bush, I will get straight to it. I was mistaken / I was wrong / I have done you wrong… I would really like to put things right and rebuild our relationship as it was before…
13. Sorry! / Thank you! / I'm sure you know what I mean… anyway, I am referring to…
14. I don't have words to thank you, and I am really sorry for doing so this late…
15. There are no words to describe how I feel…
16. I just wanted to say I love you with all my heart. Every day as I wake up..
17. Even the simplest words can`t describe how much I love you…
18. I am sorry if I have hurt your feelings. I want to say I am sorry for…
19. I am sorry for what I have done to you
20. There are not enough words to express my gratitude
21. Thank you for your help

A lot could be said on this but simply God wants people who willingly serve Him and will not force anyone to believe in Him, which would make us into unthinking robots. As for the sin nature, even though it is inherited, there are still choices made which demonstrate man's willingness to go the same way Adam did previously anyway. Universal salvation was most certainly God's original intention as hell was created not for man but for 'the devil and his angels', and so, in a sense man has to choose to go there, which sadly many do. In this connection it has been pointed out that heaven would amount to hell for those who hate God and do not wish to be with Him or to worship Him.

A final factor to be considered is the matter of God's justice, which would also be violated by people who deliberately reject salvation being allowed to receive the benefits of the atonement. This would make the atonement non-essential effectively as God could simply just let everyone into heaven because He loves them all and doesn't require the necessity of personal atonement for sin. It would also make the ultimate sin of unbelief and rejection of the good news of salvation a nonsense (not to mention all those who would be angry at God for forcing them to go somewhere they do not wish to go).

The necessity of choice may also relate to mankind being made in God's image and so as a thinking and intelligent being able to relate to God. Such a creature has a real independent existence and can to a very high degree shape both his environment and his destiny. This ability to make truly independent decisions is one thing that distinguishes man from the animals.

Deuteronomy 2416The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.2 Kings 146But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.Jeremiah 3129-30In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity.Ezekiel1820The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Answer:

It should be noted that there is a sin called generational sin, that does pass down.

The answer depends on how a particular faith community understands the text. Remember, the text you are reading is most likely not the Aramaic Jesus spoke, or Biblical Hebrew. In fact, the word "homosexual" didn't even exist until the 19th century!

Other religious scholars consider this sort of textual "cherry-picking" to be misuse of the Bible to support bigotry. (Remember, the Bible also says that women should be silent in church and that it is a sin to combine wool and linen.)

The discussion below draws on one particular reading of selected passages in the New Testament, and refers to "spiritual death" -- it does not mean that homosexual persons should be killed.

Homosexuality is a sin. The Bible condemns it in several places, including Romans 1:21-32.

"...Sin is the transgression of the law." (I John 3:4)

Therefore the wages of homosexuality is spiritual death (Romans 6:23) ... just like for thieves, liars, sabbath-breakers, idolaters and those who lust after what is not theirs.

And the Bible says that our sins earn us spiritual death. Just as physical death is the separation of body and soul, spiritual death is the separation of one's soul from God. If one is living in sin, God cannot have fellowship with that one, because, "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all." (I John 1:5-7)

"The soul that sinneth, IT SHALL DIE... But if the wicked WILL TURN FROM ALL HIS SINS THAT HE HATH COMMITTED, and keep all My statutes, and DO THAT WHICH IS LAWFUL AND RIGHT, HE SHALL SURELY LIVE, HE SHALL NOT DIE. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that HE SHOULD TURN FROM HIS WAYS AND LIVE? (Ezek.18:20-23)

"...Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that REPENTANCEand REMISSION OF SINS should be preached IN HIS NAMEamong all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:46-47)

The Bible says that "unrepentant sinners" are subject to the "second death." But those sinners who repent of their sins in Jesus' name... and stop doing them in obedience to His Word - they shall live.

"When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles GRANTED REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE." (Acts 11:18)

"...repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance." (Acts 26:20)

Practicing, unrepentant sinners shall die. But, Jesus Christ has made it possible to repent of sin... and live. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:23

He does not:finite punishment for finite crimes.

Rv:20:12: And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Mal:4:1: For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

Ps:68:2: As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

Isa:47:14: Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.

"The wicked is reserved to the day of destruction." "Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb." Job 21:30, 32.

Jude:1:7: Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished." 2 Peter 2:9.

Rv:20:14: And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Rv:21:8: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Mt:3:12: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Lk:3:17: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

Job:20:26: All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.

Job:22:20: Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.

Ps:106:18: And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.

Isa:10:17: And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;

Jer:4:4: Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

Ezek:18:20: The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Mt:10:28: And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Ezek:18:4: Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

1Timothy:6:14-16: That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

15: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

16: Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Jn:3:15: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

1Cor:15:53: For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1Cor:15:54: So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Rom:2:7: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

"I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. ... And never shall thou be any more." Ezekiel 28:18, 19.

"So shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire." Matthew 13:40-42.

"The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." John 12:48.

"Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?" Job 4:17

Nahum:1:9: What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

Rom:6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ps:37:10: For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

Rv:21:4: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Mal:4:3: And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

If you were to read the bible and Tonto church then your answer will come.

Jewish input:

The Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 17a) does state that some souls are burnt to ashes. Other than those, souls are immortal.

Another answer:

"Immortality" means "to be INCAPABLE OF DYING"... which the Bible does not teach. It means, "possessing Eternal Life."

Nowhere does the Bible say that "man HAS a soul" -- but that "man IS a soul":

"...and man BECAME a living soul[nephesh; breathing creature]." (Gen.2:7)

The Holy Spirit-inspired word that's often translated "soul" in Bibles of the English language... "nephesh"... is also translated many other ways throughout:

"Nephesh": "...KJV--any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature... desire... fish... lust, man, me, mind, MORTALLY, one, own, person, pleasure... they, thing..." (Strong's Definitions).

None of these diverse King James translations of the word "nephesh" has any connotation to "immortality"... but with the mortal fragility of life.

In fact, the Bible reveals the doctrine of the "immortality of the soul" to be a Satanic lie in direct opposition to the Truth of God:

"...GOD SAYS we must not eat it or even touch it, or WE WILL DIE. YOU WON'T DIE! the Serpent hissed." (Gen.3:3-4 NLT New Living Translation)

The Bible tells us that "immortality" is what mankind SEEKS... he doesn't already have it:

"...For there is going to come a Day of Judgment when God, the Just Judge of all the world, will Judge all people according to what they have done. He WILL GIVE ETERNAL LIFE [immortality] to those who persist in doing what is good, SEEKING after the Glory and Honor and IMMORTALITY that God offers." (Rom.2:5-7 NLT)

Why would God need to "offer" us something that we already have?

Satan told the "immortal soul" lie to the first two people God made in the Garden of Eden... and they and their children have believed it and him ever since. The false religions of the world, which belong to this world's god, all teach a variation of the "immortal soul" doctrine. Even the Chinese, who lay no claim to a god, believe in "ancestor worship"... a "religion in its own right," where their "dead" ancestors are "living, immortally" in some sort of ethereal other-worldly existence, and upon whom they can "pray" and with whom they can commune for help and assistance in their lives.

Even today, the world still teaches the "immortality of the soul" in its modern institutes of higher learning... not from the Bible... but from the ancient Greek philosopherswho wrote the deception down in their convoluted teachings and taught in their universities.

The Bible teaches that "all men, who ARE living souls, sin"... and that the wages of sin is DEATH [Rom.6:23].

And it further teaches: "The soul that sinneth, IT SHALL DIE..." (Ezek.18:20).

And it teaches: "...the GIFT of God is Eternal Life [immortality] THROUGH JESUS CHRIST our LORD." (Rom.6:23)

So, technically... the Bible DOES teach "the immortality of the soul." But it's found in Genesis 3, in the Garden of Eden account... where it was the Dragon, "...that old Serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world..." - [Rev.12:9] -- who did the teaching.

Ex:20:14: Thou shalt not commit adultery.

1Cor:7:2: Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

Mt:5:32: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Mt:15:19: For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Mt:19:9: And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

Mk:7:21: For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Jn:8:41: Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

Acts:15:20: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

Acts:15:29: That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Acts:21:25: As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

Rom:1:29: Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

1Cor:5:1: It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

1Cor:6:13: Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

1Cor:6:18: Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

1Cor:7:2: Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

1Cor:10:8: Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

2Cor:12:21: And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

Gal:5:19: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Eph:5:3: But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

Col:3:5: Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

1Thes:4:3: For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

Jude:1:7: Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Because Protestantism did not really break away from the Catholic religion due to 'beliefs'. They mainly broke away from the 'authority'; and kept the same beliefs in-tact.

Answer:

The "immortal soul" doctrine began in the Garden of Eden:

"...the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die." (Gen.3:4)

It was adopted by the succeeding generations of rebellious man, his world-ruling empires and his religions... all "believing" it to be true, accepting it as unproved fact [and rejecting the Truth of God's Word -- "...the soul that sinneth, it shall die." - Ezek.18:4 & 20 ].

"...thou shalt surely die." (Gen.2:17)

Beginning with the first world empire this side of the flood, Babylon, with its "mystery religion," from which most of today's social and religious customs and traditions stem... the "immortal soul" doctrine thrived [thrives].

Finally, the Greek philosophers wrote it down in their "books of wisdom" and taught it in their academies. And the doctrines of the "immortality of the soul' and other convoluted philosophical teachings were institutionalized by them [and are still taught in today's academies and universities]... and the next world-ruling empire that succeeded them -- Rome -- adopted it and adapted to it; which the deceived world inherited, again, in both its societies and religions.

The Catholic church merely inherited the "immortal soul" doctrine from the Roman Empire... who ultimately inherited it from Babylon... who inherited it from across the flood, where their ancient ancestors first "believed" what they were told by the serpent, and obeyed his voice.

"Protestantism" isn't the result of the beliefs of "one founder." Different people at different times and places separated themselves from the catholic church for this or that reason. That's why we have so many different names of "Protestant denominations" today... like Lutherans, Calvinists, Baptists, as well as more than 400 others.

"Protestantism" didn't reject all of catholicism's beliefs when each one branched off and separated from their "mother." And for the vast majority of them... the doctrine of "the immortality of the soul" was never rejected or a cause of separation.

God's Word has simply never been believed by most people [even religious people]. And still isn't, today.

The serpent's ancient lie is still thriving in the world... believed and cherished by people and cultures everywhere [even alleged "atheist" Chinese "pray" to their "immortal" dead ancestors]. "Protestantism" never gave the "immortal soul" doctrine much thought at all as a reason for "protest," as each one in their own time parted from their "mother." Satan gave it to man from the beginning... man rejected the Truth of God's Word ["...thou shalt surely die..."], and most people "believe" what they're told without proof.

Another Answer:

Because not only the Bible clearly teaches it, it is something that is self-evident to any spiritually conscious individual.

Daniel 12:2 - "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Mark 9:44 - "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."

Even from the scientific point of view, we know from the theory of relativity that time is physical property that is affected by mass, velocity and other variables, those physical properties do not apply to our consciousness, which is essentially information, or software not hardware and is not subject to physical laws.

No

Well, technically:

Yes, scripture does say it; indirectly.

But it's the scripture quoting the "Serpent" ["...the Dragon... called the Devil, and Satan..." - Rev.12:9] in the Garden of Eden who spoke the lie to Eve.

"...the serpent said unto the woman, YE SHALL NOTSURELY DIE..." (Gen.3:4).

Granted... it's a LIE told by the originator; the "father of lies" [see John 8:44]. But, still, scripture is where we find the "origin" of the "false doctrine" of the "Immortality of the Soul."

The Bible says: "...and man became a living soul..." (Gen.2:7). [Hebrew: nephesh; a breathing creature] That's "living" soul... not an "immortal" one.

And Satan told Eve, the soul is immortal [doesn't die].

God says "we die" [Gen.2:17]. "Mortal things die," not immortal things. Only God has "immortality":

"...the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who ONLY HATH IMMORTALITY..." (I Tim.6:15-16).

Scripture says that Eternal Life... or "Immortality"... is something that men [who don't want to die, or even like the idea of it] SEEK.

"...to them who by patient continuance in well doing SEEKfor glory and honor and IMMORTALITY, ETERNAL LIFE..." (Rom.2:7).

God's Word, Truth [scripture - John 17:17] says men "seek immortality"... and that "faithful," men, cleansed of their sins, "receive immortality [Eternal Life] as "God's Gift."

"...the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom.6:23)

"...WE SHALL BE CHANGED... and this mortal must PUT ON IMMORTALITY... then shall be brought to pass the saying... Death is swallowed up in victory." (I Cor.15:52-54)

Another confusion among men because of the false "immortal soul doctrine" is that "life" and "death" are THE SAME THING in people's minds. That "death" is only "living in another place, form or ethereal existence."

Satan's lie of the 'immortality of the soul' is part of his overall deception in the world [Rev.12:9]. It goes hand-in-hand with all of his false religions in the world and vain philosophical notions of deceived, blinded men.

In fact... beyond Satan's brief "immortal soul" lie in "scripture," one of the few scriptures which men actually "believes" [without realizing it originated from scripture] -- any further teachings on the false doctrine has to be gleaned from the writings of other deceived men who came after Adam and Eve outside of scripture; like the world vaunted "Greek philosophers," [i.e. Plato, Socrates, Aristotle], whose elaborate and convoluted ideas regarding the "immortal soul trapped inside of men," are taught in the world's institutions of higher learning.

But, nowhere in scripture does it say that ANYTHING is IN MAN... except his "spirit."

"...there is A SPIRIT IN MAN..." (Job 32:8). [not a soul]

"...the Lord, which... formeth THE SPIRIT OF MAN WITHIN HIM." (Zech.12:1) [not a soul]

"...The SPIRIT THAT DWELLETH IN US lusteth to envy..." (James 4:5) [not a soul]

The Scriptures say that man IS a soul. And nowhere says that he has one IN HIM. And Scripture says:

"...the SOUL [nephesh; breathing mortal creature, man] that sinneth, IT SHALL DIE." (Ezek.18:4 & 20]

And, according to the dictionary - or scripture - that's not "immortality."

There is no indication, none at all, in the King James version of The Bible - that the devil has a child.

In that version, the words "devil", "Satan" and "Lucifer" are used.

However, in only a few verses does any of these words occur with the words "child", "son", "daughter" - and none with "seed" or "issue" or other offspring-words.

The following are the verses, and you will see that none of them refer to the devil having a child:

Satan & son * Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. * Job 2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

Devil & son * Mat 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. * Luk 4:3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. * Joh 13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; * 1 Joh 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Devil & child

* Mat 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. * Luk 9:42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father. * Act 13:10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? * Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; * 1 Joh 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. (That last one is the only one where children appear to be connected to the devil, but it is used figuratively of humans, as a contrast with the righteous being 'children of God'.)

Devil & daughter

* Mat 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. * Mar 7:26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. * Mar 7:29 And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. * Mar 7:30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

Devils & child

* Mat 12:27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.

Devils & son

* Psa 106:37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, * Luk 4:41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ. * Luk 11:19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore shall they be your judges.

Devils & daughter

* Psa 106:37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,

Hang in there my friend - you can beat your addiction:

When struggling to overcome addiction, it's important to remember that

No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 NAB.

God also encourages those with addicitons to seek doctors and professionals with the medical skill and knowledge who can provide timely help:

Sirach 38:1-15, NAB

1. Hold the physician in honor, for he is essential to you, and God it was who established his profession.

2. From God the doctor has his wisdom, and the king provides for his sustenance.

3. His knowledge makes the doctor distinguished, and gives him access to those in authority.

4. God makes the earth yield healing herbs which the prudent man should not neglect;

5. Was not the water sweetened by a twig that men might learn his power?

6. He endows men with the knowledge to glory in his mighty works,

7. Through which the doctor eases pain and the druggist prepares his medicines;

8. Thus God's creative work continues without cease in its efficacy on the surface of the earth.

9. My son, when you are ill, delay not, but pray to God, who will heal you:

10. Flee wickedness; let your hands be just, cleanse your heart of every sin;

11. Offer your sweet-smelling oblation and petition, a rich offering according to your means.

12. Then give the doctor his place lest he leave; for you need him too.

13. There are times that give him an advantage,

14. and he too beseeches God That his diagnosis may be correct and his treatment bring about a cure.

15. He who is a sinner toward his Maker will be defiant toward the doctor.

If you prefer, the deuterocanonical passage from Sirach can also be found in the early editions of Protestant translations, such as the first printing of the 1611 King James Version:

Sirach 38:1-15, 1611 KJV

1. Honour a Phisitian with the honour due unto him, for the uses which you may have of him: for the Lord hath created him.

2. For of the most High cometh healing, and he shall receive honour of the King.

3. The skill of the Phisitian shall lift up his head: and in the sight of great men he shall be in admiration.

4. The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhore them.

5. Was not the water made sweet with wood, that the vertue thereof might be knowen?

6. And he hath given men skill, that he might be honoured in his marveilous workes.

7. With such doeth he heale [men,] and taketh away their paines.

8. Of such doeth the Apothecarie make a confection; and of his workes there is no end, and from him is peace over all the earth.

9. My sonne, in thy sicknesse be not negligent: but pray unto the Lord, and he will make thee whole.

10. Leave off from sinne, and order thy hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all wickednesse.

11. Give a sweet savour, and a memoriall of fine flowre: and make a fat offering, as not being.

12. Then give place to the phisitian, for the Lord hath created him: let him not go from thee, for thou hast need of him.

13. There is a time when in their hands there is good successe.

14. For they shall also pray unto the Lord, that hee would prosper that, which they give, for ease and remedy to prolong life.

15. He that sinneth before his maker, let him fal into the hand of the Phisitian.

REFERENCES

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. The New American Bible for Catholics, (Iowa Falls: IA, World Bible Publishers, Inc. 1991).

The Bible Museum. The Bible: 1611 King James Version: 1st Edition, 1st Printing, (Goodyear, AZ: The Bible Museum, 2006).

Different translations of 1Co 7:36 bring out differing thoughts:-

(ASV) But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin daughter, if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let themmarry.

(CEV) But suppose you are engaged to someone old enough to be married, and you want her so much that all you can think about is getting married. Then go ahead and marry. There is nothing wrong with that.

(GNB) In the case of an engaged couple who have decided not to marry: if the man feels that he is not acting properly toward the young woman and if his passions are too strong and he feels that they ought to marry, then they should get married, as he wants to. There is no sin in this.

(ISV) If a man thinks he is not behaving properly toward his virgin, and if his passion is too strong and he feels he ought to, let him do what he wants; he isn't sinning. Let them get married.

(KJV) But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

(NET) If anyone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the bloom of youth and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry.

However, to really understand this verse it must be seen in context with the other verses bracketing it, and the NET Bible's translation and especially its Notes are excellent for this:-

1Co 7:32-39 NET And I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. (v.33) But a married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife, (v.34) and he is divided. An unmarried woman24 or a virgin25 is concerned about the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband. (v.35) I am saying this for your benefit, not to place a limitation on you, but so that without distraction you may give notable and constant service to the Lord. (v.36) If anyone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his virgin,26 if she is past the bloom of youth27 and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry. (v.37) But the man who is firm in his commitment, and is under no necessity but has control over his will, and has decided in his own mind to keep his own virgin, does well. (v.38) So then, the one who marries28 his own virgin does well, but the one who does not, does better.29 (v.39) A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies,30 she is free to marry anyone she wishes (only someone in the Lord).

24sn In context the unmarried woman would probably refer specifically to a widow, who was no longer married, as opposed to the virgin, who had never been married.

25tc There are three viable variant readings at this point in the text. (1) The reading ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἄγαμος καὶ ἡ παρθένος (Jh gunh Jh agamo" Kai Jh parqeno", "the unmarried woman and the virgin") is represented by ancient and important mss, as well as some significant versions (Ì15 B 104 365 1505 PC vg co). (2) The reading ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἄγαμος καὶ ἡ παρθένος ἡ ἄγαμος ("the unmarried woman and the unmarried virgin") is also found in ancient and important mss (Ì46 א A 33 1739 1881 PC). (3) The reading ἡ γυνὴ καὶ ἡ παρθένος ἡ ἄγαμος ("the woman and the unmarried virgin") is found in Western mss (D F G) and the majority of Byzantine cursives. Based upon external evidence, the first and second readings are the strongest; the readings both reach deep into the second century with strong testimony from mss of the Alexandrian texttype. Internal evidence seems equally balanced: Scribes may have wanted to add ἡ ἄγαμος to παρθένος for stylistic reasons, but they might also have wanted to remove it because it sounded redundant. Because Paul's meaning is not quite clear, a decision on the proper textual reading is difficult. On the whole scribes tended to add to the text, not take from it. Thus the first reading should be favored as original, but this decision should be regarded as less than certain.

tn Grk "The unmarried woman and the virgin." The identity of the "virgin" here is a matter of interpretation (see note on "people who have never married" in v. 25 for discussion), which has in fact contributed to textual variation at this point in the text (see the text critical note above). As far as the translation is concerned, one must determine if one group of women or two are in view. It is possible that Paul means to refer to only one class of women here, namely unmarried virgins, but the use of the adjective ἡ ἄγαμος (Jh agamo", "unmarried") with "woman" and not "virgin" precludes that interpretation; in addition, the use of the article with both "woman" and "virgin" implies that two distinct groups are in view. If two groups are in view, English would more naturally use the conjunction "or" to indicate the distinction. Thus the translation "An unmarried woman or a virgin" has been used to make clear that two groups are in view.

26tn Grk "virgin," either a fiancée, a daughter, or the ward of a guardian. For discussion see the note at the end of v. 38.

27tn Or referring to an engaged man: "if he is past the critical point," "if his passions are too strong." The word literally means "to be past the high point."

28tn Or "who gives his own virgin in marriage."

29sn 1 Cor 7:36-38. There are two common approaches to understanding the situation addressed in these verses. One view involves a father or male guardian deciding whether to give his daughter or female ward in marriage (cf. NASB, NIV margin). The evidence for this view is: (1) the phrase in v. 37 (Grk) "to keep his own virgin" fits this view well ("keep his own virgin [in his household]" rather than give her in marriage), but it does not fit the second view (there is little warrant for adding "her" in the way the second view translates it: "to keep her as a virgin"). (2) The verb used twice in v. 38 (γαμίζω, gamizw) normally means "to give in marriage" not "to get married." The latter is usually expressed by γαμέω (gamew), as in v. 36b. (3) The father deciding what is best regarding his daughter's marriage reflects the more likely cultural situation in ancient Corinth, though it does not fit modern Western customs. While Paul gives his advice in such a situation, he does not command that marriages be arranged in this way universally. If this view is taken, the translation will read as follows: "7:36If anyone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his unmarried daughter, if she is past the bloom of youth and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry. 7:37 But the man who is firm in his commitment, and is under no necessity but has control over his will, and has decided in his own mind to keep his daughter unmarried, does well. 7:38 So then the one who gives his daughter in marriage does well, but the one who does not give her does better." The other view is taken by NRSV, NIV text, NJB, REB: a single man deciding whether to marry the woman to whom he is engaged. The evidence for this view is: (1) it seems odd to use the word "virgin" (vv. 36, 37, 38) if "daughter" or "ward" is intended. (2) The other view requires some difficult shifting of subjects in v. 36, whereas this view manages a more consistent subject for the various verbs used. (3) The phrases in these verses are used consistently elsewhere in this chapter to describe considerations appropriate to the engaged couple themselves (cf. vv. 9, 28, 39). It seems odd not to change the phrasing in speaking about a father or guardian. If this second view is taken, the translation will read as follows: "7:36If anyone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his fiancée, if his passions are too strong and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry. 7:37 But the man who is firm in his commitment, and is under no necessity but has control over his will, and has decided in his own mind to keep her as his fiancée, does well. 7:38 So then, the one who marries his fiancée does well, but the one who does not marry her does better."