Reply To: Anthropology 2024/2025 Discussion Board 1

[Odinachi Onyemkpa]

Throughout history, there have been three primary views on the origin of the human soul: Pre-existence theory, Creation theory, and Traducian theory.
Pre-existence Theory
Ancient Greeks and Hindus have upheld pre-existence theory, and even forms of it can be found in Islamic thought. This view posits that God created several souls, and these souls are joined to human bodies at conception. There is no clear statement in Scripture supporting this view. This perspective, rooted in ancient Greek philosophy and some early Christian thought, suggests that souls exist in a pre-corporeal state before being united with a physical body, implying that souls may have lived in a spiritual realm before incarnation. Some Christian traditions have considered this view heretical, challenging the idea that the soul is a creation of God rather than something that pre-existed creation.
Creation Theory
Creation theory teaches that while the human body is inherited from the parents, the soul, being immaterial, is created by God. At conception, God creates a soul and places it within the developing baby, as noted in Psalm 139:13: “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.” Support for this theory is found in the biblical account of God breathing life into Adam’s body, thereby giving him a soul (Genesis 2:7). Numerous Scriptures highlight God’s ongoing involvement in the creation of humans, including their spirits. Consider the following verses:
– “The revelation of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: The Lord—He who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth, who forms the human spirit within a person” (Zechariah 12:1).
– “And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7, ESV).
These texts clearly indicate God as the Creator of the immaterial aspect of humans, emphasizing His role as the ultimate creator of the soul. Some argue that creationism avoids the complication of the soul being passed down from parents, which might suggest a pre-existing and potentially flawed soul.

Traducian Theory
Traducian theory, also found in some Christian circles, proposes that both the soul and body are passed down from parents through natural generation. This perspective argues that God’s direct creation of new beings ceased on the sixth day of creation, as evidenced by His resting on the seventh day. While God remains involved in the creation of human bodies and souls, this involvement occurs through secondary means—specifically through human parents. Some theologians find this view more consistent with the concept of humanity inheriting a fallen nature from Adam and Eve.

One strength of the Traducian theory is its acknowledgment of hereditary factors—just as we inherit physical traits from our parents, we also commonly share personality traits, intelligence, and emotions. If God directly created the soul independently of the parents, these similarities might not be as pronounced. John MacArthur supports Traducian theory, stating that while several verses mention God creating a person’s soul or spirit, the same is true for the body1. He cites Psalm 139:13-15, which underscores that the body is formed through natural procreation, indicating that God is the Creator, yet He ordained human reproduction for populating the earth (Genesis 1:28). Thus, although God uses natural means for procreation, He remains the ultimate cause of the process.

In conclusion, it is essential to recognize that God is the Creator of humans. I choose to align with The Creation Theory, which clearly instructs that God is the Sole Creator of humanity, but every other creature that exists came to be through Him.