We Are Souls, Not Bodies with Souls

In the vast journey of human self-understanding, one of the most significant questions has always been: What are we, really? For millennia, philosophers, theologians, and religious thinkers have grappled with the nature of the self, the essence of being, and our relationship to the divine. One common misconception is the belief that we are primarily bodies that happen to possess souls, an outlook that shapes how we experience life and spirituality. But what if the truth is far deeper? What if we do not merely have souls, but are souls?

This chapter explores the profound idea that we are, at our core, not bodies who happen to have souls, but rather souls who mistakenly identify with the body. This philosophical and theological perspective radically reorients how we view existence, death, relationships, and our connection with God. By understanding our true nature as souls, eternal, spiritual beings temporarily experiencing a physical reality, we can begin to see the world and ourselves as God sees us, transcending the limitations of the physical and moving closer to our divine purpose.

The Misidentification of Self: Body over Soul

Modern society, deeply entrenched in materialism, often teaches us to identify with our bodies. From the earliest stages of life, we are conditioned to think of ourselves as physical beings who happen to possess something called a “soul”, a spiritual essence that may or may not have relevance beyond our bodily existence. We are bombarded by images and narratives that emphasize the importance of physical appearance, bodily health, and material success, subtly reinforcing the idea that the body is the essence of who we are.

However, this understanding is a misidentification of self. The Bible, along with many other spiritual traditions, teaches that humans are more than just material beings. In Genesis 2:7, it says, “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living soul.” This verse provides an important insight: while our bodies were formed from the dust, it was the breath of God, the soul, that gave us life and identity. The body is not the essence of who we are, but the vessel through which the soul experiences and interacts with the physical world.

The challenge of modern life is that we have become so focused on the material, on our bodily desires, needs, and experiences, that we forget the deeper truth of our existence. We live as if we are bodies that have a soul somewhere deep within, perhaps accessible through spiritual practices or moments of profound reflection. But this is a misunderstanding. We are souls who temporarily inhabit a body, not bodies who happen to have a soul.

The Soul: Our True Identity

To grasp the significance of this shift in perspective, we must delve into the nature of the soul. If the soul is the essence of who we are, what does this mean for our understanding of life and existence?

The soul, as taught in Christian theology and many other religious traditions, is eternal. It is not bound by time or space, and it transcends the limitations of the physical body. Ecclesiastes 12:7 states, “And the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” This verse emphasizes that while our bodies return to the earth, the soul continues on, returning to its source: God.

If the soul is eternal and our true identity, then our lives are not defined by our physical experiences but by the state of our soul. The physical body, with all its limitations and impermanence, is a temporary expression of the soul’s journey. Our thoughts, emotions, desires, and spiritual growth, all of these flow from the soul, even though they are experienced through the body. The body, in this view, is a tool or an instrument for the soul’s expression in the material world, but it is not the essence of who we are.

This shift in understanding changes everything. It reframes how we approach life, death, relationships, and our relationship with God. Instead of focusing on the body, its desires, fears, and material needs, we are invited to focus on the soul, the eternal part of us that longs for communion with the divine.

The Body: A Temporary Dwelling for the Soul

Though the body is not the essence of who we are, it plays an important role in our earthly existence. It is the temporary dwelling place for the soul, and it allows us to interact with the material world, form relationships, and experience growth, suffering, and joy. In 2 Corinthians 5:1, Paul writes, “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” Here, the body is described as a “tent”, a temporary structure that will one day be replaced by something eternal.

The metaphor of the body as a tent is significant because it underscores the transient nature of our physical existence. Tents are useful, but they are not permanent homes. They provide shelter and function for a time, but they are not meant to last forever. In the same way, our bodies are temporary structures that allow our souls to navigate the physical world, but they are not the final or ultimate expression of our existence.

Understanding the body in this way helps us to place it in its proper context. While it is important to care for our bodies and respect them as temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), we must not allow our identity to be defined by the body. The body is a tool through which the soul works and experiences life, but it is not who we are. When we overly identify with the body, we become enslaved to its desires and fears, fears of aging, illness, and death. But when we understand that we are souls, we are freed from the tyranny of the physical and can live with greater purpose and peace.

The Consequences of Misidentification

When we mistake ourselves for the body, rather than the soul, several harmful consequences follow. First, we become overly attached to material things. If we believe that we are primarily physical beings, we will naturally seek fulfillment in physical pleasures, material possessions, and external achievements. But these things are fleeting and cannot satisfy the deeper longings of the soul. 

As Jesus warns in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Second, identifying with the body leads to fear, fear of death, fear of loss, fear of pain. If we believe that we are nothing more than our physical bodies, then death becomes the ultimate end, the greatest tragedy. But when we understand that we are souls, death loses its sting. It becomes a transition, a return to our true home with God. As Paul writes in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” This is the perspective of one who knows that the soul is eternal and that death is not the end but a new beginning.

Finally, identifying with the body leads to a shallow understanding of relationships. If we see ourselves as primarily physical beings, we will engage with others on a superficial level, valuing them for their appearance, status, or what they can offer us materially. But when we recognize ourselves and others as souls, we are able to form deeper, more meaningful connections based on spiritual love, shared purpose, and mutual growth in God.

The Call to Live as Souls

Recognizing that we are souls, not bodies with souls, calls us to live differently. It invites us to focus on what truly matters, our relationship with God, our spiritual growth, and the love we share with others. It calls us to detach from the material world, not in the sense of rejecting it entirely, but in the sense of no longer allowing it to define us.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 16:26, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” This verse speaks to the eternal value of the soul and the futility of placing our identity in the body or the material world. Our true life is found in our connection with God, not in the temporary experiences of the body.

Living as souls means cultivating a life of prayer, reflection, and service. It means caring for the body, not because it defines us, but because it is the vessel through which we serve God and others. It means approaching death not with fear, but with faith, knowing that we are returning to the source of all life, the God who created us as eternal beings.

Conclusion: The Eternal Reality of the Soul

We are not bodies who have souls; we are souls temporarily dwelling in bodies. This realization transforms how we understand our purpose, our relationships, and our ultimate destiny. As souls, our lives are oriented toward eternity, and our true identity is found not in the material world, but in our relationship with God.

By embracing this truth, we can live with greater freedom, peace, and purpose, knowing that the body is not the essence of who we are, but the soul, the eternal, spiritual self, is what truly defines us. As we live from this place of soul-awareness, we align ourselves more fully with God’s plan, recognizing that our earthly life is but a brief chapter in the grand story of our soul’s eternal journey back to Him.