Animals Have Souls Series

The NIV says, ‘I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”

Catch what the Message Bible says, “The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.” (Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (Ro 8:19–21). NavPress.)

Let us get some clarifications on key words.

First, “Creature” (?t?sµa ktísma) Stresses the result of which the product is creation. (Zodhiates, S. (2000). In The complete word study ) The study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). AMG term every creature refers to all His works in all places of His dominion. Proverbs 103:22 says, “Praise be to the Lord, all His works everywhere in His dominion.” (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 567). Logos Research Systems, Inc.)

From Bible Dictionary

“Creatures” as used in our Biblical text already looked at, are aspect of being alive [meaning an eternal creation]. The Greek term embraces ‘all flesh that is upon the earth.’ Gensis 9:16 says, “Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I [God] will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” Therefore, any created being, humans included, brought into existence as a result of God’s power and authority. The Bible declares that the Redeemer God is the Sovereign Creator of all things. Through His might and power, He brought the universe into existence. (Genisis 1:3-34; Psalm 33:6)

Closing: Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D. writes: “All animals have souls. The soul comprehends both the spark of life and sentience. Without the soul, the flesh is dead, inanimate. That the soul is the spark of life. But the soul also includes the capacity of the senses which allow all sentient beings to relate to the world around them.

Man, though he has the added dimension of spirit, is sometimes thought of only as body and soul. [In reality] he is body, soul and spirit.” Dr. Zodhiates also writes “Like the spirit, the soul does not cease to exist after death.” (Sickness Why Healing How, Chapter 1, page 4 first paragraph)

The ESV Bible, Psalms 74:19 says, “Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beast…” The Hebrew word for “soul” (?????? nep_eš) means the enter being with its thoughts and emotions. It is applied to both human and animals. (Baker, W., & The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament (p. 746). AMG Publishers .Carpenter, E. E. (2003).)