The Literal Meaning of Genesis
CHAPTER 8
What theory on the origin of the soul is supported by Psalm 103.29-30?
13. Now let us see in what sense Scripture has said, Thou wilt take away their spirit, and they will fail and return to their dust.
Thou wilt send forth Thy spirit, and they will be created, and Thou wilt renew the face of the earth.'
This text seems to support the opinion of those who think that souls are created from parents as bodies are, since the Psalmist is understood as having said their spirit on the ground that it has come to man from man. When men die, this spirit cannot be restored to them by men so as to make the dead rise again, because it is not received a second time from parents as it originally was at birth; but it will be restored by God, who raises the dead.?® Hence, the Psalmist calls the same spirit their spirit when they die and the spirit of God when they rise.
But those who hold that souls come not from parents but from God who sends them are able to interpret the text in keeping with their theory by understanding that the Psalmist has said their spirit when men are dying because it was in them and went forth from them, and that he has said the spirit of God when they rise because it is sent by Him and restored by Him. Consequently, this text does not refute either theory.
14. For my part, I think that this text is better understood as referring to the grace of God by which we are interiorly renewed. For in the case of all men who are proud, living their lives according to the earthly man and presuming on their emptiness, their own spirit is, in a sense, cast off when they divest themselves of the old man and become weak so that they may be made perfect by driving pride out, saying to the Lord in humble confession, Remember that we are dust.2° Indeed, to them it had been said, How can he who is dust and ashes be proud?3° For through the eye of faith, looking on the justice of God, so that they may not desire to establish their own justice,3! they despise themselves, as Job says, and melt away and consider themselves