Against Heresies: Book II
Chapter 34: Souls Can Be Identified in a Distinct State and Are Immortal, Though They Had An Origin
The Lord has clearly taught that souls not only continue to exist, not by passing from body to body, but they keep the same form they had in the body they were suited to and remember the deeds they did in this life, from which they have now ceased, as shown in the narrative about the rich man and Lazarus who found rest in the bosom of Abraham. In this account, He states that Dives recognized Lazarus after death, and Abraham in the same way, and that each of these individuals remained in their proper place, with Dives requesting Lazarus to be sent to relieve him—Lazarus, on whom he did not previously bestow even the crumbs from his table. He also tells us of the answer given by Abraham, who was aware not only of matters concerning himself but also of those concerning Dives, instructing those who did not wish to enter that place of torment to believe Moses and the prophets and to accept the teaching of Him who was to rise again from the dead. By these things, it is clearly declared that souls continue to exist, do not pass from body to body, possess the human form so they may be recognized, and retain the memory of things in this world; moreover, that Abraham possessed the gift of prophecy, and that each class of souls receives a dwelling according to what it has deserved, even before the judgment.
2. But if anyone now claims that those souls, which only recently began to exist, cannot endure for a long time, and that they must either have no birth to be immortal or, if they began through generation, should die with the body—let them understand that only God, who is Lord of all, has no beginning and no end, being truly and forever the same, always remaining the same unchangeable Being. However, everything that comes from Him, whatever has been made and is made, indeed receives its own beginning through creation, and for this reason is inferior to Him who formed them, since they are not unbegotten. Nevertheless, they endure and continue their existence through a long series of ages according to the will of God their Creator, so that He allows them to be formed at the start and to exist after that.
Just as the heavens above us—the sky, the sun, the moon, the stars, and all their splendor—were brought into existence from nothing and continue for a long time according to the will of God, anyone who thinks similarly about souls and spirits, and indeed all created things, will not be far from the truth. All things that have been made had a beginning when they were formed but will last as long as God wills their existence and continuation.
The prophetic Spirit confirms this belief by declaring, “For He spoke, and they were made; He commanded, and they were created: He has established them forever, yes, forever and ever.” And, concerning the salvation of humanity, it is stated, “He asked life of You, and You gave him length of days forever and ever,” demonstrating that the Father of all grants eternal continuance to those who are saved. Life does not originate from us or our own nature but is given according to the grace of God.
Therefore, anyone who preserves the life they have been given and gives thanks to the One who granted it will also receive eternal length of days.
But whoever rejects it and remains ungrateful to their Creator, given that they were created and did not recognize the One who gave them life, deprives themselves of eternal continuance. For this reason, the Lord said to those who were ungrateful towards Him: “If you have not been faithful in what is little, who will give you what is great?” indicating that those who have been ungrateful in this short earthly life will justly not receive eternal life from Him.
The animal body is certainly not the soul itself, but it shares a connection with the soul as long as God wills it. Similarly, the soul is not life itself, but it participates in the life given to it by God. Therefore, the prophetic word tells us about the first-formed man, "He became a living soul," teaching us that the soul became alive through participation in life. This means that the soul and the life it has should be understood as separate entities. Therefore, when God gives life and endless duration, it happens that souls which did not exist before will endure forever, because God has willed them to exist and continue existing. For God's will should direct and rule over all things, while all else yields to Him, is subject to Him, and devoted to His service. Thus far, let me discuss the creation and ongoing existence of the soul.