You asked

if we are 'living souls,' what ethical responsibilities arise for our use of AI or genetic engineering?

Adds the setting and its conversation across both testaments.

Genesis 2:7

“Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

This passage is part of the second creation account in Genesis, focusing on the specific creation of humanity. It describes God forming the first human, Adam, and imparting life through divine breath, establishing humanity as a unique blend of material and life-giving spirit.

What does being a 'living soul' mean for how we approach technologies that create or augment life?

Then — the setting

Genesis is an ancient text, likely compiled and edited over centuries, reaching its final form during or after the Babylonian exile (6th-5th century BCE). This creation account speaks to an Israelite audience, perhaps in exile or returning, grappling with questions of identity, divine purpose, and humanity's place in the world. It frames humanity's origin in relation to a single, sovereign God, contrasting with polytheistic creation myths of neighboring cultures. The description emphasizes both the earthly (dust) and the divine (breath of life) components of human existence.

Across the Testaments

The Old Testament concept of 'living soul' (Hebrew: *nephesh chaiya*) in Genesis 2:7 signifies a complete, animated being—the whole person, not a disembodied spirit. It emphasizes that life is a gift from God, infused into matter. The New Testament, building on this foundation, often uses 'soul' (Greek: *psyche*) to refer to this same living being, but also introduces the concept of 'spirit' (Greek: *pneuma*) as that which connects humanity to God, particularly through the Holy Spirit. While Genesis focuses on the origin of physical life, the New Testament expands the understanding of 'life' to include spiritual life and regeneration, yet both affirm God as the ultimate source of all life and being.

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Psalm 139:13-14
Celebrates God's intricate and intentional creation of each individual in the womb.
Job 33:4
States that 'The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life,' echoing the Genesis account.
Acts 17:28
Suggests that 'in him we live, and move, and have our being,' attributing all life to God.

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