E.W. Bullinger wrote:

“Now, putting aside all that we have thus been taught (by religion), let us see what God actually does reveal to us in Scripture concerning man, in life, and in death; and concerning the state and condition of the dead. Psalm 146:4 declares of man,

“His (God’s) breath (Heb. ruach, spirit) goeth forth (leaves him), He (bodily) returneth to his earth; In that very day his thoughts (his soul function) perish.”

God is here speaking of the “man” himself, not of some part of man, but of any and every human being begotten or born of human parents.”

The New Testament Greek word for “life” in man is “Zoë,” meaning, “God’s Spirit-life.” The Greek ‘Zoë life’ is the vital ‘spirit life’ of all “living souls” which is not to be confused with the Greek word “bios,” referring to the ‘biological life’ of our body; or “psuche,” referring to the ‘psychological life’ of our soul being. Adam as a “living soul” became fully animated by the spirit of life that came to him by the temporal deposit of “the breath (Spirit) of God” breathed into his clay form at creation.

Temporal Life:

Yes, human life is temporary. It exists only until death arrives by the loss of the “spirit of man.”

Solomon wrote this concerning what occurs at death, whether the death of lost unbelievers or regenerated (reborn) believers.

“… the (body) dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit (the spirit of man) shall return unto God who gave it.” (Eccl 12:7). Moses wrote; “… unto dust thou shalt return” (Gen 3:19).

First, God formed Adam physically from earthy dust or clay. The name “Adam” actually means “ruddy,” as “red clay.” God then “breathed” the “breath of life” into that clay form. This is the “spirit of man.”

“The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. (Zechariah 12:1 (KJV)

The “spirit of man” in the Adam’s physical body made Adam a whole living being, which the Bible calls a “living soul.” Moses wrote: “All the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls” (Exo. 1:5; cf. Deut. 10:22). When a ship goes down we do not ask how many bodies or spirits were lost, we ask how many souls were lost. Every living man, as an individual, is “a living soul.”

Thus, we could correctly say that man does not ‘have’ a soul, but more accurately say a man ‘is’ a “living soul,” possessing the soul functions of… mind, emotion, and will. The soul of man came by virtue of his having both a physical “body” and the vital “spirit of man.”

The “spirit in man” (Job 32:8) is called “the spirit of (or pertaining to) man” in Zech. 12:2b.

“Who knoweth the spirit (Heb. ruach, spirit) of man that goeth upward, and the spirit (Heb. ruach, spirit) of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?” (Eccl. 3:21).

Having spirit, soul, and body, both man and animals are “living souls.” “A righteous man regardeth the life (Heb. nephesh, living soul) of his beast…” (Prov. 12:10a).

It’s obvious and undeniable that the key element for the life of every living soul’s existence is “the spirit” or “breath of God.” God is the one life in the universe and all life is derived of Him.

Daniel and Jesus and John spoke of ultimate “everlasting life” after death for the believers of Israel.

Dan. 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt (judgment).
Matthew 19:29 … every one that hath forsaken (all, etc.) … shall inherit everlasting life.

John 5:24 … He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life… is passed from death unto life.   

John 6:40 … every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up (from the dead) at the last day.  

John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on (trust in) me hath everlasting life.

Paul wrote of “everlasting life” and “eternal life” for the believers of “the church, which is His body.”

Rom 6:22 … ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. ^23b… the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

2Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle (body) were dissolved (decayed), we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Philipp. 3:20-21a … our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: ²¹Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious (resurrection) body...