I asked Copilot what the #1 tradition that contradicts the plain teaching of the Bible is and this is the response:

The single most pervasive man‒made tradition that directly contradicts the plain teaching of Scripture is this:

That one tradition is the root from which dozens of other non‒biblical doctrines grow (heaven at death, hell at death, purgatory, praying to saints, ghosts, etc.). But the core tradition itself — the immortality of the soul — is never taught in Scripture. In fact, Scripture teaches the exact opposite.

Why this is the #1 contradiction

Because it overturns the Bible’s most foundational truths:

1. Scripture teaches that humans are mortal

• “The soul that sins shall die” (Ezek 18:4, 20).

• “Only God has immortality” (1 Tim 6:16).

• Immortality is something believers receive at the resurrection (1 Cor 15:51-54).

2. Scripture teaches that the dead are unconscious

• “The dead know nothing” (Eccl 9:5).

• “In death there is no remembrance of You” (Ps 6:5).

• Jesus calls death sleep repeatedly (John 11:11-14; Matt 9:24; Mark 5:39).

3. Scripture teaches resurrection as the hope

• “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:39-40, 44, 54).

• “If there is no resurrection… your faith is vain” (1 Cor 15:13-18).

• “We shall be changed… this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor 15:51-54).

If humans already had immortal souls, resurrection would be unnecessary.

Why this tradition took root

Historically, the idea came not from Scripture but from:

• Greek philosophy (Plato’s immortal soul)

• Gnostic dualism (spirit good, body bad)

• Later church tradition (4th-5th century and beyond)

It entered Christianity centuries after the apostles, and it reshaped doctrine in ways the Bible never teaches.

Why this matters

Because this one tradition:

• Replaces resurrection hope with disembodied afterlife

• Undermines the biblical teaching that death is real

• Confuses God’s justice

• Distorts the gospel’s promise of eternal life as a gift, not a natural possession

• Opens the door to doctrines Jesus and the apostles never taught

It is the foundation of nearly every major doctrinal departure from Scripture.

[Copilot]

After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died”… Luke 11-14 ESV

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 ESV.

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

“O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?”

1 Corinthians 15:51-55 ESV

1 Thessalonians 4:13 instructs us not to be ignorant concerning those who have died, and verse 18 instructs us to comfort and encourage one another with these words. He promised that he is coming back. What a day that will be.

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Mark Rohde can be reached at

marklrohde@icloud.com.