While conception marks the beginning of a new human body, the existence of a body does not inherently imply the presence of a soul. There are three very strong reasons to believe that ensoulment occurs after conception.

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First, nowhere does scripture state that "a person exists from the moment of conception" or that "ensoulment occurs at conception." Verses such as Psalm 139:13 and Jeremiah 1:5 suggest that personhood begins in the womb, but neither mentions conception. There are no scriptural or biblical verses that say ensoulment occurs at conception.

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Second, scientific observation reveals that between one-third to one-half of all embryos naturally fail to implant in the uterus after conception. Among those that do implant, about one-third naturally abort before the sixth month of gestation. After the sixth month, the rate of natural abortion (miscarriage) falls to less than 1%. From a Christian perspective, this means that God directly aborts more than half of all conceived bodies before the sixth month. It is highly unlikely that God ensouls new bodies at conception only to then abort one-half to two-thirds of those souls before they are born. Therefore, it is more plausible that God ensouls new bodies after conception.

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Third, Ecclesiastes 3:20 states, “All are from the dust, and to dust all return,” indicating that bodies ("dust") exist both before and after souls inhabit them. Terms like "embryo" and "fetus" are fitting descriptions of developing bodies before they become babies. Likewise, “corpse” accurately describes a body after death. The biblical concept of "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" shows that bodies exist independently of souls, implying that ensoulment occurs after conception.

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As for when ensoulment occurs, we can look to the Gospel of Luke. The Gospel of Luke places special emphasis on the sixth month (Luke 1:24, 1:26, 1:36, 1:39-45), repeating "the sixth month" multiple times and illustrating that it is "in those days" of the sixth month when Elizabeth's baby leaps for joy in her womb. This emphasis is significant—there is no other time during pregnancy highlighted in the Bible with as much importance. Modern science tells us that fetal brain development reaches a stage within the sixth month that enables the ability to think and feel. This revelation in conjunction with the Bible's emphasis on the sixth month suggests that gaining the ability to think thoughts and feel emotions aligns with the timing of ensoulment. The Bible’s focus on the sixth month and the brain’s developmental milestones at that time create a profound connection.

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Combining the evidence that ensoulment occurs after conception with the Bible's emphasis on the sixth month and with the timeline of fetal brain development, it is reasonable for Christians to conclude that ensoulment occurs in the sixth month of pregnancy. For reproductive rights guidelines that align with this Christian view, click here.

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Appendices:

Appendix 1. Concern: "At conception a unique set of DNA is created that never existed before and never will exist after. Doesn't this suggest ensoulment at conception?" Response: The statement "At conception a unique set of DNA is created that never existed before and never will exist after," is false. The same set of DNA can exist in multiple people. Identical twins and organ donation recipients are examples of this. Every person's soul is unique, but the same cannot be said of DNA. Also, people are not the only things with DNA. Every organism on Earth has DNA, from fungi to plants to animals. DNA and souls are not the same thing.

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Appendix 2. Concern: "Christians have always been against abortion" Response: That is incorrect. Up until 1679, the following was a proposition of the Catholic Church: 34. It is lawful to procure abortion before ensoulment of the fetus lest a girl, detected as pregnant, be killed or defamed. Throughout history, some Christian groups have been permissive of abortion, some against, and some ambivalent. Today, more Christians are for abortion rights than against them. 

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Appendix 3. Concern: "Shouldn't we prohibit all abortion just in case ensoulment happens before the sixth month?" Response: If there were no cost to this, then prohibiting all abortion "just in case" would be wise. But there are terrible costs: prohibiting all abortion causes suffering for families who face pregnancy complications, incomplete miscarriage, contraceptive failure, and rape. God leaves the permissibility of abortion open before the sixth month, and we need to trust God, love God, and follow God.

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"God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

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