Temporary Division in the Afterlife
Based on the presented materials, it is evident that the notion of a fundamental separation of a person into body and soul after death has its nuances. Some sources indicate that the body and soul do indeed exist separately, albeit in a diminished, incomplete state awaiting subsequent resurrection, while others emphasize their inseparable connection as parts of a unified whole.
For example, one source states:"We will say: 'But how can they be inseparable?After death, the body and soul exist, therefore they exist separately!' Yet the fact is that they exist in a diminished form, incompletely, as they await subsequent resurrection. In this state of waiting, the soul does nothing. It can no longer freely reform itself through repentance." (source: link txt)This quote demonstrates that the separation is more a characteristic of the post-death state rather than an act that God must undertake as a final measure. In other words, although in the state of awaiting resurrection these two components exist separately, it does not imply that there is an inherent, radical duality between them.Moreover, another source emphasizes the inseparable interconnection of body and soul, noting that it is impossible to find a “body or soul without relational context,” since they exist as a single entity, mutually conditioned and sharing a common origin:"Thus, their mutually conditioned connection (I speak of the soul and body as parts of the entirety of humankind), conceived as inseparable from them, demonstrates both their joint origin (γένεσις) and, corresponding to their nature, the inherent difference between them—without in any way (or by any trope) impairing the naturally integrated definitions (or: logos) of their essence. Therefore, it is entirely impossible to find or refer to a body or soul in isolation." (source: link txt)Thus, in the context of the question "Is it necessary for God to separate a person into body and soul after death?" one can conclude that the separation is not an act of division imposed from above, but rather a reflection of a state of being while awaiting future resurrection. The body and soul are integral parts of one whole, and any separation between them is temporary and conditional, dictated by the spiritual order rather than by immediate divine mercy or punishment.