With 1 Cor 2:11 I most heartiy agree and do also embrace it completely. But, you and I disagree as to what the meaning is. When man became a living being, a living soul, a living creature by God’s breathing the breath, that is to say, the life into him, man thereupon became capable of certain things. He could experience the senses: he could see, hear, taste, smell and touch. Because he had a God-given brain, he could do these things; plus, he could also think, reason, and learn. He didn’t have a spirit inside him which did his smelling and tasting and thinking and reasoning and learning for him; he was capable of doing these things because he was alive and because he had a central nervous system.
Why was he alive? The equation is: body plus breath of life equals a living soul. But, somehow you are injecting a spirit into the mix.
Yes, while a man is alive, he can learn the things of a man by man’s spirit, which I believe is the intelligent aspect of a man. I believe this intelligent aspect of a man only exists when he is alive and because he is alive. But, when he dies the breath of life returns to God Who gave it, and man’s ability to think and reason and learn comes to an end.
KJV Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
When a man is resurrected he can take up where he left off. But in the meantime, in between time, we ain’t got fun. (Sorry, I was thinking of an old song).When we’re dead, we got nuthin’.
A man can also learn the things of God because of the Spirit of God. A man cannot learn the things of God by man’s spirit. He can be the smartest man in the world, but he can only learn the things of God by the Spirit of God.
Sometimes people say a man has a gentle spirit. Or, that he is a gentle spirit. I don’t think they mean he is a spirit. As you point out in your numerous references, there are all kinds of spirits. Yes, there are lying spirits, evil spirits, etc. And the word spirit is used in so many different ways. But, when used of a man it often refers to an aspect or aspects of a man. I do indeed go back to certain passages such as Gen 2:7 and take them to give the definition of the entire man. But, again a man has many different aspects to him.
Man is not a spirit. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be a man. The Bible talks of three classes of created beings (at least that’s all I can find – maybe you can help me find some additional classes of beings). All I can find are angels, spirits and man. Man never becomes an angel when he dies. That would be a positive downgrade. Nor does he become a spirt being. And the reverse never happens. Angels never become men, nor do spirits. At least that’s what I see. When among the living, a man is a live man. When he is in the state of death (Sheol, Hades), he is a dead man. When he is resurrected from among the dead, he lives again because of the One Who is the resurrection and the life.
KJV 1 Corinthians 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
What does "...the spirits of just men made perfect", (Hebrews 12:23) mean"?
When a man is resurrected he can take up where he left off. But in the meantime, in between time, we ain’t got fun. (Sorry, I was thinking of an old song).When we’re dead, we got nuthin’.
Looks like Moses, Elijah, and Paul (and some other Biblical characters) didn't get the memo. What were Moses and Elijah doing conversing with Jesus on the mountain? Didn't they know Ecclesiastes 9:10? Why did the disciples see something that according to you, is impossible?
Man is not a spirit. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be a man.
Just as with "soul" and "man", "spirit" and "man" are not convertible terms, as if one were the meaning of the other. So no one says merely that man is "a spirit". We, as the Bible does, refer to man as having a spirit.
The Bible talks of three classes of created beings (at least that’s all I can find – maybe you can help me find some additional classes of beings). All I can find are angels, spirits and man.
Angels, whether fallen or not, are spirits.
Man never becomes an angel when he dies.
No one ever says that man ever becomes an angel, when he dies or otherwise. You are attacking a straw man.
Nor does he become a spirt being. And the reverse never happens. Angels never become men, nor do spirits.
No one says they do. Men do not "become" spirits. Please stop mischaracterizing our position. Men already have a spirit that cannot die.
When among the living, a man is a live man.
Then what does, "Let the dead bury their own dead, and follow me", mean? How could a dead man bury a dead man, unless he can be alive in one sense while dead in another? What does, "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers", and "anyone who does not love remains in death", mean? What does, "... she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives", mean? What does, "unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you" mean?
Cordially,