Hi Mike, Thanks for taking the time to comment and add further insight.  The one particular point you brought about that I did not during the bible study and discussion with the group was bringing in to clearer picture the principle of celestial & terrestial bodies/ glories and I missed the scripture in romans – the whole creation groans waiting… which both fits perfectly and strengthens what was taught/ discussed.  This particular study was a detailed look at 2Co 5, Php 1 and Paul’s comments “whether out of the body or not I do not know” and how if we are convinced in the doctrine of the immortal soul/ immortal spirit (this particular group of people were taught along with myself in our non- denominational “Word” based church that we ARE a spirit who LIVES in a body and has a Soul – mind, will & emotions).  Previously, I printed out the 804 verses in the old testament that contain the word nephesh (translated 9 different english words as you know), and we also looked at the word ruach and pneuma for spirit and we saw the way God inspired these words to be used that there is not 1 doctrine that agrees with that pagan & false teaching.  We ARE a living soul (nephesh) when we are given the breath of live with our earthly flesh (dust). (Gen 2:7), and we ARE a dead soul when that breath of life leaves us and goes back to God (and that life that goes back to God is hid in God through Christ (Col 3) until it is given back to us at the resurrection). We have gone through at length in previous studies some of the key Scriptures and key Biblical principles on how to rightly divide the word.  We looked at your paper how Jesus and the apostles did it and also went through “idols of the heart” (Eze 14), the need for revelation knowledge given only by God (Jesus’s words to Peter in Mat 16), the need for the whole counsel of God and “the Scriptures cant be broken”, Jesus’s use of parables to the multidudes, pharisees and His disciples and WHY (Mat 13) no prophecy is of its own interpretation (1 Pet), Out of the mouth of 2-3 witnesses let every Word be established, Holy Spirit teaches comparing spiritual to spiritual (Co 2), Is, Was, Will be of His Word (Rev), Words are spirit, flesh profits nothing, no longer know Jesus after the flesh, how to test the spirits, how to know them by their fruit (including their doctrine), “Israel of God & not a Jew outwardly, but one inwardly”, “living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”, “seeing our blindness”, etc… I noticed that moving on from the basics (Heb 6) 1st requires that we have pure milk (Peter) and MUCH of the false doctrines taught (eternal torment, immortal soul/ spirit, hell, trinity, resurrection of the dead (barely even talked about due to the other false doctrines makes it unnecessary even though that was central to Paul’s teaching) can be cleared up just by looking at what the scriptures actually say – not what we think they say, not by reading words or concepts into it.  All of that still takes a miracle from God to open our eyes to see and our heart to embrace, but if we dig into the word and are not careless, we can at least SEE what it says (Bible says what it says, but means what it means – which I have quoted you often), but MUCH of the basics can be cleared up at least knowing what it says – we will have a clearer understanding of the 6 basics (pure milk) and we should be able to then grow thereby, Lord willing.  So, we looked at 2Co 5, Php 1 and studied what it said (with no idols of the heart) and broke it down to show that it does not contradict and does NOT teach an immortal soul/ spiritl.  That false teaching has to be read into the text from our idols of the heart.  So, when you have a belief that you are certain of (idol) even if it is wrong, it impacts everything else you read.  But once that idol is destroyed (plank removed from your eye) you can see clearly.  But IF we could be diligent to read what it says we are in a better position for the Spirit of God teach us the higher spiritual meaning & application of His Word and we can begin to know Jesus Christ. We had a blessed discussion – so thank you for being part of it even though you were not physically there.
M____

Wow!
If you covered all of that you really did have a great discussion.
It is very encouraging to see and hear what the Lord is doing there in New York. In the midst of a Godless world, God still has His chosen few who are willing to die for His Truth.
I am glad I could be a part of your study, even though I wasn’t there. If Christ is in us, then you are with me, and I am with you. God bless you as you abide in Him and in His doctrine.
Your brother in the Christ,
Mike >