I don't really feel like I've been corrected, although some of the scriptures are admittedly difficult to fully grasp. The word spirit in particular. Soul is easy. Soul is a living creature, but spirit is harder to nail down. For example, what is "the spirit of Christmas"? It's a feeling, an attitude, a vibe, and I think that oftentimes this is what's meant in scripture as well. Like when Paul says "May you stand fast in one spirit" (Philippians 1:27). However, when John says in John 3:8 "everyone who is born of the spirit", this is a little more difficult to explain, though he's clearly referring to those who are in Christ, but I struggle to wrap a clear and concise definition around the word in this context.
The word gennáō makes it obvious that Jesus (not John) is referring to being
born [gennao] of the Holy Spirit of God | Christ in John 3:8.
[StrongsGreek] 01080
γεννάω gennáō, ghen-nah'-o
from a variation of 1085;
to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate:--
bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.
John 8
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be
born again
[ánōthen], he cannot see the kingdom of God.
[StrongsGreek] 00509
ἄνωθεν ánōthen, an'-o-then
from 507;
from above; by analogy,
from the first; by implication, anew:--from above, again, from the beginning (very first), the top.
We are not begotten a second time by
our own spirit or soul:
6 That which is born of the flesh [sárx] is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit (o. pneuma) is spirit. (o. pneuma)
[StrongsGreek] 04561
σάρξ sárx, sarx
probably from the base of 4563;
flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specially), a human being (as such):--carnal(-ly, + -ly minded), flesh(-ly).
If you are able to discern
by the context that Jesus is referring to physical birth in the first instance and spiritual birth in the second instance in John 3:3-8 (which you are able to as you have stated), then you will be able
to discern by the context in each and every mention of the word pneuma or "spirit" in the New Testament whether it's speaking about the Spirit of God, or the soul/spirit of the person or something else, for example:
Philippians 1
27 Only let your conversation be as it becomes the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that all of you stand fast
IN one spirit, (o. pneuma) with
one mind [psychḗ] striving together for the faith of the gospel;
The word "IN" and the word "ONE", and
the distinction between spirit and mind made in the above verse - especially bearing in mind that the word
psychḗ is used interchangeably for the life, the mind and the soul of people in the New Testament and nothing else - should help you to discern the fact that in the above verse, the word spirit is referring to the same spirit as in the verses below:
Ephesians 4
2 with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep
the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is
one body and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling,
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all.
1 Corinthians 6
17 But he
being joined to the Lord is one spirit.
Ephesians 2
18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
1 Corinthians 12
13 For also
by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, even all were made to drink into one Spirit.
John 4
24 God is a Spirit: (o. pneuma) and they that worship him must worship him in spirit (o. pneuma) and in truth.
Philippians 1
27 Only let your conversation be as it becomes the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that all of you stand fast
IN one spirit, (o. pneuma) with
one mind [psychḗ] striving together for the faith of the gospel;
There is a distinction made between
the spirit and
the mind in Philippians 1:27.
The spirit is referring to unity in the Spirit of God/Christ, and the mind is referring to unity of people in purpose and in understanding and in reason. The context should teach you this fact. It's not that difficult to understand.
Always look at the context to see whose spirit is being spoken about. Here are some more examples:-
1 John 4
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, (o. pneuma) but try the spirits (o. pneuma) whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Revelation 13
15 And he had power to give life (o. pneuma) unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Not a human spirit. Not God's spirit.
Revelation 16
13 And I saw three unclean spirits (o. pneuma) like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Not human spirits. Not the Spirit of God.
Can you see now how clear by the context it is whose spirit or which spirit is being spoken about?
1 Peter 3
18 For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (o. pneuma)
19 By which also he went and preached unto
the spirits (o. pneuma) in prison.
1 Peter 3
3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, (o. pneuma) which is in the sight of God of great price.
Hebrews 12
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to
the spirits (o. pneuma) of just men made perfect.
Hebrews 12
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto
the Father of spirits, (o. pneuma) and live?
Here's one that could
seem unclear:
James 2
26 For as the body
without the spirit (o. pneuma) is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
It's the Spirit of Christ that produces the fruit of the Spirit (works) - BUT the body with the human spirit/soul is dead.