and yet that would have been quite easy to state in clear terms had that been what Paul intended, but i am sure he did not; what he intended was to make an obvious, even glaring statement that he intended to be misinterpreted by those with bad premises, while at the same time still being technically true, thus hiding wisdom from the wise." Hence we now have many who will assure you up one side and down the other that Paul said "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord," when that is not true and cannot be Quoted, except maybe in a really bad translation. See, as soon as i hear "but Paul said to be absent from yadayada..." i get to cry 'horse puckey,' and 'adding to Scripture' even, bc there is no "to be" in either "absent from the body" statement, which he said it twice for a reason too
so wadr no, imo Paul is specifically not emphasizing what you say even though it can be read that way, but rather the difference in someone who is operating with bad premises and someone who seeks to serve God wherever they happen to find themselves right now, which is after all the point of the passage, and not this "absent from the body" herring at all, see, that most everyone latches onto with all their might as they boldly misquote and misinterpret it, adding "to be" and forgetting all about "serving God now" whenever they repeat it, i did it too, 40+ years
No problem with me. Doesn't change the facts.
Spiritually a Converted man is already made DEAD, by the Spirit, being crucified with Chirst. Yet while you can physically SEE your own BODY, Spiritually it is KEPT with Christ, having been washed and sanctified....and ones Spiritual Life exists IN Jesus Christ, while the physical BODY, continues in Mortal Life, being called and Prepared to Serve the Lord and is Prepared to be risen up in Glory, when called.
Physically a Converted body shall experience Physical bodily death. Doesn't matter, since it is Spiritually washed and sanctified and Prepared to be risen up in Glory.
No one has disputed; as long as a man is Converted, and STILL physically alive, the Kingdom of God is within the man.
A saved soul and quicken spirit of a man, Does not remain in a physicaly dead body of a man.....IT GOES TO GODS KINGDOM....in Heaven, from whence it came......which is NOT OF THIS WORLD!! (Earth).
Glory to God. His word is TRUE, whether or not one knows it, believes it, or understands it.
Taken