How does Genesis 6; 1 or 2 fit into the possibility of eternal life in spirit?

Question

God said; "my SPIRIT cannot keep man alive forever. Because he is also Flesh. This seems to mean; that the spirit is "not" eternal if the spirit is combined with flesh. That would indicate that when the flesh dies the spirit dies too.
Can someone show me where it says the spirit is eternal. I do not mean some biblical opinion. I want it to say "god said it".

Answer 1

The better translation of Genesis 6:1-2, would be "my spirit will not remain with man forever, for he is mortal". It is a reference to the human condition and having a mortal body. In the big picture this is after the "fall of man" and before his redemption.

God's revelation does not occur all the once. The Bible is written over centuries and centuries. The concept of the eternal spirit does not come into view until the intertestament period. It is found in the Maccabees. At the time of Jesus there was still a division of beliefs in the Jewish community with the sadducees taking the position against eternal life. When Jesus arose from the dead and later ascended into heaven - he demonstrated victory over death.

This victory over death is then taught by the early Christians, and is best described in 1 Corinthians chapter 15: 50-57.

Answer 2

In the first part of Chapter 3 in the gospel of John, Jesus begins with distinctions between flesh and spirit and eventually speaks of everlasting life.

I think you are probably making a double mistake here, though. First, you are treating the words as though they are some sort of precise code, where in fact they are a pretty limited medium for the concepts involved.

Second, you are doing so in the context of a particular translation. Compare to: "My spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh"; not very different from the version you cite, but it doesn't happen to leave room for the particular conclusion you offer. That's a hint that you've stretched the interpretation beyond the precision of the text.

Answer 3

The reference means that spirit will not keep flesh alive forever. It goes on to say that the years of flesh will be numbered not to exceed 120.

This means that the spirit will not bet forced to remain stuck in a body for more than 120 years.

What a relief.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 4

You are being to literal.

god is saying that the flesh is but a mear vessel and that the spirit cannot sustain your body forever. However, your spirit lives on forever and will tyranscend to heaven one day.

Answer 5

Revelation 20:11-12
Then I saw a great White throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead great and small, and the books were opened.

The above refers to the final judgement as described in Revelation. Obviously if we die believing in God As John 3:16
says we wil have eteranl life. John 3:10-21 describes this in detail. John 3:13 No one has gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven. The Son of Man.
The portion above is believed by most Bile scholars to be words pretty much from Jesus.

I truly believe if man dies and believes in God he will be resurected after the events described in Revelation.

Answer 6

How about the thief on the cross next to Jesus. His body obviously died, but Christ said "Today you will be with me in Paradise." Sounds like his spirit was going to live on.

Answer 7

And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." Gn.3. 22

Good luck!

Answer 8

keep it in R&S please

keep 'philosphy' free of questions about Religion, we are engaged in a valid search for the truth and do not want that replaced with a massive arguement

please cease to inform me of 'what god said' in this category!

Thank you for you kind consderation of my quite serious request