[continued from previous message]   
      
   >      “The souls of the pious dead were in secret receptacles,   
   >       according to their merits, until Christ’s resurrection.”   
   >       (Enchiridion 109)   
      
   Pure fantasy. Not the least Biblical.   
      
   >   
   >Augustine explicitly states that OT saints were not in heaven but in   
   >“receptacles” (usually interpreted as the blessed part of Hades) until   
   >Christ’s resurrection.   
   >   
   >Summary   
   >   
   >Across the early church:   
   >   
   >No one taught OT saints went directly to heaven at death.   
      
   The Catholic Church did and probably does today.   
      
   The same with the Baptist Church as far as I know.   
   >   
   >Virtually all Fathers describe the righteous dead in a waiting place,   
   >usually called:   
   >   
   >Hades   
      
   NT grave. Sheol is OT grave.   
      
   >   
   >Paradise   
      
   What the earth will eventually be like.   
      
   >   
   >Bosom of Abraham   
      
   Not medically feasible.   
      
   >   
   >“Secret receptacles”   
      
   Is that like the movie Secret Window?   
      
   >   
   >“The regions beneath the earth”   
      
   You mean boiling lava?   
      
   >   
   >These terms describe the blessed portion of the underworld, not heaven.   
   >   
   >This directly contradicts Watchtower James’ claim.   
      
   Only if today's churches follow those men's writings, which I doubt.   
      
   >   
   >Works Cited   
   >   
   >Augustine. Enchiridion. In Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series,   
   >Vol. 3. Edited by Philip Schaff, Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1887.   
   >   
   >Hippolytus. Against Plato, On the Cause of the Universe. In Ante-Nicene   
   >Fathers, Vol. 5. Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson,   
   >Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1885.   
   >   
   >Irenaeus. Against Heresies. In Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1. Edited by   
   >Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, Christian Literature Publishing   
   >Co., 1885.   
   >   
   >Justin Martyr. Dialogue with Trypho. In Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1.   
   >Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, Christian Literature   
   >Publishing Co., 1885.   
   >   
   >Tertullian. A Treatise on the Soul. In Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 3.   
   >Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, Christian Literature   
   >Publishing Co., 1885.   
   >   
   >   
   >So yes, I am convinced Watchtower James intentionally misrepresents both   
   >what the "Churches" believe and what the Bible actually says.   
      
   Your OPINION is again noted.   
      
   You missed one about Plato and Aristotle and the immortal soul:   
      
   Funk and Wagnall's Encyclopedia says,   
      
   "Early Judaism considered the human personality as a whole, without   
   making a sharp distinction between body and soul....The Christian   
   doctrine of the soul has been strongly influenced by the philosophies   
   of Plato and Aristotle."   
      
   "What does the Bible say about   
   Gratitude? Find Out".   
   See jw.org (12/1/2025)   
   James: zebrabible@proton.me   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)