. . . the context is that of what is “under the sun” (29 occurrences of this phrase in the first 10 chapters of this pessimistic text of Ecclesiastes), meaning that which is in open sight, that which we can see with mortal eyes. From that point of view, looking at a corpse, from which has departed the spirit, certainly in our sight I would seem like all activity has ceased. We usually don’t see spirits depart at death. (The same goes for that fourth verse of Psalm 146). It speaks of what happens to be the physical body at death. But we cannot take these scriptures and undo all of the other ones that say something more about the spirit of man, and life after death. That right there is where both Witnesses and Adventists have gone entirely wrong. Further problematic for that crown jewel of their false interpretations of the scriptures, the passage also says that they would be forgotten forever and would have no more reward. Even Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that people will be rewarded based on what they have done in this life, that people will dwell on a paradise earth in future as a reward, so right there we see that this verse gives off false ideas. We know from all the above, and more, that such is not true.
D. Charles Pyle, I Have Said Ye Are Gods:
Concepts Conducive to the Early Christian Doctrine of Deification in Patristic
Literature and the Underlying Strata of the Greek New Testament (Revised and
Supplemented)
(North Charleston, S.C.: CreateSpace, 2018), 377-78
