Our modern Christian concept of our ultimate hope is of floating up to a disembodied sky heaven. The Christian Hope is of Jesus reigning as king on earth, and heaven reunited to earth. How did we get off-track? Paul and Elijah argue that dualism, gnostic thought, and misguided interpretation of Scripture has informed our hymns, theology, and understanding of our future.
I realize that the claim is not central to your discussion here, but I’d like to hear more about your reasons for dismissing the tripartite view of man. I was under the impression that it was pretty well attested in both Scripture and the pre-Augustinian Fathers.