Don't quote non-existent Bible verses

A few years ago (before I had my foot injuries, and didn’t have to hope that hospitals that definitely won’t help me, would help me, and didn’t have to rely on donations just to see the doctor), I made a trip to Florida with my family.  Now, of course, I’ve been to Florida before, but, it had been a really long time. I even visited a Syriac Catholic church in Jacksonville (very nice people, but too Latinized). 

Before we get started, this week's Coffee and Christianity takes on higher criticism; Coffee and Christianity: Episode 59: Saving the Bible from higher criticism

Anyway, my nephew and I visited a cemetery near a hotel we stayed.  In Florida, it’s really cool, because Florida is very flat, very humid, and very rainy, so the bodies are buried kind of above ground.  Anyway, one graves said “to be absent from the body is to be with the Lord”.  And even dared say it was from 2 Corinthians 5:8. 

Here’s the problem, that’s not what it says.

What it says is, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord”.  (In the King James Version)

I’ve also heard this (in its misquoted form) as an argument against Purgatory.  Who says you aren’t present with the Lord in Purgatory?  There’s no Church teaching (as far as I know), that says definitively that Purgatory is an actual fire. 

I am actually unsure why people chose to use a non-existent verse to argue for their position.

Anyway, I guess the point I am trying to make, and I cannot stress this enough, know your Bible.

Adam Charles Hovey is the founder of the Catholicism, news, and whatever community and host of the weekly Bible study Coffee and Christianity

And, because I believe giving credit where credit is due, this is where I first thought about this after I saw that grave; Arguing From a Non-Existent Bible Verse