Everlasting/eternal life

[menageriekeeper]

I've heard these terms all my life, in a particular context, and never considered that their might be a different context in which to view them. But, then I read something that sorta piqued my interest. So I'm gonna ask some questions and hopefully someone around here will know the answers.

What is the difference, if there is one, in the terms "everlasting" and "eternal"? Along the same line, what is difference in everlasting/eternal and immortality (another term used in the Bible, though not in the exact same context).

Satan seems to already possess "eternal" life. As do the angels. How does their eternal life compare to what ours will be?

From whence do Christians find their interpretation of what eternal or everlasting life will be like or mean once we have passed from this life?

Why would we want such a thing? (beside the fact that we'd be doomed to hell)

Back to the beginning (Genesis), with only the info given, do you believe that Adam had ANY understanding of death or eternal/everlasting life?

Give me scripture where you can please!

 

[Marcia]

I've heard these terms all my life, in a particular context, and never considered that their might be a different context in which to view them. But, then I read something that sorta piqued my interest.

I want to thank you for using the correct word, "piqued," instead of "peaked," which is usually how it appears on the BB when people try to use this word. If I had a gold star, I'd give you one!

What is the difference, if there is one, in the terms "everlasting" and "eternal"? Along the same line, what is difference in everlasting/eternal and immortality (another term used in the Bible, though not in the exact same context).

You'll have to get someone who knows Hebrew/Greek to answer that. I would guess that eternal and everlasting are the same thing. I am not sure if "immortal" is in the bible at all.

Satan seems to already possess "eternal" life. As do the angels. How does their eternal life compare to what ours will be?

The angels were created immortal, or without the ability to die. This is the not the same as eternal life, especially if your eternity will be in the lake of fire. Then it becomes eternal death.

From whence do Christians find their interpretation of what eternal or everlasting life will be like or mean once we have passed from this life?

From passages like Luke 16 and much of Revelation (the scenes before the Throne).

Why would we want such a thing? (beside the fact that we'd be doomed to hell)

I think it's natural to want to live on after death, don't you?

Back to the beginning (Genesis), with only the info given, do you believe that Adam had ANY understanding of death or eternal/everlasting life?

Yes, or it would have meant nothing for him to be told by God that he would die if he disobeyed. So I think he knew. How and what he knew, we don't know. That would be speculation.

Give me scripture where you can please

Well, sorry, I didn't do that (except a couple of references) because it's late and I need to eat.

 

[menageriekeeper]

I want to thank you for using the correct word, "piqued," instead of "peaked," which is usually how it appears on the BB when people try to use this word. If I had a gold star, I'd give you one!

I'll accept that star! :laugh:

I am not sure if "immortal" is in the bible at all.

The word immortality is used in this passage:

Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:


as well as in a few other places.

The angels were created immortal, or without the ability to die. This is the not the same as eternal life

See, I'm not entirely sure I agree with you here. Not sure I disagree either, but I'm questioning what the difference is between us and an angel in terms of not on this earth life that extends further into the future than we can imagine. If they can't die and we won't, what then is the difference in how we will experience this timespan? (excluding hell, cause I ain't planning on experiecing that!)

From passages like Luke 16 and much of Revelation (the scenes before the Throne).

Since these are New Testament references, I have to ask what OT references we have that encourage us toward wanting everlasting life or discourage us from hell, whichever.

I think it's natural to want to live on after death, don't you?

I think it is natural to have a fear of death or rather a strong will to survive. But once that experience is over (death of the body) is it more tempting to just be done (as in returning the the nothingness state we came from) or to continue living albeit a much different existance? And if someone feels that we CAN'T (or won't) go back to "nothingness", how do you come by that belief? How would someone from Moses' time have come to understand that?

 

[Allan]

I've heard these terms all my life, in a particular context, and never considered that their might be a different context in which to view them. But, then I read something that sorta piqued my interest. So I'm gonna ask some questions and hopefully someone around here will know the answers.

What is the difference, if there is one, in the terms "everlasting" and "eternal"? Along the same line, what is difference in everlasting/eternal and immortality (another term used in the Bible, though not in the exact same context).

Satan seems to already possess "eternal" life. As do the angels. How does their eternal life compare to what ours will be?

From whence do Christians find their interpretation of what eternal or everlasting life will be like or mean once we have passed from this life?

Why would we want such a thing? (beside the fact that we'd be doomed to hell)

Back to the beginning (Genesis), with only the info given, do you believe that Adam had ANY understanding of death or eternal/everlasting life?

Give me scripture where you can please!

Jesus actaully tells us exactly what 'eternal life' is:

Jhn 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Most all other translations state 'eternal life' here, which is the most literal rendering from the Greek, examples:

NKJV - Jhn 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
© Info: - New King James Version © 1982 Thomas Nelson

NLT - Jhn 17:3 - And this is the way to have eternal life--to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
© Info: - New Living Translation © 1996 Tyndale Charitable Trust

NIV - Jhn 17:3 - Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
© Info: - The Holy Bible, New International Version© 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society

ESV - Jhn 17:3 - “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Eternal life isn't speaking primarily about 'length' of life as we are spirit beings and as such were made spiritually eternal, but this is speaking more to quality of that 'long/everlasting' life. It is the 'life' that needs to understood equally with 'eternal/everlasting' when seeing this phrase. Scripture states that some will be resurrected to life and others to damnation. (John 5:29) The 'resurrection' speaks of nature of the person being raised as it is not the old body being corruptible but is a new body being incorruptible. We know that even the lost put on the incorruptibe as well as seen in Rev 20:10 where Satan, the false prophet (a man) and the beast (another man) are torrmented day and night, forever and ever in the Lake of Fire. Then just as few verse down pertaining to the judgment of the lost (those not written in the Lambs book of 'Life') in vs. 14 we see these people also thrown into this place where torrement is forever because the seperation is final also called the second death.

Now 'everlasting' not only refers to time without end but also refers to security without measure. Thus everlasting life refers not only to the time span regarding the quality of life but also security of that position which can not be taken away. It is everlasting and it is life (a relationship with Father and His Son) of whom scripture speaks as the Father of Eternity (everlasting Father). We differe from angels regarding this 'life' because they are His servents and we are His Sons/Children. We have a relationship with God that they do not and can not have.

Satan does not have what scripture calls 'eternal life' as Jesus Himself defines it and therefore His definition excludes Satan. Now if we are talking about immortality, yes - Satan and angels have this as do we since we to are spiritual beings.

Does this help any or give rise to even more question

 

[menageriekeeper]

Actually Allen, I think that is exactly what I was looking for. I like to be able to explain these things(if only to myself), but could not come up with a simple clear explanation.

 

[Johnv]

What is the difference, if there is one, in the terms "everlasting" and "eternal"?

To accurately answer that, I'm curious which scriptures you refer to, that mention "everlasting life" and "eternal life". The reason I ask is because the phrases are often translations of the same word into English. If that's the case, then it's less a question of what the difference between the two words is, and more a question of what the word they translated means.

 

[kyredneck]

.....Eternal life isn't speaking primarily about 'length' of life as we are spirit beings and as such were made spiritually eternal, but this is speaking more to quality of that 'long/everlasting' life....

Amen to that! How many times in our lives has the Lord shined on each one of us and made our hearts to burn within us! Oh what a foretaste of Glory Divine! I believe it's exactly what Paul meant when he told Timothy to 'lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called'.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

 

[Allan]

Actually Allen, I think that is exactly what I was looking for. I like to be able to explain these things(if only to myself), but could not come up with a simple clear explanation.

Glad to help. :thumbs:

 

[menageriekeeper]

To accurately answer that, I'm curious which scriptures you refer to, that mention "everlasting life" and "eternal life"

A quick example:

Joh 3:15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.eternallife.
Joh 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

I did wonder if this was the same word translated into different synonyms for the sake of not being repetitive.

However, since I am totally illiterate when it comes to the original languages (even with my Strong's), I have to ask.

 

[Johnv]

A quick example:

Joh 3:15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.eternallife.
Joh 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

That's what I thought. In the original koine greek, both these verses use the same word: aionios, which means "in perpetuity" or "without end". The use of "eternal" and "everlasting" in these two verses are synonymous.