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Word study on eternal life

by | Oct 11, 2018 | Annihilationism, Minor Groups & Issues

The phrase “eternal life” occurs 41 times in the Bible, all of them in the New Testament.  However, in Daniel 12:2 the phrase “everlasting life” occurs – in English.  The word ‘everlasting’ and ‘eternal’ are synonymous. In Daniel 12:2, the word “everlasting” is used in the English in NASB, ESV, KJV, LEB, RSV, etc., But, ‘eternal’ is used in the HCSB, Tanakh.  The meaning of the phrase ‘eternal life’ is determined by its context, what it is associated with, and what it is contrasted against.  I’ve provided a complete list in Table 1 below of every occurrence of the phrase in the Bible. Nevertheless, Bible dictionaries have slightly different definitions of what it means.

  • “Mode of existence referred to in Scripture characterized by either timelessness or endlessness, and especially by a qualitative difference from mortal life.”1
  • “In Christianity, not only a life of endless duration but the fullness of life of which the believer becomes possessed here and now through participation in God’s eternal being.”2
  • “It comprises the whole future of the redeemed (Luke 16:9) and is opposed to “eternal punishment” (Matt. 19:29; 25:46). It is the final reward and glory into which the children of God enter (1 Tim. 6:12, 19; Rom. 6:22; Gal. 6:8; 1 Tim. 1:16; Rom. 5:21); their Sabbath of rest (Heb. 4:9; comp. 12:22).”3

So, everlasting life is a good thing to have especially since we see it contrasted with eternal punishment (Matt. 25:46), perishing (John 3:16) and God’s wrath (John 3:36).  Interestingly, the first use of the phrase in the New Testament is found in Matthew 19:16 (also Mark 10:17; Luke 18:18 ) where the rich young ruler asks what he must do to obtain eternal life.  But, what is meant by it is not defined.

There are additional verses in Scripture that are related to eternal life and mention things like “enter into life,” and “enter the kingdom of God,” etc.  Please consider the following.

  • enter into life, Matthew 19:17; 18:8-9; 19:17; Mark 9:43, 45, 47
  • enter into the kingdom of God, John 3:5; 19:24; Luke 18:17, 24-25; John 3:5; Acts 14:22
  • enter the kingdom of heaven, Matthew 7:21; 18:3; 19:23; 23:13; Mark 10:15, 23-25
  • enter salvation, Luke 13:23-24
  • enter through Jesus, John 10:9
  • enter into rest, Heb. 3:11, 18-19; 4:1, 3, 5-6, 10-11

As I said, in Table 1 below, every instance of the phrase “eternal life” is listed.  Here is the basic summary of its usages.

  1. Associated with
    1. Abiding with God, 1 John 2:25
    2. Being appointed to, Acts 13:48
    3. Being called, 1 Tim. 6:12
    4. Believing in Jesus, 1 Tim. 1:16
    5. Blessings and persecutions, Mark 10:30
    6. Gathering fruit for, John 4:36
    7. Generic blessing, Matt. 19:16, 29; Mark 10:17; Luke 10:25; 18:18; John 3:15; 4:14; 5:39; 6:47, 68 1; John 5:20; Jude 21
    8. God’s commandment, John 12:50
    9. God’s promises, Titus 1:2
    10. God the Father, 1 John 1:2
    11. Grace and righteousness, Rom. 5:21
    12. Having it now, 1 John 5:13
    13. Jesus, 1 John 5:11
    14. Justification, Titus 3:7
    15. Knowing God,  John 17:3
    16. Never perishing, John 10:28
    17. Ones given to Jesus by the Father, John 17:2
    18. Perseverance, Rom. 2:7
    19. Receiving much in this age, Luke 18:30
    20. Resurrection, John 6:40, 54
    21. Sanctification, Rom. 6:22
    22. Sowing to the Spirit, Gal. 6:8
  2. Contrasted with
    1. Death, Rom. 6:23
    2. Eternal contempt, Dan. 12:2
    3. Eternal punishment, Matt. 25:46
    4. God’s wrath, John 3:36
    5. Hate, 1 John 3:15
    6. Judgment and death, John 5:24
    7. People not worthy to receive it, Acts 13:46
    8. Perishing, John 3:16; 6:27

 

TABLE 1
ALL USAGES OF “ETERNAL LIFE” & “EVERLASTING LIFE”
Address Verse Meaning
Dan.
12:2
Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Contrasted with eternal contempt.
Matt. 19:16 And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” Generic blessing.
Matt. 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. Generic blessing.
Matt. 25:46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Contrasted with eternal punishment
Mark 10:17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Generic blessing.
Mark 10:30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. Associated with blessings and persecutions
Luke 10:25 And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Generic blessing.
Luke 18:18 A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Generic blessing.
Luke 18:30 who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.” Associated with receiving much in this age
John
3:15
so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. Generic blessing.
John
3:16
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Contrasted with not perishing
John
3:36
He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Contrasted with God’s wrath
John
4:14
but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” Generic blessing.
John
4:36
Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. Gathering fruit for
John
5:24
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Contrasted with judgment and death
John
5:39
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; Generic blessing.
John
6:27
Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” Contrasted with perishing
John
6:40
For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” Associated with resurrection
John
6:47
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. Generic blessing.
John
6:54
He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. Associated with resurrection
John
6:68
Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. Generic blessing.
John 10:28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. Associated with never perishing
John 12:50 I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.” Associated with God’s commandment
John
17:2
even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. Associated with ones given to Jesus by the Father
John
17:3
This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. Associated with knowing God.
Acts 13:46 Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. Contrasted with people not worthy to receive it.
Acts 13:48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. Associated with being appointed
Rom.
2:7
to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; Associated with perseverance
Rom. 5:21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Associated with grace and righteousness
Rom. 6:22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. Associated with sanctification
Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Contrasted with death.
Associated with a free gift
Gal.
6:8
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Associated with sowing to the Spirit
1 Tim. 1:16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Associated with believing in Jesus.
1 Tim. 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Associated with being called
Titus
1:2
in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, Associated with God’s promises
Titus
3:7
so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Associated with justification
1 John 1:2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— Associated with God the Father
1 John 2:25 This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. Associated with abiding with God
1 John 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. Contrasted with hate
1 John 5:11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Associated with Jesus
1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. Associated with having now
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Generic blessing.
Jude
21
keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. Generic blessing.

 

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References

References
1 Elwell, Walter A., and Barry J. Beitzel. Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988.
2 Cross, F. L., and Elizabeth A. Livingstone, eds. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.
3 Easton, M. G. Easton’s Bible Dictionary. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893.

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