The Greek word ἄφθαρτος, aphthartos is translated into the English incorruptible, imperishable, and immortal in the NASB. It is equated with the purity of God (Rom. 1:23), his eternal quality of life (1 Tim. 1:17), as well as our permanent life with him (1 Cor. 9:25). It is also used in reference to our permanent glorified bodies (1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Pet. 1:4), the enduring purity of God’s word (1 Pet. 1:23), and the imperishable, permanent quality of a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Pet. 3:4). It means the permanence of incorruptibility. In the context of annihilationism, the only references that are pertinent to our topic deal with the glorified resurrected bodies (1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Pet. 1:4) and God being immortal (1 Tim. 1:17). Annihilationists maintain that since immortality is only said of God and Christians who will receive resurrected bodies and not unbelievers, then the unbelievers will not have immortality and will cease to exist. But, in contradiction to this, angels do not die (Luke 20:36), yet the word immortality is not applied to them either. So, the argument that only God and Christians possess immortality (in the sense of having no cessation of life) is not correct. The annihilationists need to reconsider their argument.

• Greek word: ἄφθαρτος, aphthartos
• Meaning:   immortal, incorruptible
• Strong’s #: G862
  Frequency:  7 occurrences

Summary of the meaning of the Greek word aphthartos, incorruptible in all verses where it occurs in the New Testament.

1. Permanent glorified bodies
   1. 1 Cor. 15:52, the dead will be raised imperishable
   2. 1 Pet. 1:4, an imperishable inheritance reserved in heaven
2. Permanent good quality
   1. 1 Pet. 3:4, imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit
3. Permanent life of God
   1. 1 Tim. 1:17, to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God
4. Permanent life with God
   1. 1 Cor. 9:25, a perishable wreath, life with God
5. Permanent purity of God
   1. Rom. 1:23, glory of the incorruptible God
6. Permanent purity of God’s word
   1. 1 Pet. 1:23, imperishable seed, the enduring word of God

 

TABLE OF ALL NEW TESTAMENT USEAGES ἄφθαρτος
Address	Verse	Meaning
Rom. 1:23	“and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.”	Permanent purity of God
1 Cor. 9:25	Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.	Permanent life with God
1 Cor. 15:52	in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.	Permanent glorified bodies
1 Tim. 1:17	Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.	Permanent life of God
1 Pet. 1:4	to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,	Permanent glorified bodies
1 Pet. 1:23	for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.	Permanent purity of God’s word
1 Pet. 3:4	but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.	Permanent good quality

 

Dictionaries and Lexicons consulted

• “Incorruptible, not capable of corruption. See 1 Cor. 9:25; 15:52; 1 Pet. 1:23. The word is not found in the Sept. In Rom. 1:23, Paul calls God áphthartos, incorruptible, an attribute of deity that even the heathen recognize. The KJV, in 1 Tim. 1:17, incorrectly renders áphthartos as immortal. It should be rendered as incorruptible, distinguished from athánatos, immortal and as the one having athanasían (110), immortality (1 Tim. 6:16). When predicated on God, áphthartos means that He is exempt from the wear, waste, and final perishing which characterize the present body of man.”
  • Zodhiates, Spiros. The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000
• “pertaining to being not subject to decay and death—‘imperishable, immortal.’ καὶ οἱ νεκροὶ ἐγερθήσονται ἄφθαρτοι ‘and the dead will be raised immortal’ 1 Cor 15:52; ἐν τῷ ἀφθάρτῳ τοῦ πραέως καὶ ἡσυχίου πνεύματος ‘in the immortal character of a gentle and quiet spirit’ 1 Pe 3:4.”
  • Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
  • “Seven occurrences; AV translates as “incorruptible” four times, “uncorruptible” once, “immortal” once, and “not corruptible” once. 1 uncorrupted, not liable to corruption or decay, imperishable. 1A of things. 2 immortal. 2A of the risen dead.”
    • Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995.