Does the Bible Promise
Everlasting Life?

The answer to this question (Does the Bible promise everlasting life?) is yes and no, for the words everlasting life aren’t really found in the original Hebrew and Greek texts. Take for example, the familiar words of John 3:16, ‘God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed, but have everlasting life’ (or at least, that’s similar to how most Bibles render those words). However, if you examine the Greek words that are translated everlasting life here, you’ll find that they are zoen aionion, or they really mean life ages.

Then if you look at the words that are found at John 17:3 (‘This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ’ – NW), you’ll find that the words Jesus spoke read (in Greek) aionios zoe, or, age (singular) life. So, although the words zoe aionion (life ages) could imply everlasting life, the singular use of aionos at John 17:3 cannot mean everlasting life, because Jesus wasn’t speaking of ages of life, but of life in the age. So, what was he talking about?

The Words in Greek

First, let’s discuss the meaning of the Greek words aionion or aionios. If you look up the words in an Interlinear Bible (we recommend that all serious Bible students use this type of Bible for their readings in the Christian Era Scriptures), you’ll find that the Greek letters are ζώήν άίωνίον (at John 3:16) and άίώυιος ζώή (at John 17:3). Take the time to learn how the Greek letters are pronounced (the pronunciations are usually found near the inside front cover), because this is important for serious Bible students.

Now turn to Matthew 24:3, and you’ll find that Jesus’ Apostles came to him and asked (in Greek), ‘κάί (and) τί (what) το (the) σημειον (sign) σης (your) πάρουσιάς (nearness) κάι (and) συντέλειάς (end) του (of the) άιώνος (age)?’

So, if aionos means forever or everlasting, how could some Bibles translate it as world or system of things at Matthew 24:3? Obviously, the word means age or ages, and it’s where we get the English word eon from, which means a definite period with both a beginning and an end.

The Words in Hebrew

Now, if you’re familiar with scriptures like Ecclesiastes 1:4, which read, ‘A generation cometh and a generation goeth, but the earth abideth forever,’ you’ll find that many modern translators have changed the word forever to read to time indefinite, or to something similar. The reason for this is that the Hebrew word לעולם doesn’t mean forever, it means a period of time. And in the Greek Septuagint it is translated as aionion. So, to the Jews who translated the Greek Septuagint in the Third Century B.C.E., לעולם  meant the same as άιώνιον, which is (again) an unknown period of time.

When Aionion Probably Means Forever

However, there are probably instances when aionion does imply forever. Take for example, the scripture found at 1 Peter 4:11, which reads, ‘The glory and the might are his (God’s) forever and ever.’ There the Greek words are aionas ton aionon, or ages of/the ages. And we’ll assume that God’s glory lasts forever. So, there are instances where aionion (when doubled) could mean forever.

Is God’s Glory Forever?

We recently came across an online chat room conversation where someone questioned our good sense when we wrote ‘We’ll assume that God’s glory lasts forever,’ because the person’s conclusion was that the glory of God lasting forever is a foregone conclusion… and we agree with that. However, recognize that as translators we were simply pointing out that the Bible doesn’t make such a statement. What it does tell us is that God’s glory is through ages of ages. And that (as Romans 1:20 says) His power and might are eternal (gr. aidios). But we believe that it is impossible to use such human terms to describe God, for as He said concerning Himself at Exodus 6:14, ‘I am the One who proves to Be!’

Why, saying that God is immortal or everlasting is almost foolish, for He doesn’t exist in our realm nor can He be described in human terms. For, it Einstein’s theory on Relativity and the resulting Big Bang theory are correct, there was no time or dimension until God created them. So, the realm of God has no time or space, and using terms that involve time to describe Him are simply inappropriate. Rather, He is, and He will prove to be.

Is Everlasting Life on Earth Possible?

We know that anything is possible with God, so yes, everlasting life on earth is possible… but not likely. For as science can prove that everything ends, the Bible says it too. Notice the prophecy at Hebrews 1:10-12. It says (NW), ‘And: you at the beginning, O Lord, laid the foundations of the earth itself, and the heavens are the works of your hands. They themselves will perish, but you yourself are to remain continually; and just like an outer garment they will all grow old, and you will wrap them up just as a cloak, as an outer garment; and they will be changed, but you are the same, and your years will never run out.’

This scripture of Paul is a direct quotation from Psalm 102:25-27, which reads in this Bible: ‘In the beginning You founded the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands. Yet, they will [eventually] pass by, while You will continue to live. Like clothes they’ll grow old… like an old robe. Then You’ll wrap them up and they will be changed. But You are always the same, and Your years won’t ever come to an end.’

Now, one of the logical arguments that scientists have used to prove that the universe had a beginning, is that temperatures would be the same throughout the universe if it had always been, and there could be no energy, since the energy sources would have expired if they had ever come to be in the first place. So, this same argument is true of the future… the earth and the universe can’t always be. They will, as the scripture says, ‘grow old,’ which will require God to ‘wrap it up’ and change or renew them.

Then, what will happen to the faithful? The Bible simply doesn’t tell us, but we can be confident that God will never destroy those He loves.

Is Planet Earth ‘The Earth?’

Another interesting Greek word is ges, which is translated variously as earth, ground, and land. The choice of which of these English words is used to translate it is strictly up to the translator. For there are instances where the Bible is obviously talking about the globe, but in others it’s talking about a particular land, or about the ground itself (for ges is differentiated from thalassa, which means sea). So, whenever you find the words earth, ground, and land used in the Bible, recognize that they all come from the same Greek word, ges.

Why does this one word mean so many things? Well, it came from ancient non-scientific peoples, and it simply refers to what is below us. And the same thing is true of the Greek word ourano, it is translated as both sky and heaven, and it refers to everything above us. So, what Genesis 1:1 really said was, ‘In the beginning God made what is below us and what is above us.’ So, the earth in the Bible doesn’t really mean this planet, but the ground we live on, wherever that may be in some future time.

Does the Bible Ever Speak of Everlasting or Forever?

The Bible does have a word that means forever, because the related Greek word aidios, which is used at Jude 6 for example, where it speaks of the bondage of God’s Messengers who forsook their place in heaven, does mean eternal. So, Bible writers knew the word, but chose not to use it when speaking of the hope of humans.

But on the other hand, Paul did write at 1 Corinthians 15:53, 54, ‘Then that which is corruptible will put on incorruptibility, and that which is dying will put on immortality. But, when that which is dying puts on immortality, then the words that were written are fulfilled, Death is swallowed in victory.’

The Greek word that is translated as immortality there is athenasian, which means undying (not ‘incapable of death,’ as some have claimed), and Paul was simply saying that those who are deteriorating with age (corruptible) will put on an incorruptible condition, and the dying (mortal) will put on an undying condition.

So, it appears as though some will no longer have to grow old and die. Who will this be? Well, most teach that Paul was speaking of those with the heavenly hope here. However, our research indicates that he may have actually been speaking of all the faithful, regardless of whether their destiny is earthly or heavenly. For more information, see the linked document ‘God’s Promise of an Inheritance’.

So then, perhaps the Bible does speak of everlasting life, but not in those words.

But What Does the Singular Word ‘Age’ Mean?

Getting back to the word aionos (age, singular) that is used at John 17:3 and in dozens of other places in the Bible; what was Jesus talking about when he said the faithful will receive life in the age? Well, this is one instance where translating the singular form aionos as forever badly distorts the meaning of Jesus’ words. Notice, for example, his promise at John 11:26, where he said, ‘Everyone that is living and exercises faith in me will never die at all. Do you believe this?’

Also, notice what Jesus said, as recorded at John 5:24, ‘I tell you the truth: The one who hears what I say and believes in the One that sent me, will have life in the age. He won’t have to be judged, for he has crossed over from death to life.’

You can see that Jesus wasn’t talking about some time thousands of years in the future; he was talking about something that could happen to his listeners then and there! It wasn’t that they wouldn’t physically die, for he had just said, ‘Everyone that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life.’ However, what he was promising them was the gift of LIFE, as opposed to being counted among ‘the Dead.’

So, when Jesus spoke his prayer that’s found in John the Seventeenth Chapter, and he said, ‘This means age life (aionios zoe), their taking in knowledge of you…’ he was saying that his faithful followers would be counted among the ‘living’ during their age or lifetime, and they would thus be worthy of a resurrection to ‘life,’ not a resurrection of ‘judgment.’ Thus, aionos doesn’t tell us how long they will live, but when they receive the gift of life. The word life (gr. zoe) in the Bible implies undying, so no other word is required to tell us what this means for the faithful.

However, as difficult as the concept of life in the age or ages may be to us, recognize that Jesus’ ancient listeners seemed to know exactly what he was saying, for none of them are recording as saying ‘Huh?’ And they would be just as surprised to learn that we think he was talking about everlasting life.

When ‘Life’ Comes to the Faithful

But, at what point does God impart (eternal or everlasting) life to the faithful? We get an insight into God’s promise concerning this in Jesus’ words found at Matthew 25:31-46, where he was talking about the separating of the sheep and the goats.

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