On the Greek Words for Eternity and Eternal

 •  13 min. read  •  grade level: 9
Dear Mr. Editor—I have thought that, as one of the forms in which infidelity circulates at present is Universalism, or the Restitution of all things, it might be well to put out clearly and simply some facts (for that is what they are), which may deprive its advocates of one main ground of their reasonings, and that without any reasoning on the general subject of a doctrine, which, when examined, sets aside the truth of Christianity. I refer to the meaning of αἰών, and also of allince. We are told by Dr. Farrar, with much pretension to competency in affirming it, that “everlasting” or “eternal” ought not to be found in the Bible; by Mr. Cox that it means properly an “age” and “age-long,” and that it cannot be right to translate them eternal or everlasting. Mr. Jukes with a wild imagination takes the same ground. They simply echo one another. Now all I purpose to do here is to state some passages from other authors, which prove that (while used in other senses, some of which are not found at all in scripture,) it does mean “eternity” and “eternal.” I will afterward examine some of the passages in scripture in which it is found.
Αἰών, in Greek properly means “eternity.” I do not dispute here, whether we are to believe with Aristotle, that it is derived from ἀεὶ εἶναι; or with other modern writers from αἴω I breathe, whence it had the meaning in Homer, Euripides, and other authors, of life and breath; or possibly these may be two different words, one from ἀεῖ ὤν, the other from as, ἄω, whence the two very different meanings. This is certain, that the word is distinctly used by Plato, Aristotle, and Philo; (and, according to the dictionaries, by Lycurgus, whom I have not the means of consulting) as “eternal,” in contrast with what is of time having beginning or ending, as its definite and proper meaning.
Plato (Timaeus, ed. Steph. III. 87, or ed. Baiter Orell et Winck. 712,) says, speaking of the universe: “When the father who begot it 1 perceived that the image made by him of the eternal (ἀΐδίων) gods moved and lived, he was delighted with his work; and, led by this delight, thought to make his work much more like that first exemplar.” Inasmuch therefore as it (the intelligible universe) is an eternal (ἀΐδιον) animal (living being), so he set about to make this (the sensible) universe such with all his power. The nature therefore of the animal (living being) was eternal (αἰώνιος, before ἀΐδιος), and this indeed it was impossible to adapt to what was produced (τῷ γεννητῷ, to what had a beginning), he thinks to make a movable image of eternity (αἰῶνος), and in adoring the heavens he makes of the eternity permanent in unity a certain eternal image moving in number, that which in fact we call time; that is, days and nights, and months and years, which did not subsist before the heaven began to be, then with its being established he operates their birth” (beginning to be, γένεσιν αὐτῶν). And after unfolding this, he says (p. 88): “But these forms of time imitating eternity (αἰῶνα), and rolling round according to number, have had a beginning (γἐγονεν)... Time therefore began with heaven, that they having begun with it may be dissolved with it, if there be indeed any dissolution of them, and according to the pattern of eternal (διαιωνἰας, in some MSS, αἰωνἰου -ας) nature that it might be as like as possible to it. For that pattern exists for all eternity (πάντα αἰῶνά ἐστιν ὄν), but on the other hand; that which is perpetual (διὰ τέλους) throughout all time has had a beginning, and is, and will be.” And then he goes on to speak of stars and planets, &c., as connected with what was created in time. It is impossible to conceive any more positive statement that aisle is distinct, and to be contrasted with what has a beginning and belongs to the flux of time. Αἰών is what is properly eternal, in contrast with a divine imitation of it in ages of time, the result of the creative action of God which imitated the uncreate as nearly as He could in created ages. It is a careful opposition between eternity and ages; and αἰών, and also αἰώνιος mean the former in contrast with ages.
I now give Aristotle περῖ οὐραωοῦ, I, 9 (ed. Bekker, I. 279): “Time,” he says, “is the number of movement, but there is no movement without a physical body. But outside heaven it has been shown that there is not, nor possibly can come into existence, any body. It is evident then that there is neither place, nor void, nor time outside. Wherefore neither in place are things there formed by nature; nor dues time cause them to grow old; neither is there any change of anything of those things which are arranged beyond the outermost orbit; but unchangeable, and subject to no influence, having the best and most independent life, they continue for all eternity (αἰῦνα). For this expression (name) has been divinely uttered by the ancients; for the completeness which embraces the time of the life of each outside which there is nothing, according to nature, is called the aisle of each. According to the same word (λόγον) the completeness of the whole heaven, and the completeness which embraces all time and infinitude is αἰών, having received this name front existing forever (ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀεῖ εἶναι), immortal (ἀθάνατος, undying), and divine.” In 10 he goes on to show that that beginning to be (γενέσθαι) involves the not existing always, which I refer to as showing what he means by αἰών. He is proving the unchangeable eternity of the visible universe. That is no business of mine; but it shows what he means by eternity (αἰών). It cannot be ἀΐδιον and γενέσθαι at the same time, when as in Plato, ἀΐδιος is used as equivalent to αἰώνιος. Aristotle has not the abstract thoughts of Plato as to ideas, and the παράδειγμα of what is visible, the latter being a produced image of the eternal παράδειγμα. He rests more in what is known by the senses; and makes this the eternal thing in itself. But the force of αἰών for both is a settled point; and Aristotle's explanation of αἰών as used for finite things, I have long held to be the true one; that is, the completeness of a thing's existence, so that according to its natural existence there is nothing outside or beyond it. It περιέχει the whole being of the thing.
As to Philo, the sentence is in De Mundo, § 7, ἐν αίῶνι δὲ οὔτε παρελήλυθεν οὐδέν, οὔτε γέλλει, ἀλλὰ μόνον ὑφέστηκεν. Such a definition needs no explanation: in eternity nothing is passed, nothing is about to be, but only subsists. This has the importance of being of the date and Hellenistic Greek of the New Testament, as the others give the regular, and at the same time philosophical force of the word, αἰών, αἰώνιος. Eternity, unchangeable, with no was nor will be, is its proper force, that it can be applied to the whole existence of a thing, so that nothing of its nature was true before or after is true, τὸ τέλος τὸ περιέχον. But its meaning is eternity, and eternal. To say that they do not mean it in Greek, as Jukes and Farrar and S. Cox, and those they quote, is a denial of the statements of the very best authorities we can have on the subject. If Plato and Aristotle and Philo knew Greek, what these others say is false. That this is the proper sense of αἰώνιος in scripture, is as certain as it is evident. In 2 Cor. 4:1818While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18), we have τὰ γὰρ βλεπόμενα πρόςκαιρα, τὰ δὲ μὴ βλεπόμενα αἰώνια. That is, things that are for a time are put in express contrast with αἰώνια, which are riot for a time, be it age or ages, but eternal. Nothing can be more decisive of its positive and specific meaning.
I will now quote various passages of scripture to show αἰών or αἰώνιος has the definite meaning of forever, or eternal, in English. No one who has examined its use in Greek questions that it is used for life, or the whole period of a man's existence till he breathes his last; nor that it may be used for ages or periods, looked at as a whole. The question is, Does it not properly mean eternal or forever, and that where age and age-long would have no sense? Thus Matt. 21:1919And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. (Matthew 21:19), of the fig-tree: Let no fruit grow on thee εἰς τὸν αἰώνα. “For the age” has no sense. It never was to grow. So Mark 11:1414And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. (Mark 11:14). That eternity is not grasped by man as a definite idea is true, because definite is finite, and man, being finite, cannot grasp what is infinite. It is known only as that which is absolutely; or negatively as that to which end is denied.
Again Mark 3:2929But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: (Mark 3:29), οὐκ ἔχει ἄφεσιν εἰς τὸω αἰῶνα. What age? It is not in the age, as some have fraudulently translated it, but “has not forgiveness ever.” It is not any particular age; the cis allows no such sense, and the τὀν would require some particular age, which even so would leave no sense to dc. It can only mean here “forever.” There was a present age and age to come, ὁ αἰών οὔτος, and ὁ αἰὼν ὁ μέλλων, and well known to the Jews, the olem hazeh, and the olem havo; and an increased measure of forgiveness was looked for in Messiah's age. This sin could be forgiven in neither; no additional increase of forgiveness was looked for beyond Messiah; and each measure belonged to its own age; it was not a prolonged process, but what occurred in each as proper to it. But εἰς τὸν ανἰῶα, can only mean “forever,” though “forever” may be used metaphorically when there is no withdrawal of the gift or promise, and the effect cannot last longer than that to which it applies. The gift has no limit (it is, as Aristotle says, ἀπειρἰα), the existence of that to which it applies may. I do not lend it, I give it forever; yet what I give, or the person to whom it is given, may cease to exist; but the gift is forever, without repentance, out and out.
Take 1 Peter 1:23, 2523Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1:23)
25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:25), λὀγον ζῶντος θεοπυ καἰ μένοντος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. Does it last only “to the age” (applying it to the λόγον, not to θεοῦ as some do)? So verse 25, ῥῆμα μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. So 2 John 22For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. (2 John 2): the truth shall be with us “to the age!” So Jude 1313Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. (Jude 13), wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness, εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. Here again “to the age” has no sense.
The case of αἰώνιος is just as strong. It is used seventy-one times in the New Testament. Of these it is connected forty-four times with life, where “for an age” or “age-long” is just nonsense, as believers to have age-long life and shall not perish. It is in contrast with ever perishing. The knowledge of the Father and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, is life for the age. Is that all? The words of Jesus were ῥήματα ζωπῆς αἰωνίου, not τῆς ζωῆς. It was that in its nature, not a specific period: indeed believers have it now. In Rom. 6:2222But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (Romans 6:22), the end is everlasting life. So that the life of that age, though no particular one is ever spoken of, is the end of the matter. It is not merely dark beyond as to a Jew, but there is no object beyond. My object is not to argue the point, but to consider the words here; but I must say that, if anything could lower and degrade the hope and present joy of the Christian, it is this miserable notion that “eternal” does not mean eternal.
But, farther, Christ was that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us, 1 John 1:22(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) (1 John 1:2). He is our life; he that hath the Son hath life. He is the true God and eternal life. Five, I may say, six times it is used of “eternal fire,” or “punishment.” The rest are various: glory, salvation, redemption, inheritance, Spirit, God Himself, but none of them is eternal! all belong to this wonderful unknown age, and no more. But the eternal weight of glory is that of which the Apostle speaks, when he says that the things are not for a time, πρόςκαιρα, but eternal, αἰώνια, chapter v. 1 going on to say that he was looking for a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. We have the word used with χρόνων (times) in plural for the times of God's active dispensations. Before anything was created, this life was given us in Christ; putting it in its nature out of time.
Read these passages, and say if (while no one denies that there are ages and dispensations in which God has wrought and works) it be so that eternity is excluded from the revelation given to the Christian, and from the rest of God (for the promise is left us of entering into Iris rest), and that eternal glory, the eternal God, only means a God that has to say to that age. That God having called us to His own kingdom and glory, specifically that as our calling, this means a temporary period, an age which characterizes Him, so that the eternal God is only the age-long God. That the life promised before the ages (χρὀνων αἰωνίων), and which Christ is in His person as with the Father, is only a life in one of these ages; and that when I read that the God of all grace has called us to His eternal glory by Jesus Christ, for which we may suffer a while, it is only a temporary glory of His for some special age, 1 Peter 5:1010But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:10). That the glory of God for which we hope in contradistinction to the peace and favor we possess, is only a temporary thing, for I suppose His own glory is the glory we boast in Rom. 5. That language of exuberant apprehension is used, such as “ages of ages,” and all the “generations of the age,” or “eternity of ages,” we know. But this does not alter the meaning of the word: αἰωνίος is properly the opposite to πρόςκαιρος.