"Eternal"

Can we take a second and talk about the word "eternal" as used in the Bible?

"Eternal" is typically thought of as meaning "forever", or "everlasting", or "time without end."  There seems to always be the aspect of time built into the definition of "eternal".  But that really lessens the meaning of that word and waters it down.  It skews the way the word is used and understood in the Bible, particularly the New Testament. 

You see, it is so much more than just a descriptor having to do with time.  It is a word associated with God, and His domain of heaven (eternity if you will).  And time is not something that applies to God.  Time only applies to humans, and to this universe in which we were created to exist in by the timeless one - God almighty.

The Greek word used primarily for "eternal" is aiōnios.  It is defined by Strong's as "perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well):eternal, forever, everlasting, world (began)."  We see it used primarily as a descriptor of the life we have in Christ - "eternal life"  (John 3:16, Rom.6:23, Jn 5:24, etc).  

But, it is also used to describe things that do not last forever, as in time un-ending.  For example, Jude 1:7 says “Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns committed sexual immorality and perversions, and serve as an example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”  The fire is described as eternal, however, there is not fire still raining down on Sodom and Gomorrah.  And, Jude 1:6 says “... and the angels who did not keep their own position but abandoned their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deep darkness for the judgment on the great day.”  The verse itself implies that the chains described as “eternal” will in the future be unchained on the day of judgement, so again, they are not eternal.

The following verses from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians I think give us a clearer picture on how to rightly understand the use of the word “eternal”.  2 Cor. 4:17 “For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. “  2 Cor. 4:18 “So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor. 5:1 “For we know that if our earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands.”  The idea is one of temporariness versus permanence, temporary as opposed to permanent.  This describes the type of life we have in Christ, not one that is temporary and ends in death, but one that is permanent, everlasting, final.

When we read through the New Testament and we see the word “eternal” or “everlasting” or “forever”, hopefully we take time to stop and consider the usage.  What is being described? What is the word qualifying?  Think beyond just the time aspect of the meaning, because as we have seen that is really not what is being addressed.  It is more than that, it is the permanence of the word or thing.