Eternal life and immortality

[Todd]

What is the difference between Eternal life and Immortality as taught in the New Testament? Paul teaches that we will be raised to immortality at the resurrection and that now only God is immortal. It is my opinion that Eternal life refers to the life we have before we die for those who follow Christ; by contrast, Immortality refers to the life we will have in the resurrection. Most people, it seems, equate the two. Paul may be making a distinction between the two in this verse....

Rom 2:7
To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

Those who are seeking immortality will be given eternal life. Eternal life, then, is something we can have now; while immortality is something we can only have in the resurrection.

Why is this important?...because it could lead to new ways to look at the verses that speak of eternal life. Faith and discipleship in this life are a condition of eternal life, but how they relate to the resurrection may be a different matter.

Thoughts?

Todd

[Paidion]

So then, Todd, do you think it possible to have eternal life and NOT have immortality?
Or might it be possible to have immortality and NOT have eternal life?

[RND]

Todd, I actually I see the point you are making, even though some have suggested I don't read much around here!

Paul equates eternal life to being ordained through belief in the Gospel:

Act 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

John equates the word that we receive of Christ Jesus as eternal life.

1Jo 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [(but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also]. 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, [even] eternal life.

John seems to be saying that if the Gospel of Jesus Christ "abides" in us that is indeed the promise of eternal life. According to John's Gospel, in His prayer to the Father on Gethsemane Jesus equates our belief in Him, thus knowing Him and the Father, as being life eternal.

Jhn 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Again John quotes Jesus and Jesus is telling us that if we "believe" in the Son of God then that indeed is "everlasting" (eternal) life. There are many that right now in this life abide with and know the Lord, do his work and obey His commandments.

Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

In Luke, as part of the parable of the Good Samaritan, when Jesus was speaking with the lawyer of the law who tempted Him Jesus' answer regarding inheriting eternal life strongly suggests doing things in the "here and now" as a way of gaining eternal life.

Luk 10:26 He (Jesus) said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he (the lawyer) answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he (Jesus) said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

Good subject Todd.

[Todd]

So then, Todd, do you think it possible to have eternal life and NOT have immortality?

No.

Or might it be possible to have immortality and NOT have eternal life?

Yes, this is the point I am trying to make. Immortality is gained at the resurrection. Eternal life can be gained now. They are different. It is my opinion that Eternal life is a description of the kind of life (before physical death) one enjoys through faith in Christ. To receive these blessings one must be obedient to Christ and a follower of the Spirit's leading. On the other hand, everyone will participate in the resurrection (both the just and unjust) and gain immortality (because Christ conquered death); the rewards received in the resurrection seem to vary based on your life. According to Paul in 1 Cor 15, once the resurrection occurs, Christ will have no more enemies (v26) and will be "all in all" (v28).

Todd

[TK]

Todd-

to help me understand a bit better, can you perhaps provide a synonym for the word "eternal" as you take the term to mean?

i was thinking along the lines of "Jesus-life" or "God-life" but i am not sure if that is what you are getting at. you obviously dont take the term "eternal" to mean forever and ever.

TK

[Jill]

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[Todd]

Todd-

to help me understand a bit better, can you perhaps provide a synonym for the word "eternal" as you take the term to mean?

i was thinking along the lines of "Jesus-life" or "God-life" but i am not sure if that is what you are getting at. you obviously dont take the term "eternal" to mean forever and ever.

TK

TK,

How about "abundant life" (from the Eternal God).

John 10:10b
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Todd

[Paidion]

Todd, please describe the people who will have immortality but not eternal life. Describe their future after their resurrection.

[steve7150]

Todd, please describe the people who will have immortality but not eternal life. Describe their future after their resurrection.


Paidion, maybe "eternal" life is a state of existence in which we know God as opposed to not knowing God as Jesus said. If this is true then we can lose "eternal" life by foresaking God but immortality by definition can't be lost.

[Todd]

Todd, please describe the people who will have immortality but not eternal life. Describe their future after their resurrection.

Paidion,

That is certainly a fair question, but the Bible gives very little information on that. It seems that some promises are made to the faithful that will not be realized by those who did not become disciples in their lifetime (e.g, reign with Christ). But they must be reigning over someone, right?

You may be asking if these folks will go through some period of correction after their resurrection. Maybe so, but if they do why does Paul not mention anything about it in 1 Cor 15, Rom 8:18-23, 1 Thess 4:13-18, Acts 24:15, Phil 3:21? These are passages which are clearly speaking of the resurrection of the body. The first three passages listed give a little detail about the order of things in the resurrection without mentioning a correction period with the possible exception of 1 Cor 15:28, but it is not clear whether this happens before the resurrection or after.

Here's an interesting passage.

1 Cor 15:19
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

The hope we have in this life is Eternal life; the hope we have in the resurrection is immortality. Once we are free of our human flesh and all its frailties there will be no more envy, lust, pride, and so forth which serve to hinder us from following the Spirit's leading. As I see it, the resurrection will be a grand epiphany for those who did not know Christ during their lifetime and no correction period will be necessary.

Just to be clear, I am saying what Steve7150 has just posted. Eternal life is a description of the "kind of" life or the "quality" of life one can have through knowing the Eternal God. I don't mean riches or fame, but the peace and joy in your soul that comes from the Holy Spirit.

Todd