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Fundamental Christianity tends to focus on living forever ie. "eternal life", but in reality it is about knowing God, which is what eonian life is:
NIV:
John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Concordant Literal:
John 17:3 Now it is eonian life that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Him Whom Thou dost commission, Jesus Christ.
This makes a big difference when trying to understand a verse like John 3:16 (from the Concordant):
For thus God loves the world, so that He gives His only-begotten Son, that everyone who is believing in Him should not be perishing, but may be having life eonian.
The idea is simple: if you believe in Jesus, then you will know Him. If you don't then you are perishing. Thus the reason why there is no limit at our earthly death - there will be a resurrection, and then if you believe in Christ, you will know Him (eonian life).
Knowing Jesus means knowing His ways and His commandments: Love God and love one another. That is what it is all about. Knowing God - who is LOVE. Its not about avoiding a fiery after life or even living forever. Its about knowing God (yes we ultimately will be made immortal - but that is not what eonian life is about).
Fundamental Christianity tends to focus on living forever ie. "eternal life", but in reality it is about knowing God, which is what eonian life is
I don't know where you get that claim about Christianity. I have never heard such claim before. You enter eternal life at the moment you receive Christ as your saviour, not at the moment of your physical death, so the eternal life begins during this life, and continues into the next. Yes, living your life as a believer is about knowing God.
Sorry I read that back and I don't think that first sentence came across right. Forgot it.
I was speaking about the words "eternal life" which seems to get equated to "salvation", because it is assumed you are saved from "eternal hell" which would then mean you have "eternal" life.
But the "eternal" in eternal life is translated from aionios, transliterated as eonian, and is really talking about knowing God (shown by John 17:3), as opposed to an infinite duration of life (ie immortality). Thus John 3:16 is not even talking about promising immortality. It is talking about knowing God.
In essence, the salvation is not "eternal life" - it is knowing God.
When we are fully saved, we will know God - in that we will follow Him and be like Him - do His commandments.
Hmm, that's still not worded the best, but I hope someone will understand what I'm trying to say. Sometimes its hard to get ideas down on paper. Just some thoughts.
Sorry I read that back and I don't think that first sentence came across right. Forgot it.
I was speaking about the words "eternal life" which seems to get equated to "salvation", because it is assumed you are saved from "eternal hell" which would then mean you have "eternal" life.
But the "eternal" in eternal life is translated from aionios, transliterated as eonian, and is really talking about knowing God (shown by John 17:3), as opposed to an infinite duration of life (ie immortality). Thus John 3:16 is not even talking about promising immortality. It is talking about knowing God.
In essence, the salvation is not "eternal life" - it is knowing God.
When we are fully saved, we will know God - in that we will follow Him and be like Him - do His commandments.
Hmm, that's still not worded the best, but I hope someone will understand what I'm trying to say. Sometimes its hard to get ideas down on paper. Just some thoughts.
Are you trying to say something like, it's not "living forever," but "forever Living." ?
Sorry I read that back and I don't think that first sentence came across right. Forgot it.
I was speaking about the words "eternal life" which seems to get equated to "salvation", because it is assumed you are saved from "eternal hell" which would then mean you have "eternal" life.
But the "eternal" in eternal life is translated from aionios, transliterated as eonian, and is really talking about knowing God (shown by John 17:3), as opposed to an infinite duration of life (ie immortality). Thus John 3:16 is not even talking about promising immortality. It is talking about knowing God.
In essence, the salvation is not "eternal life" - it is knowing God.
When we are fully saved, we will know God - in that we will follow Him and be like Him - do His commandments.
Hmm, that's still not worded the best, but I hope someone will understand what I'm trying to say. Sometimes its hard to get ideas down on paper. Just some thoughts.
You can start by giving us the translation of aionios/ eonian to prove it translates to 'knowing God'.
Are you trying to say something like, it's not "living forever," but "forever Living." ?
Blessings,
brian
Not exactly.
Basically what I am saying is that the phrase "eternal life" is misunderstood. People use it to mean living on forever, when in reality the scripture defines it literally as life of the ages (eons) knowing God. So John 3:16 is not a promise about living forever... it is a promise about knowing God for the ages.
That's not to say we won't live forever or won't know God forever - because scripture also tells us that we will be made immortal and God will be all in all.
JMHO but I believe that is the correct understanding of these terms.
Ages. The bible does not define how long that is. There is mention of the 1000 year reign in Revelations which may be part of that.
Quote:
The word does not translate to "to know God", it translates to "eternal".
It is defined as "to know God" according to John 17:3. Did you read John 17:3? And it is debatable that "eternal" is the correct translation, as some bibles translate it as "eonian", "age-abiding", "age-lasting", or "age-enduring".
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