[B-Greek] More on AIONIOS
craig
newsgroupstuff at swiftdsl.com.au
Tue Oct 26 17:28:51 EDT 2004
> > "'Eternal fire,' for example, does not necessarily mean a fire that
> > burns endlessly (quantitative meaning), but may also mean a fire
> > 'peculiar to the realm and the nature of God' (qualitative
> meaning)."
> >
> > Thanks for any contributions you might have.
> >
> > -Gabe Chesster
>
> As far as I can see, it has no merits. Does he give any
> supporting evidence for the claim?
>
> AIWNIOS is used in the NT mainly in connection with ZWH (43
> out of 71 times), but also in connection with punishment and
> fire, and a few other instances. The meaning is "forever,
> without end". It does not have to be eternal in the more
> strict sense, but nowhere is it used in a qualitative sense.
> The Hebrew "olam" can refer to a lifetime or to any period of
> unspecified duration.
>
> Louw and Nida says: "pertaining to an unlimited duration of time".
>
> Iver Larsen
I have heard people say regarding ZWH AIWNIOS that it can mean something
like 'life of the age (to come)' rather than 'endless life'. That it has
more a qualitative rather than quantitative sense. If it can be taken that
way with ZWH I suppose it can likewise be taken with PUR or KOLASIS etc. I
guess it is relating AIWNIOS with AIWN. On ZWH AIWNIOS in John 3:15, Don
Carson writes in his commentary: "Properly it means 'life of the age (AIWN)
to come'" (although he doesn't really justify it, at least not in that
place).
Also what is the sense of usages with CHRONOS in Romans 16:25, Titus 1:2 and
2 Tim 1:9? How about usage in LXX Job 3:18, 10:22? What is the sense here?
--
Craig Johnson
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