[B-Greek] More on AIONIOS

Harold R. Holmyard III hholmyard at ont.com
Wed Oct 27 09:17:44 EDT 2004


Dear Gabe,

><<<The lexicon BAGD for the expression CPONOIS AIWNIOIS in Rom 16:25 
>gives "long ages ago." With PRO as in Tit 1:2 and 2 Tim 1:9, the 
>phrase means "before time began." In Job 3:18 the word refers to 
>people who lived long ages ago. In Job 10:22 the idea is 
>"perpetual.">>>>
>
>So would you agree with me in suggesting that AIWNIOS takes on 
>opposing meanings in 16:25 and 16:26?  That is, in the former 
>AIWNIOS denotes a temporary duration of time whereas, in the latter, 
>AIWNIOS denotes an unending duration of time?

HH: I wouldn't agree with you in doing that. When was the mystery 
mentioned in Rom 16:25 ever previously revealed? I think the idea is 
that you can go back as far in time as you like to the beginning of 
the world, and you will never find this mystery revealed. This is my 
understanding from other passages about the mystery of Christ. Paul 
says that in former generations it was not made known to the sons of 
men (Eph 3:5). So I don't see any real difference in the way the word 
AIWNIOS is used in 16:25-26.

				Yours,
				Harold Holmyard




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