Hi all, just some random thoughts on this fine Thursday morning.
We all know "aionios life" does not mean eternal life. Does it even necessarily mean "life pertaining to a certain duration"? I'm not so sure. I have heard others say this is a "quality" of life as opposed to a "quantity" of life.
John 17: 3 "This is eternal (aionios) life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Notice what aionios life is: it is to know God.
God so loved the world so that whoever believes would not perish but have AIONIOS life... not perish, but KNOW GOD. We have (or at least I have) had this mindset of "eternal life" for so long, some of these verses have lost their meaning.
1 John 5:4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world
5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
This is aionios life. If we overcome the "world", we will get aionios life - we will KNOW GOD.
What is this aionios life, this "Knowing God"? This is the "entering rest", the "sabbath". If one knows God, they are at peace with themselves and God, because they trust in God to work things out, and know the truth that all will be reconciled. That can bring a great sense of peace, even in a world of turmoil. They have overcome this turmoil of the world, by resting in God's grace, by knowing the true God. This is aionios life.
What about all the people in the church who believe God will roast many for eternity? Are they at rest? Are they at peace? Do they know God? Do they have aionios ("eternal") life? NO, NO, NO, and NO. One does not know God if they believe He tortures for eternity.
Aionios life is to know the true nature and peace of Christ. Only then will you inherit the Kingdom. We know that "no murderer has aionios life in him". That is because they do not know Christ. But will they be saved? Yes, after they have been transformed, they will no longer be a murderer, they will know and understand the true God, and then they will have aionios life. They will be at rest.
Your thoughts?
:cloud9: To know God means to be made one with, as Adam knew his wife and was made one flesh. This is His goal, which is why Sinai was a "betrothal" of God to his "wife", Israel. Though many don't realize it, Pentecost is the same as the betrothal at Sinai, ie. begins the spiritual joining that Sinai was the type and shadow of. Blessings....
"He who hates his brother is a murder"
Wouldn't that exclude all from aionian life?
About quality vs quantity.
Reading the verse it seems to mean knowing Father and Son. = quality.
But that in itself doesn't exclude quantity.
"and the unbelievers weren't resurrected till the 1000 years where past"
Seems some group has quantative advantage.
A totally meaningles advantage imo. If you are not aware of being dead you don't experience disadvantages either.
Eon (just like yom) can mean a lifetime. Hebrew scholars agree it often means 50 year.
That would lead us to quality.
Perhaps it's not understandeble for many on this forum but unbelievers can have a very pleasnt life full of quality.
So :dontknow: :thinking: :umnick: :Chinscratch:
Quote from: Cardinal on June 11, 2009, 07:24:27 PM
:cloud9: To know God means to be made one with, as Adam knew his wife and was made one flesh. This is His goal, which is why Sinai was a "betrothal" of God to his "wife", Israel. Though many don't realize it, Pentecost is the same as the betrothal at Sinai, ie. begins the spiritual joining that Sinai was the type and shadow of. Blessings....
:thumbsup: We shall all be unified (made one) in Christ eventually (Eph 1:10)
Quote from: WhiteWings on June 11, 2009, 07:37:20 PM
"He who hates his brother is a murder"
Wouldn't that exclude all from aionian life?
Yes. I don't view this statement as a finality though. We must learn to love our brothers and our enemies. Everyone knows how to hate. It is those who overcome the hate and learn how to love - then they no longer hate and are no longer a murderer. THEN they will have aionios life.
Quote
About quality vs quantity.
Reading the verse it seems to mean knowing Father and Son. = quality.
But that in itself doesn't exclude quantity.
"and the unbelievers weren't resurrected till the 1000 years where past"
Seems some group has quantative advantage.
A totally meaningles advantage imo. If you are not aware of being dead you don't experience disadvantages either.
Eon (just like yom) can mean a lifetime. Hebrew scholars agree it often means 50 year.
That would lead us to quality.
Perhaps it's not understandeble for many on this forum but unbelievers can have a very pleasnt life full of quality.
So :dontknow: :thinking: :umnick: :Chinscratch:
Sure - it could be both quantitative and qualitative. I think John 17:3 shows the qualitative aspect.