Aphthartos

[DC]

This is the word that was translated as "imperishable" in 1 Corinthians 15:52.  According to Strong's, this word means "unfading essence".  Is this really what this word meant back in biblical times (I've heard that Strong's can be wrong about some things).  And if it did mean that, was the word use to describe the same concept of "essence" that Plato and Aristotle wrote about?

[WhiteWings]

ἄφθαρτος
aphthartos
Thayer Definition:
1) uncorrupted, not liable to corruption or decay, imperishable
1a) of things
2) immortal
2a) of the risen dead
Part of Speech: adjective
A Related Word by Thayer's/Strong's Number: from G1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of G5351
Citing in TDNT: 9:93, 1259

φθείρω
phtheirō
Thayer Definition:
1) to corrupt, to destroy
1a) in the opinion of the Jews, the temple was corrupted or "destroyed" when anyone defiled or in the slightest degree damaged anything in it, or if its guardians neglected their duties
1b) to lead away a Christian church from that state of knowledge and holiness in which it ought to abide
1c) to be destroyed, to perish
1d) in an ethical sense, to corrupt, deprave
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer's/Strong's Number: probably strengthened from phthio (to pine or waste)
Citing in TDNT: 9:93, 1259

[WhiteWings]

All verses using the same word.

^YLTRom 1
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of fowls, and of quadrupeds, and of reptiles.

^YLT1Cor 9
25 and every one who is striving, is in all things temperate; these, indeed, then, that a corruptible crown they may receive, but we an incorruptible;

^YLT1Cor 15
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, in the last trumpet, for it shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we--we shall be changed:

^YLT1Tim 1
17 and to the King of the ages, the incorruptible, invisible, only wise God, is honour and glory--to the ages of the ages! Amen.

^YLT1Pet 1
4 to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and unfading, reserved in the heavens for you,

^YLT1Pet 1
23 being begotten again, not out of seed corruptible, but incorruptible, through a word of God--living and remaining--to the age;

^YLT1Pet 3
4 but--the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible thing of the meek and quiet spirit, which is, before God, of great price,

[DC]

So, the jews considered the temple to be phtheirō whenever even the slightest little thing was out of place?  That's very interesting, and it certainly answers a lot of deep, metaphysical things I've been wondering latley.

[WhiteWings]

You made me curious now DC. Tell.... :winkgrin:

Was there a special reason you asked about unfading essence?

[DC]

I have heard some people say that they would rather stop existing after they die.  I had an irrational worry that if someone wanted God to destroy there conscious essence and replace it with a copy that has the same memories and personality, he would.  But the bible makes it clear that there is no reason that anyone would want that if they just knew the truth about how there's no sadness or boredom in heaven.  And they info you've just provided is very convincing proof that could never happen, because the bible says you are a temple, and if that were to happen you would be destroying something inside that temple.  That can't happen if you're aphthartos :-)

[DC]

Sorry for the doule-post, but I have more to add.  I'm beginning to think that you can find the answer to ANYTHING if you fig deep enough :-). However, there are 2 things I'd like to know that would make this mystery even more clear to me:

-are there any verses that strongly imply that we are to enjoy our existence and that it's wrong to wish you never existed?

-are there any verses that strongly imply that God would never allow the fundamental laws of reality to be tampered with?