Difference between revisions of "Aionios"
(A translation as "infinite life," here and now, may be more accurate than translating it as "eternal life" about the distant future.) |
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When used in the [[Gospel of John]], however, αἰώνιος seems to have a more immediate meaning. A translation as "[[infinite]] life," here and now, may be more accurate than translating it as "eternal life" about the distant future. | When used in the [[Gospel of John]], however, αἰώνιος seems to have a more immediate meaning. A translation as "[[infinite]] life," here and now, may be more accurate than translating it as "eternal life" about the distant future. | ||
| + | == Reddit analysis == | ||
| + | In an interesting analysis on Reddit, apparently from [[Aristotle]]: | ||
| + | {{cquote|The entirety of the time which circumscribes each life, which can't naturally be exceeded, [the ancients] called the αἰών of each. By the same token the "entirety" of the whole universe — (and) of all time, of that which extends '''''to the furthermost bounds of infinity''''' — is also (called) αἰών, this name being taken from ἀεὶ εἶναι ("to exist forever")<ref name="R">https://www.reddit.com/r/AcademicBiblical/comments/eiz098/meaning_of_greek_words_for_eternal_punishment_in/ (emphasis added)</ref> | ||
| + | The same commentator there observes that "very rarely — possibly not even 2 or 3 instances total — it denotes constant frequency within a clearly non-permanent period of time (cf. Diodorus Siculus 17.112.2)."<ref name="R"/> | ||
| + | == Root == | ||
| + | The root of αἰώνιος is αἰών, which commonly means age. | ||
[[category:Bible]] | [[category:Bible]] | ||
[[category:New Testament]] | [[category:New Testament]] | ||
Revision as of 23:55, July 9, 2024
Aiṓnios, in Greek αἰώνιος, is a key term in the New Testament that is typically translated as "eternal", as in "eternal life." Sometimes it is translated as "everlasting" or "perpetual".
When used in the Gospel of John, however, αἰώνιος seems to have a more immediate meaning. A translation as "infinite life," here and now, may be more accurate than translating it as "eternal life" about the distant future.
Reddit analysis
In an interesting analysis on Reddit, apparently from Aristotle: {{cquote|The entirety of the time which circumscribes each life, which can't naturally be exceeded, [the ancients] called the αἰών of each. By the same token the "entirety" of the whole universe — (and) of all time, of that which extends to the furthermost bounds of infinity — is also (called) αἰών, this name being taken from ἀεὶ εἶναι ("to exist forever")[1] The same commentator there observes that "very rarely — possibly not even 2 or 3 instances total — it denotes constant frequency within a clearly non-permanent period of time (cf. Diodorus Siculus 17.112.2)."[1]
Root
The root of αἰώνιος is αἰών, which commonly means age.