Eternal Duration Language

Theme Focus
89 verses

Original Language

αἰώνιοςAiōniosG166Greek (NT)

Age-lasting, eternal; pertaining to an age or era.

Used 71 times in the NT. Derived from aion (age, era). The key debate: does aiōnios mean 'never-ending duration' or 'pertaining to the age to come'? In Matthew 25:46, the same word describes both 'everlasting punishment' and 'life eternal.' If aiōnios means infinite duration for life, consistency requires it means infinite duration for punishment. However, the annihilationist argument is that 'eternal punishment' describes a punishment whose RESULT is eternal (permanent death), not a process that continues eternally. Compare 'eternal redemption' (Hebrews 9:12): Christ does not keep redeeming forever; the redemption happened once with permanent results. Similarly, 'eternal judgment' (Hebrews 6:2) refers to a judgment whose verdict stands forever.

AioniosAioniosG166Greek (NT)

Age-lasting, eternal; pertaining to an age or era.

Used 71 times in the NT. The key debate: does it mean never-ending duration or pertaining to the age to come? In Matthew 25:46 the same word describes both everlasting punishment and life eternal. Eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12) happened once with permanent results. Eternal judgment (Hebrews 6:2) is a judgment whose verdict stands forever.

עוֹלָםOlamH5769Hebrew (OT)

Long duration, antiquity, futurity; age, era; forever, everlasting.

Used over 400 times in the OT. Critically, olam does not always mean 'infinite duration.' It is used for the duration of a slave's service (Exodus 21:6, 'for ever' meaning 'for life'), the Aaronic priesthood (Exodus 40:15, 'everlasting' but ended with Christ), and Jonah's time in the fish (Jonah 2:6, 'for ever' meaning three days). Its meaning is determined by the nature of the subject. When applied to God, it means truly eternal because God is eternal. When applied to mortal things, it means 'as long as the thing lasts' or 'age-lasting.' Sodom suffered 'eternal fire' (Jude 7) but is not still burning. The fire accomplished its purpose permanently.

OlamOlamH5769Hebrew (OT)

Long duration, antiquity, futurity; age, era; forever, everlasting.

Used over 400 times in the OT. Does not always mean infinite duration. Used for slave service (Exodus 21:6), the Aaronic priesthood (Exodus 40:15), and Jonah in the fish (Jonah 2:6, three days). Its meaning depends on the nature of the subject. When applied to God, truly eternal. When applied to mortal things, age-lasting. Sodom suffered eternal fire (Jude 7) but is not still burning.