Immortality By Mark Mayberry 5/17/2015 INTRODUCTION In this lesson, let us consider the Biblical concept of immortality. Webster defines the adjective immortal as (1) exempt from death <the immortal gods>; (2) exempt from oblivion: imperishable <immortal fame>; (3) connected with or relating to immortality. When used as a noun, immortal refers to (1) one exempt from death; (2) a person whose fame is lasting. The related word immortality refers to the quality or state of being immortal: (a) unending existence; (b) lasting fame. THE ROOT ADJECTIVE Definitions Thomas says the adjective ἄφθαρτος [aphthartos], a compound of the negative prefix and phtheirō [to destroy, corrupt, spoil], is descriptive of that which is undecaying, i.e. imperishable [862a]. BDAG say it pertains to imperviousness to corruption and death, imperishable, incorruptible, immortal. Louw & Nida define it as pertaining to being not subject to decay and death [23.128]. Occurrences This word occurs 7x in the NT (Rom. 1:23; 1 Cor. 9:25; 15:52; 1 Tim. 1:17; 1 Pet. 1:4, 23; 3:4). Romans 1:23 (NASB95) 23 and exchanged the glory of the *incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 1 Corinthians 9:25 (NASB95) 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises selfcontrol in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an *imperishable. 1 Corinthians 15:52 (NASB95) 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised *imperishable, and we will be changed.
1 Timothy 1:17 (NASB95) 17 Now to the King eternal, *immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 1:4 (NASB95) 4 to obtain an inheritance which is *imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 1 Peter 1:23 (NASB95) 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but *imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 3:4 (NASB95) 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the *imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. THE RELATED NOUN Definitions Thomas defines the noun ἀφθαρσία [aphtharsia], derived from aphthartos [undecaying, i.e. imperishable], as incorruptibility. BDAG say it refers to the state of not being subject to decay/dissolution/interruption, incorruptibility, immortality. Louw & Nida offer two related meanings: the state of not being subject to decay, leading to death [23.127]; or a continuous state or process, with the implication that the state or process in question is not interrupted by death [68.57]. Occurrences This word occurs 7x in the NT (Rom. 2:7; 1 Cor. 15:42, 50, 53, 54; Eph. 6:24; 2 Tim. 1:10). Romans 2:7 (NASB95) 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and *immortality, eternal life; 1 Corinthians 15:42 (NASB95) 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an *imperishable body; 1 Corinthians 15:50 (NASB95) 50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the *imperishable. 1 Corinthians 15:53 (NASB95) 53 For this perishable must put on the *imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:54 (NASB95) 54 But when this perishable will have put on the *imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Ephesians 6:24 (NASB95) 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with *incorruptible love. 2 Timothy 1:10 (NASB95) 10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and *immortality to light through the gospel, THE NEGATED ROOT Because the Greek word aphthartos, communicating the concept of immortality, is a compound of the negative prefix and phtheirō, it is helpful to understand the negated root word. Definitions Thomas defines the negated root φθείρω [phtheirō] as to destroy, corrupt, spoil [5351]. BDAG say it means (1) to cause harm to in a physical manner or in outward circumstances, destroy, ruin, corrupt, spoil; (2) to cause deterioration of the inner life, ruin, corrupt; (3) to inflict punishment, destroy in the sense punish with eternal destruction Occurrences This word occurs 9x in the NT (1 Cor. 3:17; 15:33; 2 Cor. 7:2; 11:3; Eph. 4:22; 2 Pet. 2:12; Jude 10; Rev. 19:2). 1 Corinthians 3:17 (NASB95) 17 If any man *destroys the temple of God, God will *destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NASB95) 33 Do not be deceived: Bad company *corrupts good morals. 2 Corinthians 7:2 (NASB95) 2 Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we *corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one. 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NASB95) 3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be *led *astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. Ephesians 4:22 (NASB95) 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being *corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 2 Peter 2:12 (NASB95) 12 But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be *destroyed,
Jude 10 (NASB95) 10 But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are *destroyed. Revelation 19:2 (NASB95) 2 because His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great harlot who was *corrupting the earth with her immorality, and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her. To comprehend the positive concepts associated with immortality, we must understand the negative concepts associated with corruption. Accordingly, let us consider things that are corruptible, and things that are incorruptible. THINGS THAT ARE CORRUPTIBLE Practitioners of Error/Evil One who chooses evil companions will undergo moral corruption (1 Cor. 15:33-34). 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 (NASB95) 33 Do not be deceived: Bad company *corrupts good morals. 34 Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. The devil seeks to lead individuals astray from their spiritual simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ (2 Cor. 11:2-3). 2 Corinthians 11:2-3 (NASB95) 2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. 3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be *led *astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. One who lives a life of carnality is corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit (Eph. 4:17-24). Ephesians 4:17-24 (NASB95) 17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being *corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Babylon/Rome, the great harlot of Revelation, corrupted the earth with her immorality (Rev. 19:1-2; cf. 17:1-6). Revelation 19:1-2 (NASB95) 1 After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God; 2 because His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great harlot who was *corrupting the earth with her immorality, and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her. Revelation 17:1-6 (NASB95) 1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality. 3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, 5 and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly. Promoters of Error/Evil Unfaithful evangelists stand in contrast with the apostle Paul, who could honestly say, we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one (2 Cor. 7:2-3). 2 Corinthians 7:2-3 (NASB95) 2 Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we *corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one. 3 I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together. Like unreasoning animals, born to be captured or killed, false teachers revile where they have no knowledge, and are thus destined to be destroyed (2 Pet. 2:12; Jude 10). 2 Peter 2:12 (NASB95) 12 But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be *destroyed, Jude 10 (NASB95) 10 But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are *destroyed. One who destroys the temple of God will, as recompense, be destroyed by God (1 Cor. 3:16-17; cf. Eph. 2:19-22).
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NASB95) 16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man *destroys the temple of God, God will *destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. Ephesians 2:19-22 (NASB95) 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. THINGS THAT ARE INCORRUPTIBLE The Person of God The One True God is incorruptible (Rom. 1:22-23) and immortal (1 Tim. 1:17). Romans 1:22-23 (NASB95) 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the *incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 1 Timothy 1:17 (NASB95) 17 Now to the King eternal, *immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, brings life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Tim. 1:9-10). 2 Timothy 1:9-10 (NASB95) 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and *immortality to light through the gospel, The Precepts of God The Word of God is imperishable (1 Pet. 1:22-25, esp. vs. 23; cf. Isa. 40:3-8). 1 Peter 1:22-25 (NASB95) 22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but *imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, All flesh is like grass, And all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, And the flower falls off, 25 But the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word which was preached to you. Isaiah 40:3-8 (NASB95) 3 A voice is calling, Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a
plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; 5 Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. 6 A voice says, Call out. Then he answered, What shall I call out? All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. The People of God Faithful brethren manifest a love [agapē/agapaō] that is incorruptible (Eph. 6:23-24). Ephesians 6:23-24 (NASB95) 23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with *incorruptible love. [Lit. in incorruption] Behaving in a chaste and respectable manner, Christian women cultivate the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Pet. 3:3-4). 1 Peter 3:3-4 (NASB95) 3 Your adornment must not be merely external braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the *imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. When Christ returns in glory, the redeemed will be given an imperishable resurrected body (1 Cor. 15:42, 50, 52, 53, 54). 1 Corinthians 15:42 (NASB95) 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an *imperishable body; 1 Corinthians 15:50 (NASB95) 50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the *imperishable. 1 Corinthians 15:52 (NASB95) 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised *imperishable, and we will be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:53 (NASB95) 53 For this perishable must put on the *imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:54 (NASB95) 54 But when this perishable will have put on the *imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 1 Corinthians 15:42-57 (NASB95) 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is
raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So also it is written, The first man, Adam, became a living soul. The last Adam became a lifegiving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Eternal life will be rewarded to those who, by perseverance in doing good, seek for glory and honor and immortality (Rom. 2:6-8). Romans 2:6-8 (NASB95) 6 who will render to each person according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and *immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. In contrast with the perishable wreaths awarded victors of the Corinthian games, the faithful will be crowned with an imperishable wreath (1 Cor. 9:24-27, esp. vs. 25). 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NASB95) 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an *imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. Our heavenly inheritance is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away (1 Pet. 1:3-5). 1 Peter 1:3-5 (NASB95) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is *imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
CONCLUSION Having contrasted corruptible things with those that are incorruptible, let us honestly examine ourselves (2 Cor. 13:5). 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NASB95) 5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you unless indeed you fail the test? Are we practitioners of error or of evil? Do we promote the same? Then we are destined for destruction. Like Israel of old, we must choose between life and death (Deut. 30:19-20). Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NASB95) 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, 20 by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them. By following the incorruptible God, and adhering to His imperishable precepts, we have the hope of immortality. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58). 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NASB95) 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.