A1.  Inherit does not automatically equate with justification. To inherit can mean "to have an inheritance"

Col 3:24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Heb 6:12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

BAGD  2. acquire, obtain, come into possession of something.

L-S  2. acquire, obtain, come into possession of (n.  kl. lamb_nein tin_v to take possession of. . )

TDNTA  It may be noted that in Greek, Egyptian, Hellenistic, and Jewish law children were always heirs, but Roman law allowed parents a freedom of testamentary disposition.[W. Foerster, III, 758-69]

A2. Enter does not necessarily just mean to step over the threshold, but  has demonstrated NT meanings of to take possession or have a share in something.

Lk 24:26 "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?"

Lk 8:33 And the demons came out from the man and entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into athe lake, and were drowned. (Also Mk 5:13 )

BAGD  2. fig._a. of pers.: come into something=share in something, come to enjoy something

A3. Some verses indicate eternal life is a gift, unearned, others indicate it is a reward for works.

Zane Hodges: "No one receives eternal life as a reward who has not first received it as a gift. [See Appendix on Eternal life. Most verses indicate eternal life is the result of works, and occur in reward contexts.] Even in the Gospel of John where the gift concept of eternal life is clearest, there are reward passages relating to eternal life (John 12:25; 17:2,3,12 note the subjunctive mood). I John 4:7 seems to differentiate being born again and knowing God (cf. 17:3). {See appendix.}

A4. Life can mean mastery or dominion. Death can mean loss of dominion.

Adam and Eve "died"  when they sinned, yet still talked with God. The only obvious immediate change was that they could now see they nakedness. Possibly they had been clothed with glory  and lost it. (Cf. II Cor 4-5) [See under "image of God".]

A5. In I Timothy 6, laying hold of eternal life is clearly seen to mean doing good works for future reward. Verse 19 is a good example of a different translation of "eternal".

I Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the aappearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

6:17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. (Greek = eternal life).

B. MATTHEW'S ACCOUNT

B1. Note that Jesus challenges erroneous conceptions even to the point of nitpicking. For instance, the term "good" is used incorrectly by the man . Since only God is "good" then to recognize that Jesus is "good" or to ask Him about the teaching regarding "good"  should be to recognize that He is God and should be obeyed as such,  yet the Jewish opposition wasn't responding to Him as such. Thus Jesus highlighted their inconsistence on even a minor point. With such exactness prefacing His response, one would expect that the rest of His answer would be specific and exact, not leaving room for ambiguity. Jesus did not challenge the man's thought on the necessity of doing (working) being required for eternal life. To have left the man with such a fatal misconception regarding forgiveness would have been unconscionable for Someone who gave His life so that those who believed could obtain forgiveness.

Mt 19:16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" 17 "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. " There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." 18 "Which ones?" the man inquired.  Jesus replied, "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.' " 20 "All these I have kept," the young man said. " What do I still lack?" 21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

B2. Question: v16  do to get ?

B2a. What does he have to do?

17 If you want to enter life, obey

21 sell and give, then follow (as a disciple)

B2b. What does he get?

17 If you want to enter life

21a If you want to be perfect,

21b you will have treasure in heaven.

23 it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

24  a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

25  "Who then can be saved?"

B3a  Jesus doesn't correct the man's misconception about doing rather than believing because doing is required.

B3b. Nor does Jesus dispute the man's claim about keeping the commandments   (In Marks account it is recorded that Jeus looked at the man and loved him after he gave his response.)[See note B4.]

B3c. Getting eternal life is equated with entering, being perfect (complete) and having treasure in heaven,entering the kingdom of heaven/God, and  salvation (not justification).

B3d. Obedience to the commandments and self denial are required (not simple trust)

B4.[Note: Some expositors claim to bring out the impossibility of keeping the commandments as if God gave something that people would be constantly frustrated in their ability to keep. Apparently there were individuals who were pleasing in God's sight in the OT. And obviously there were hypocrites in the NT audience. The commands were given as guidelines for behavior that was expected, not just to get men to turn to Christ a thousand years after they were given. Perhaps the man was following the commandments according to a righteous interpretation of his day, not according to the standards of our day. (See Anna and Simeon as righteous OT saints in NT times).]

Mt 19:23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" 26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

B5. Disciple's question: v27 we did, what will we get?

19:27 Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?" 28 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.  30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.......20:15 Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'16 "So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

B5a. What  should a disciple do?

27  have left everything to follow you!

28  you who have followed me

29 everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother f or children or fields for my sake

B5b. What should a disciple get?

28  sit on twelve thrones, judging (Power, rulership-dominion)

29 receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

B5c. When does a disciple get it?

28a  at the renewal of all things, (when Jesus returns and sets up His kingdom)

28b  when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne,

B6. The following parable is bracketed by 19:30 first will be last...last will be first. and 20:16  the last will be first, and the first will be last.  and must be interpreted in light of these "bookends" and understood in such a manner that it explains the previous section beginning at 19:16 covering the lack of reward for the rich man  and the great reward for the disciples. In Jewish thought at the time the rich were those whom God favored and blessed because He was pleased with them and the poor were those under God's curse, with whom He was not pleased. . Thus the rich man was considered "first" now but would be considered "last" when Jesus passed out rewards. The disciples who had nothing would be considered "last" but would eventually be considered "first".

Note also that the "first" did receive something, although that is not the main point of the parable. That the reward seems to be the same for everyone can not be seen as the point of the parable, not only because of the "bookends" but also for the contradiction that would exist between the previous clear teaching and sworn promises of Jesus and the parable that explained them. Jesus had clearly promised the disciples and all who followed Him a great reward which not everyone received.

C. MARK'S ACCOUNT

Mark's Manual on Discipleship places the interview concerning eternal life within a very significant segment of the Book, occuring between two accounts of Jesus opening the eyes of the blind. In the first, Jesus does a two stage healing: the man saw in part, and then saw in whole. This parallels what was going on with the disciples.

Immediately after the two-stage eye-opening the disciples saw that Jesus was the Messiah. (Stage 1') However, they did not understand that the route to glory was self-sacrificial serving. (Stage 2') Which is why Jesus begins to immediately instruct them in His (and their) upcoming sacrifical service. Between the two-stage miracle and eye-opening of Bartimaeus (10:46) Jesus is instructing the disciples that he and they must suffer for glory. It is in the middle of this section that the rich young man comes to Jesus. The prominence and amount of space given to this account in a major reward section precludes any reading of justification/forgiveness into the narrative, unless demanded by the dialogue. As can be clearly seen, the dialogue centers around reward, not forgiveness.

STAGE 1 - Eyes partially opened; but he doesn't see reality clearly

Mk 8:23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" 24 He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around."

STAGE 2 - Eyes fully opened; he sees reality clearly

25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

STAGE 1' - Eyes partially opened = Jesus is the Messiah; but disciples don't clearly see the route to His rulership.

8:27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 28 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." :29 "But what about you?" he asked. " Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ. "

STAGE 2' begins - Jesus begins to instruct that the route to rulership is self-sacrificial service.

30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. 31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.

STAGE 2' Continues: ACCOUNT OF RICH YOUNG MAN

10:17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. " Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. " No one is good_except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.' " 20 "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. " One thing you lack," he said. " Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22 At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is  to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." 28 Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!"

This section follows the pattern discussed above in Matthew. Notice that get=inherit; Jesus specifically states that there is only ONE thing the person lacks, and that is not stated as trust in Christ's death on his behalf, but rather self-sacrificial works.

 29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields_and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

STAGE 2' Concludes:  Clearest teaching on the route to rulership and opening of Bartimaeus' eyes.

10:43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging.... 52 "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Note: Remember that Son of Man is the one to whom all glory and dominion is given by the Ancient of Days (Dan 7). This Future Ruler of the world to come gains His rulership by sacrificial service, as must the disciples.

D. LUKE'S ACCOUNTS

D1. In Luke's first account of the same subject matter (an expert in the law as opposed to the rich ruler of 18:18)  a few  observations are noteworthy:

D1a. Inheriting eternal life (10:25) is used instead of "get" and is equated with living (10:28)

D1b. The two greatest commandments are put for all the law.

D1c. Jesus not only said that the man's answer was correct (one must do works to inherit) but reaffirmed the answer with "Do this and you will live".

Lk 10:25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. " Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"10:26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. " How do you read it?" 27 He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. " Do this and you will live.""

D2. In Deuteronomy, entering, conquering, enjoying and living (having dominion) in land is called "life" and dependent upon obedience to the revealed will of God.

Dt 4:1 Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.

8:1 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers.

16:20 Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.

30:15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

D2a. THUS: Life or living is equated with having dominion or ruling, it is a reward of obedience.

D2b. This concept of life is parallel with that of rest or inheritance (as in the Book of Hebrews)

Dt 12:10 But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety.

D2c. Note: Israel's reception and possession of their inheritance was dependent upon their obedience (works).  [Dt 26:52 The Lord said to Moses, 53 "The land is to be allotted to them as an inheritance based on the number of names. cf. Numbers 13 and 14 where the Exodus generation is deprived of their inheritance. {Extra Credit: trace Caleb through the Scriptures.}]

D3. In Luke's second account, parallel to Matthew and Mark, the issue of "good" is discussed, with the term being applied to Jesus.  

18:18 A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 19 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.' "

21 "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said. 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 26 Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?" 27 Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." 28 Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!" 29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."

Appendix on NASB verses Containing "eternal" and "life" and Dictionary articles

The noun "eternal" means age, a definite period of time, both in Classical Greek and in NT (where it is often translated this present world). The adjective is almost always translated "eternal" even though in less than a handful of verses is the concept of everlasting indicated. In most occurances "of the age" referring to the Messianic Age, ie, the expected kingdom, is a preferred translation. See BAGD or Lidell-Scott or TDNTA (last pages) for more information.

I. Verses that link "eternal life" with a reward based on works

Mt 18:8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.

Mt 19:16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

Mt 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother f or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

Mt 25:46 "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into beternal life."

Mk 10:17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. " Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Mk 10:30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields_and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.

Lk 10:25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. " Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Lk 18:18 A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Lk 18:30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."

Jn 6:27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

Jn 12:25 "He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.

Jn 6:54 "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

Rm 2:6 who will render to every man 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. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to every man who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Rm 6:22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.

Gal 6:8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

1 Tm 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Titus 3:7 that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

1 Jn 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

II. Verses that link "eternal life" to God's gift resulting from faith

Jn 3:15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

Jn 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Jn 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

Jn 4:14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Jn 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

Jn 5:39 "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me;

Jn 6:40 "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."

Jn 6:47 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.

Jn 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

Jn 17:2 even as Thou gavest Him authority over all mankind, that to all whom Thou hast given Him, He may give eternal life. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Rm 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Tm 1:16 And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

1 Tm 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 6:18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 6:19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. (Greek = eternal life).

1 Jn 5:11 And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

1 Jn 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.

III. Other verses using "eternal life"

Jn 4:36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.

Jn 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Jn 12:50  "And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me."

Acts 13:46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of 1the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

Rm 5:21 that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Titus 1:2 (faith...experiential-knowledge...godliness) resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, (in the Greek = times eternal)

1 Jn 1:2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us_

1 Jn 2:25 And this is what he promised us_even eternal life. (v24 abiding concept)

1 Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, in order that we might know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Jude 1:21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

TDNTA (Theological Dictionary of NT Theology, Abridged, ed: G. Kittel)

aion [age, aeon], aionios [eternal]

A. The Nonbiblical Use. Meanings are a. "vital force," b. "lifetime," c. "age" or "generation," d. "time," and e. "eternity."

The term is used in philosophical discussions of time, usually for a span of time as distinct from time as such (chr¢nos), though for Plato it is timeless eternity in contrast to chr¢nos as its moving image in earthly time (cf. Philo). In the Hellenistic world AiUn becomes the name of the god of eternity.

B. aion in the Sense of Prolonged Time or Eternity.

I. The Formulas "from Eternity" and "to Eternity." 

a. The concepts of time and eternity merge in the use with prepositions suggesting indefinite time (Lk. 1:70; Acts 3:21; Jn. 9:32; Jude 13). Sometimes the meaning is "from a remote time" (Lk. 1:70; Jn. 9:32_"never"), but sometimes there is a strong hint of eternity (Lk. 1:55; Jn. 6:51). This is especially true of the plural (Mt. 6:13; Lk. 1:33; Rom. 1:25; Heb. 13:8; Jude 25; cf. also with a past reference 1 Cor. 2:7; Col. 1:26; Eph. 3:11). The double formula "for ever and ever" (Heb. 1:8), especially in the plural (in Paul and Revelation; cf. also Heb. 13:21; 1 Pet. 4:11), is designed to stress the concept of eternity, as are constructions like that in Eph. 3:21 ("to all generations for ever and ever").

b. The usage corresponds to that of the LXX (cf. Am. 9:11; Is. 45:17; Ps. 45:6), the only difference being intensification in the NT.

2. The Eternity of God.

a. aion means eternity in the full sense when linked with God (Rom. 16:26; 1 Tim. 1:17; cf. Jer. 10:10).

b. In the OT this means first that God always was (Gen. 21:23) and will be (Dt. 5:23), in contrast to us mortals. By the time of Is. 40:28 this comes to mean that God is eternal, the "First and Last," whose being is "from eternity to eternity" (Ps. 90:2). Eternity is unending time, but in later Judaism it is sometimes set in antithesis to time. The NT took over the Jewish formulas but extended eternity to Christ (Heb. 1:10ff.; Rev. 1:17-18; 2:8). Here again eternity could be seen as the opposite of cosmic time, God's being and acts being put in terms of pre- and post- (1 Cor. 2:7; Col. 1:26; Eph. 3:9; Jn. 17:24; 1 Pet. 1:20).

C. aion in the Sense of the Time of the World.

l. aion as the Time of the World; the End of the aion. In the plural the sense of aiUn is that of a stretch of time. In particular the word is used for the duration of the world. Thus the same term can signify both God's eternity and the world's duration (cf. the Parsee word zrvan). The doctrine of creation_an absolute beginning_underlay the distinction in use. aion for time of the world occurs in the NT in the expression "end of the aeon" (Mt. 13:39 etc.). The plural in Heb. 9:26 and 1 Cor. 10:11 (aeons) represents no essential change; it merely indicates that the one aeon is made up of many smaller aeons, though as yet the word is not used for a particular period.

2. aion as World. From "time of the world" aion easily came to mean the "world" itself (cf. Mt. 13:22; 1 Cor. 7:33) with an equation of cosmos and aeon (1 Cor. 1:20; 2:6; 3:19). The plural can mean "worlds" along the same lines (Heb. 1:2; 11:3).

3. The Present and Future aion.

a. If aion means "duration of the world," and the plural occurs, the idea is obvious that eternity embraces a succession or recurrence of aeons (cf. Eccl. 1:9-10_though here the aeons are periods of the world, and the biblical concept of creation, and hence of the uniqueness of this aeon, ruled out the idea of an unending series).

b. Instead of recurrence the antithesis of time and eternity combined with the thought of plural aeons to produce the belief in a new and future aeon (or cosmos or kingdom) which will succeed this one but will be completely different from it. For the present and future aeons in the NT cf. Mk. 10:30; Lk. 16:8; Rom. 12:2; 1 Cor. 1:20; Gal. 1:4; 1 Tim. 6:17; Eph. 1:21; Heb. 6:5 (and with kair¢s instead of aion, Jn. 8:23 etc.).

c. The NT took over this concept from Jewish apocalyptic, e.g., Ethiopian Enoch. Similar ideas occur in rabbinic writings and there is hope of a future age in Vergil. In the NT, however, the new aeon is not just future. Believers are already redeemed from this aeon (Gal. 1:4) and taste the powers of the future aeon (Heb. 6:5 which Christ has initiated with his resurrection.

D. The Personification of Aion. Important in Hellenistic syncretism, the personification of Aion is absent from the NT (except for a suggestion in Eph. 2:2).

aionios. An adjective meaning "eternal," and found in the LXX in Pss. 24; 77:5; Gen. 21:33, aionios in the NT is used 1. of God (Rom. 16:26), 2. of divine possessions and gifts (2 Cor. 4:18; Heb. 9:14; 1 Pet. 5:10; 1 Tim. 6:16; 2 Th. 2:16, and 3. of the eternal kingdom (2 Pet. 1:11), inheritance (Heb. 9:15), body (2 Cor. 5:1), and even judgment (Heb. 6:2, though cf. Mt. 18:8; 2 Th. 1:9, where the sense is perhaps "unceasing"). For a more temporal use, see Rom. 16:25; Phlm. 15.

[H. Sasse, I, 197-209]

aion - Liddel & Scott Classical Greek Dictionary

A period of existence: 1. one's lifetime, life, Hom. and Att. Poets. 2. an age, generation, Aesch.; a•Ã¹n posterity, Dem. 3. a long space of time, an age, 4. a definite space of time, an era, epoch, age, period, a•Ã©n o´tov this present world, opp. to Ã… mçllwn, N.T

aionios lasting for an age , Plat.: ever-lasting, eternal.