top of page
Search
Writer's pictureEdward D. Andrews
2 days ago10 min read

What Is the Difference Between Immortality and Eternal Life According to the Bible?

The distinction between immortality and eternal life is critical to understanding biblical teaching, as these two terms are often misunderstood or conflated. Immortality, as the Bible presents it, refers to a state of being in which one is indestructible, incapable of dying, and exempt from corruption. Eternal life, on the other hand, refers to living forever but does not necessarily imply indestructibility.


In 1 Corinthians 15:54, we read, "When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’" This passage indicates that immortality is something that is put on, meaning it is not an inherent quality of human beings but is granted by God. The Apostle Paul speaks of the resurrection when the mortal body will be transformed, and death will be no more.


In contrast, John 3:16 states, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, in order that whoever believes in him will not be destroyed but have eternal life." Here, the emphasis is on eternal life as a gift from God, a life that extends into the future without end. The difference, however, lies in the fact that eternal life does not inherently imply that the one who possesses it is incapable of destruction.



Immortality in the Greek and Hebrew Context


The Greek word for immortality (ἄφθαρτος, aphthartos) means imperishable or indestructible. It carries with it the sense that something cannot decay or be destroyed. When the Bible speaks of immortality, particularly in passages like 1 Corinthians 15:53-55, it describes a state of existence that is incorruptible, meaning that those who attain this state are no longer subject to death.


The Greek word for eternal life (ζωὴν αἰώνιον, zōē aiōnion) refers to life that lasts for an unlimited duration. While this life may last forever, it does not necessarily entail the same imperishable quality that immortality does.


The Bible is clear that only God possesses immortality in Himself. In 1 Timothy 6:15-16, Paul describes God as "the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of those who reign as kings and Lord of those who rule as lords, the one who alone possesses immortality." God is the only being who is inherently indestructible and imperishable. Even angels, including Michael the archangel, are not immortal in the same sense as God, for they are creatures who can be destroyed.



Will All Who Receive Eternal Life Also Receive Immortality?


The question arises whether all who receive eternal life will also receive immortality. The Bible suggests that those who inherit the kingdom of God and dwell with Him in heaven will receive immortality. However, those who live on the earth after the resurrection and during the thousand-year reign of Christ may receive eternal life but not immortality.


Revelation 20:6 states, "Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years." This indicates that those who partake in the first resurrection will be immune to the second death, suggesting that they possess immortality. However, there is also a reference to some who will be tempted by Satan after the thousand-year reign and will face destruction (Revelation 20:7-10). This implies that not everyone who receives eternal life will be indestructible, as some will still face the possibility of the second death.


Adam and Eve were created to live forever, but they were not created with immortality. They were given access to the tree of life, which sustained them, but their sin introduced death into the world (Genesis 3:22-24). Thus, eternal life is a state that requires obedience and fellowship with God, while immortality implies a state of incorruptibility that is beyond mere eternal existence.



What Does Immortality in Heaven Entail?


While the Bible does not provide many details about what life will be like for those who receive immortality in heaven, it does offer some insights. Immortality is linked to the transformation of our bodies into spiritual bodies that are imperishable. In 1 Corinthians 15:53, Paul writes, "For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality." This transformation suggests that those who are granted immortality will no longer be subject to death or decay.


There is no indication in Scripture that those who receive immortality will need to eat or drink to sustain their lives, as Adam and Eve did. In contrast to life on earth, where food and water are necessary for survival, immortality implies a form of existence where such physical needs are no longer relevant. 2 Corinthians 5:1 speaks of a "house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens," indicating that our future existence will be of a different nature, free from the limitations of our current physical bodies.


Revelation 20:6 further affirms that those who receive immortality will not be subject to the second death, which is the ultimate judgment for those who reject God. This suggests that immortality involves not only eternal life but also deathlessness, a state in which the person is incapable of being destroyed.



The Pagan Roots of the Doctrine of the Immortality of the Soul


The doctrine of the immortality of the soul did not originate with the Bible but has roots in pagan philosophy, particularly in the teachings of the ancient Greeks. Socrates, Plato, and other Greek philosophers developed the idea that the soul is immortal and cannot be destroyed. Plato, in particular, argued that the soul is eternal and undergoes a process of transmigration after death.


Socrates, just before his death, defended the notion that death should not be feared because the soul is immortal and will continue to exist after the body dies. Plato recorded Socrates’ defense in his writings Apology and Phaedo, where he presents various arguments in support of the immortality of the soul. However, these teachings were not rooted in the Scriptures but were based on Greek philosophical speculation.


Before Socrates and Plato, the idea of the soul’s immortality was already present in various ancient cultures. Pythagoras, a Greek mathematician, believed in the transmigration of the soul, and even earlier Greek thinkers such as Thales believed in the existence of an immortal soul. The Greeks also developed the idea of the afterlife, where the souls of the dead were judged and either rewarded or punished in the underworld.


In the Persian religion of Zoroastrianism, which predated Greek philosophy, the immortality of the soul was also a central teaching. The Zoroastrian scriptures describe the souls of the righteous as enjoying immortality in a state of joy, while the souls of the wicked are condemned to torment. These teachings were influential in shaping the religious beliefs of Persia and other surrounding nations.



The Influence of Babylonian Religion on the Doctrine of the Soul


The teaching of the immortality of the soul can also be traced back to ancient Babylon, which had a profound influence on the religions of Egypt, Persia, and Greece. According to the Bible, Babylon was founded by Nimrod, a great-grandson of Noah, after the global Flood. Genesis 10:8-10 tells us that Nimrod was a mighty warrior before Jehovah, and he established several cities, including Babel, which later became Babylon.


Babylonian religion played a significant role in shaping the beliefs of neighboring civilizations. The ancient Babylonians believed in life after death, and they often buried objects with the dead for their use in the afterlife. This belief in the continuation of life beyond death, though different in its specifics, contributed to the development of the idea that the soul is immortal.


According to Professor Morris Jastrow, a scholar of ancient Babylonian religion, the Babylonians did not believe in total annihilation after death. Instead, they viewed death as a transition to another form of existence. This belief was later passed down through the ages and influenced the development of religious doctrines in Egypt, Persia, and Greece.



How Did the Doctrine of the Immortality of the Soul Enter Christianity?


The Bible does not teach the immortality of the soul. Rather, it teaches that the soul is mortal and subject to death. Ezekiel 18:4 clearly states, "The soul who sins shall die." This teaching is consistent throughout Scripture, with no indication that human beings possess an immortal soul. Nevertheless, the idea of the soul’s immortality found its way into Christianity through the influence of Greek philosophy.


The New Encyclopædia Britannica notes that beginning in the second century C.E., some Christians, influenced by Greek philosophical thought, began to express their faith in terms of Greek philosophy. One of the most significant influences on early Christian doctrine was Platonism, the philosophy of Plato, which taught the immortality of the soul.


Two early Christian philosophers who played a significant role in shaping Christendom’s doctrines were Origen of Alexandria and Augustine of Hippo. Origen (c. 185–254 C.E.) was deeply influenced by Plato’s ideas and incorporated them into his Christian theology. He argued for the preexistence of the soul and its immortality, ideas that were not derived from the Bible but from Greek philosophy.


Augustine (354–430 C.E.), often regarded as one of the greatest thinkers in Christendom, also drew heavily from Platonic philosophy. Before his conversion to Christianity, Augustine was a Neoplatonist, and after his conversion, he continued to integrate Platonic ideas into his Christian theology. The New Catholic Encyclopedia admits that Augustine’s doctrine of the soul was significantly influenced by Neoplatonism, which taught the immortality of the soul.


In the centuries that followed, these philosophical ideas became deeply entrenched in Christian theology. Even during the Reformation of the 16th century, when many Protestant Reformers rejected certain Catholic teachings, the doctrine of the immortality of the soul remained largely unchallenged.



The Biblical Teaching on the Soul and the Hope of Resurrection


The Bible presents a clear and consistent teaching about the nature of the soul and the hope of the resurrection. According to Scripture, the soul is not an immortal entity that lives on after death. Rather, human beings are living souls (Genesis 2:7), and when they die, they return to the dust (Ecclesiastes 3:20).


The hope that the Bible offers is not the immortality of the soul but the resurrection of the dead. In 1 Corinthians 15:22-23, Paul writes, "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ." The resurrection is the hope of Christians, a future event when God will raise the dead to life through Jesus Christ.


In John 11:25-26, Jesus said to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die." This promise of resurrection is the foundation of the Christian hope, not the belief in an immortal soul that continues to exist after death.



The Final State of Those Who Receive Immortality


For those who receive immortality, their final state will be one of incorruption and eternal life in the presence of God. Revelation 21:3-4 describes the new heavens and the new earth, where "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." This is the ultimate destiny for those who inherit the kingdom of God.


The Bible does not provide a detailed description of what life will be like for those who receive immortality, but it is clear that they will no longer be subject to death or suffering. They will live in perfect fellowship with God, free from the effects of sin and death.


For those who do not receive immortality, their fate is the second death, from which there is no resurrection. Revelation 20:14-15 speaks of this second death as the final judgment for those who reject God. This judgment involves complete and irreversible destruction, not eternal torment.



The Importance of Understanding the Biblical Teaching on Immortality


Understanding the biblical teaching on immortality and eternal life is essential for Christians, as it shapes our hope for the future and our understanding of the nature of humanity. The Bible’s teaching is clear: human beings are not inherently immortal, and eternal life is a gift from God that is granted through faith in Jesus Christ. Immortality, on the other hand, is something that is given to those who will dwell with God in heaven, where they will be free from death and corruption.


The false teaching of the immortality of the soul, which has its roots in pagan philosophy, has led many to misunderstand the nature of human existence and the hope of the resurrection. As Christians, we must hold firmly to the truth of Scripture and reject any teachings that are not rooted in God’s Word.


About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220 books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).


YOU MAY ALSO LIKE


Discover what the Bible and historical texts reveal about death, the soul, and immortality. Uncover surprising insights.



RECOMMENDED READING FOR CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS AND EVANGELISM


21 views0 comments

Opmerkingen

bottom of page