What does "eternal life" mean to a serious theologian?

Question

Don't say "life after death;" the phrase is oxymoronic and meaningless as well as non-biblical.

"Immortal soul" is not biblical. Egyptian religions, on which Judaism and Christianity are largely based, taught that the afterlife required food and drink buried with the mummy, since body and soul were transcended by the "khu," which had characteristics of both body and soul but had potential to transform into an Osiris (c.f. "the likeness of Christ").

Are there theologians who emphasize the adjective "eternal" while conceding that "life" refers to life in the here and now of reality? In that reading of the phrase, the point may be that the life you are living right now is to have the characteristics implied by the adjective "eternal." Who are the theologians who are putting this concept forward?

The phrase "post mortem" survival of the ego" is more precise than "eternal life" etc., however it seems regrettable to have to lean on Latin etc. instead of clear English.

It's the phrase "life after death" that's the oxymoron. There is no way you can try to make sense of that phrase without distorting the meaning of the words beyond recognition.

The question at issue relates to the phrase "eternal life." Does the adjective "eternal" describe quality, or quantity?

I think there are serious and thoughtful theologians who have come down on each side of that question. Who are they?

What are the justifications for considering the adjective "qualitative" or "quantitative"?

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Answer 1

with the huge wave of liberal "christians" eager to dilute the gospel to meaninglessness we add the open minded philospher, more than ready to dictate the suppositions and terminology to true religion. Thou commandest that eternal life is an oxymoron? St Paul was meticulous to teach us that as a seed has to die in order to give life to the new plant, SO OUR BODIES MUST DIE. other answerers have patiently told you how to flee the wrath to come,but, for myself, I fear your life will end with tis remaining an amusing Q

Answer 2

This basically means what happens next after death and if you are an atheist you believe that nothing happens and life moves on without you. If you are a christian you belive that there has to be some type of grand design. The phrase Life in "Life after Death" refers to the spirit, not the body. Believe me everyone will die. It just is basically another loophole in the master plan. There has to be somewhere the soul ends up besides in the pile of souls that have gone before us. Otherwise we wouldn't have so much evidence of ghosts/spirits in the world today. Maybe a sayonce would be a way to connect with people who've already passed and then all younonbelievers can finally see the light of your believings. God Bless!!!!

Answer 3

Well, the Bible wasn't written in English or Latin. So, that's something you have to work around.

You are correct in identifying that "eternal life" has the Theological concept of "Godly" life or "Joyfully Righteous" life carried in it.

However, since Jesus and the Apostles made it abundantly clear that there is a Resurrection of the "Saved" and the "Lost" it should not be neglected that there is an eternity waiting for us. This life will be like a single grain of sand in an ocean of existence.

Do not neglect that Jesus warned us not to take that point lightly, but to revere the one who can throw both body and and spirit into hell.

If it wasn't important, why'd he go to the cross to cure it?? I'm not getting a whole lot of benefit from salvation in this life since I get plenty have hatred just for being a Christian.

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It's important to remember that as smart as the Egyptians were, they didn't have the revelation of God outside of what was taught from Joseph before Moses.

In other words, they buried stuff with the Pharoahs because they were clueless.

But, it's also important to learn from that, all people have had a sense of an after life. A sense of, does not mean mastery of.

TEK

Answer 4

I'm not sure what your point is. No, that's not it... more like,

Why did you put so much effort into convincing us that we need to change a term to make more sense when the English language has never made sense and never will? Accept it! We all know what it means when people say eternal life. Nobody needs to change the term. If that were the case, we'd already have done that to countless English words and terms.

That said, it was all very well thought out (though that might mean you have too much time on your hands) and, mercifully, didn't seem to be attacking anyone's religion. A rare thing in this topic.

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Oh yeah, and murphdogg is right, Judaism was never based on Egyptian religion. I know you think it was, you are probably coming up with examples even as I write this, but NO. Judaism is NOT based on Egyptian religion. And Christianity being based on Judaism, it too it not based on Egyptian religion. Sorry. No offense, but I think that is important.

Answer 5

You are quite correct to point out that several well used phrases are not Biblical. But it is a mistake to think that you can be precise about the supernatural. You could move the argument a step forward by saying that eternal life equates more to "spiritual life after physical death".

Answer 6

There are many ways one can define "life." When I am talking about eternal life, I'm talking about the never-ending existance of that spark that makes me uniquely me; I call it the soul.

Basically, right now we are stuck within the bounds of space and time. We can maybe almost scratch the surface of thought outside of time, but it's a raindrop to a waterfall. So we use the word "eternal" in cases like this to mean that something (here, a soul) is unique and cannot be destroyed.

This isn't my strong suit in theology, so I'm afraid my answer isn't going to go very deep and I have no authors to suggest.

Answer 7

We were created out of the dust of the earth. Our bodies are mortal and will die.

Our spirits are eternal, all spirts, not just those of believers.
Therefore we all have eternal life right from our creator.

The term life after death refers to the resurection of our eartly bodies at the being"caught up in the clouds" in 1 Theselonians.

Simply put. Eternal life belongs to all from creation. We do however have to choose where we will spend it.

Answer 8

A "ethical being" could be a individual who obeys the 'regulations' or a set of morality standards of a society or way of existence maximum oftentimes based upon the triumphing faith of an area, or deemed a-ok via the triumphing ruler of the rustic. regrettably purely as a results of fact society deems a customary to be morally ideal does no longer unavoidably justify the movements or effects of a individual or a society. For cases, Polygamy and incest have been practiced for many centuries in the previous Jesus grew to become into born. Abraham married his a million/2 sister-which grew to become into an oftentimes taking place prepare on the time, then had a new child via Hagar the Egyptian handmaiden upon the request of Sarah. the main widespread out-come is that the later generations (even till as we communicate) have fought for their 'elementary inheritance rights'. Abraham, even yet it grew to become into no longer against the custom of the time (and no regulations were imputed with the intention to interrupt) certainly knew the problem it may reason to have a new child via the handmaiden-yet did it anyhow. guy is not any distinctive as we communicate, he nonetheless keeps ot bypass alongside with what society deems ideal with little or no regard to the destiny effects with the intention to 'slot in' and be oftentimes taking place via society..

Answer 9

What is the work and glory of God? “To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). I will explain the difference between these two ends: immortality and eternal life.

Bringing to pass immortality is essentially a work of creation. God speaks, and worlds are formed. At the culmination of this work, man is placed upon the earth to learn, be tested, and gain experience.

Because of the sacrifice of the Son of God, the hour will come when “all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28–29).

The just as well as the unjust are given a priceless and incomprehensible gift: immortality. Because of Jesus the Christ, we will live forever. We are immortal.

Eternal life, however, is something altogether different. Immortality is about quantity. Eternal life is about quality.

To use a metaphor, immortality is how long the dinner lasts. Eternal life is what is on the menu and who is with us at the table.

Eternal life is “the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7).

“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Eternal life is the culmination of existence. As spiritual children of God, you and I are heirs to this priceless fortune, benefactors to a glorious future, recipients of grace.

If immortality is God’s work, then eternal life is God’s glory. However, eternal life does not come automatically. We must purge our hearts of evil and fill them with the desire to do good continually. Our Heavenly Father, with love that is scarcely within our power to comprehend, desires more than just our immortality. He desires each of us to partake of this greatest of all gifts: eternal life.

In eternal life you will have your spirit, a perfected resurrected body, intelligence and your memories, perfect joy, and those you love.

Answer 10

You don't have to be a theologian to be a believer , God is not a respecter of persons, He doesn't care about nobody's title.
Eternal life is life forever, not your flesh , but your spirit lives on. Either in heaven with the Father or in hell with satan.