SPECIAL TOPIC: LIFE (zoē)

1. This is not the Greek concept of every human having an immortal pre-existing "soul." Believers' immortality begins with their personal repentant faith in Christ. God is the only source of immortality (cf. 1 Tim. 1:17; 6:16). He gives it freely through Christ (and Christ alone).
   For the theological concept of "limited immortality," please view the YouTube videos by
   1. Edward Fudge, "The Fire That Consumes"
   2. Steve Gregg, "Hell: Three Christian Views"
   
   
2. The term's use in the Synoptic Gospels
   1. new life in Christ, New Age life
      1. Matt. 7:14; 18:8,9; 19:16,17,29; 25:46
      2. Mark 9:43,45; 10:17,30
      3. Luke 10:25; 18:18,30
   2. physical life in this world
      1. Matt.
      2. Luke 1:75; 12:15
   
   
3. The term in John's Gospel
   1. resurrection life, life of the New Age ‒ John 1:4; 3:15,36; 4:14,36; 5:24,26,29,39,40; 6:27,33,35,40,47,48,51,53,54,63,68; 8:12; 10:10,28; 11:25; 12:25,50; 14:6; 17:2,3; 20:31
   2. John's letters ‒ John 1:1,2; 2:25; 3:14,15; 5:11,12,13,16,20
   
   
4. The term "life" (zoē) is used several times in the Pastoral Letters and can mean
   1. eternal life (1 Tim. 1:16; 6:12; Titus 1:2; 3:7)
   2. true life (1 Tim. 6:19)
   3. present life and life of the age to come (1 Tim. 4:8)
   4. promise of life in Christ (2 Tim. 1:1)
   5. life and immortality through Christ (2 Tim. 1:10)
      There are two related terms used in the Pastoral Letters to express never ending, new age life:
      1. "corrupt" with an ALPHA PRIVATIVE (2 Tim. 1:10; Titus 2:7; Rom. 2:7; 1 Cor. 15:52-54)
      2. "death" with an ALPHA PRIVATIVE (1 Tim. 6:16 and 1 Cor. 15:53-54)
   
   
5. The NT uses other Greek terms to denote physical life
   1. psuchē ‒ many times
   2. pneuma ‒ Rev. 13:15
   3. zaō ‒ 2 Cor. 1:8
   4. bios ‒ Mark 12:44; Luke 8:43; 15:12; 1 Pet. 4:3; 1 John 3:17

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