IMMORTALITY

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 2, 1901

“IMMORTALITY,” in the Scriptures, comes from two Greek words, athanasia, the literal meaning of which is deathlessness, and aphtharsia, signifying incorruption. The former occurs three times, the latter, eight times: twice rendered “immortality,” four times “incorruption,” and twice “sincerity.” We also have the word “immortal,” occurring once (Greek aphthartō), meaning incorruptible. 1 Tim. 1:17.

All these terms indicate a condition of being the very reverse of what we see here. On every side are decay, corruption, death. But the passages in which these words occur, refer to a state of growth, incorruption, incorruptibleness, deathlessness. Those who inhabit that state can not die. They know not the evils of pain, disease, decay, death, and sorrow. Men long for immortality. Satan endeavors to make man believe that he now possesses it. A theology based on pagan tradition teaches the same thing. Science has attempted in vain to demonstrate the dream to be true. All that it has accomplished is to manifest the fact, so abundantly clear in the Word of God, that there are unseen spirit intelligences which communicate in some degree with mortals. Who and what these intelligences are, the Bible plainly shows.

But what does the Bible teach in the passages above referred to, concerning man’s condition? Here are all the passages in which the words occur, both in English and the original. Study them carefully.

“Who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality [aphtharsian, God will render], eternal life.” Rom. 2:6, 7.

“Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity [aphtharsia]. Amen.” Eph. 6:24. So also in Titus 2:7.

“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption [aphtharsia].” 1 Cor. 15:42.

“Our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality [aphtharsian] to light through the Gospel.” 2 Tim. 1:10.

“Flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption [aphtharsian]. Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible [aphthartoi], and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption [aphtharsian], and this mortal must put on immortality [athanasian]. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption [aphtharsian], and this mortal shall have put on immortality [athanasian], then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Cor. 15:50–54.

“The blessed and only potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality [athanasian].” 1 Tim. 6:15, 16.

In the consideration of all these, we can come to only these conclusions:—

1. They refer to that character, incorruptible character, which only faith in Christ can give. This is the case with Rom. 2:7. To those who by continuance in well-doing, seek for that glory, honor, and incorruption which God alone can give, He will render absolutely eternal life. Eph. 6:24 is of the same character: “All them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruptness.” (R.V.) It is a love that is pure, with no element of alloy.

2. Upon those who attain the incorruptible character, Christ will bestow physical incorruption and absolute deathlessness. Immortality is, therefore, God’s stamp of a tested character, a deathless character, worthy of endless existence. It can therefore be possessed by those only who have been regenerated and perfected in Jesus Christ. God gives them faith, His own life, now, His actual, eternal life, that they may attain that character; and when attained, He bestows that life and immortality absolutely forever.

3. God alone is immortal. He only is inherently immortal, because inherently perfect. To claim inherent immortality is to make ourselves equal with God, and to trust in the serpent’s lying assurance

“Ye shall not surely die,” instead of in the glorious promises of our Lord Jesus Christ, which make immortality possible to all thru the Gospel. Those who accept Him will know the glorious change and the eternal existence.