King James Bible Dictionary

ETER'NAL, adjective [Latin oeternus, composed of oevum and ternus, oeviternus, Varro. The origin of the last component part of the word is not obvious. It occurs in diuturnus, and seems to denote continuance.]

1. Without beginning or end of existence.

The eternal God is thy refuge. Deuteronomy 33:27.

2. Without beginning of existence.

To know whether there is any real being, whose duration has been eternal

3. Without end of existence or duration; everlasting; endless; immortal.

That they may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2:10.

What shall I do, that I may have eternal life? Matthew 19:16.

Suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Jude 1:7.

4. Perpetual; ceaseless; continued without intermission.

And fires eternal in thy temple shine.

5. Unchangeable; existing at all times without change; as eternal truth.

ETER'NAL, noun An appellation of God.

The miserable fate of the wicked in hell (Matthew 25:46; Mark 3:29; Hebrews 6:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Matthew 18:8; 25:41; Jude 1:7). The Scripture as clearly teaches the unending duration of the penal sufferings of the lost as the "everlasting life," the "eternal life" of the righteous. The same Greek words in the New Testament (aion, aionios, aidios) are used to express (1) the eternal existence of God (1 Timothy 1:17; Romans 1:20; 16:26); (2) of Christ (Revelation 1:18); (3) of the Holy Ghost (Hebrews 9:14); and (4) the eternal duration of the sufferings of the lost (Matthew 25:46; Jude 1:6).

Their condition after casting off the mortal body is spoken of in these expressive words- "Fire that shall not be quenched" (Mark 9:45, 46), "fire unquenchable" (Luke 3:17), "the worm that never dies," the "bottomless pit" (Revelation 9:1), "the smoke of their torment ascending up for ever and ever" (Revelation 14:10, 11).

The idea that the "second death" (Revelation 20:14) is in the case of the wicked their absolute destruction, their annihilation, has not the slightest support from Scripture, which always represents their future as one of conscious suffering enduring for ever.

The supposition that God will ultimately secure the repentance and restoration of all sinners is equally unscriptural. There is not the slightest trace in all the Scriptures of any such restoration. Sufferings of themselves have no tendency to purify the soul from sin or impart spiritual life. The atoning death of Christ and the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit are the only means of divine appointment for bringing men to repentance. Now in the case of them that perish these means have been rejected, and "there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins" (Hebrews 10:26, 27).

This expression occurs in the Old Testament only in Daniel 12:2 (R.V., "everlasting life").

It occurs frequently in the New Testament (Matthew 7:14; 18:8, 9; Luke 10:28; comp. 18:18). It comprises the whole future of the redeemed (Luke 16:9), and is opposed to "eternal punishment" (Matthew 19:29; 25:46). It is the final reward and glory into which the children of God enter (1 Timothy 6:12, 19; Romans 6:22; Galatians 6:8; 1 Timothy 1:16; Romans 5:21); their Sabbath of rest (Hebrews 4:9; comp. 12:22).

The newness of life which the believer derives from Christ (Romans 6:4) is the very essence of salvation, and hence the life of glory or the eternal life must also be theirs (Romans 6:8; 2 Timothy 2:11, 12; Romans 5:17, 21; 8:30; Ephesians 2:5, 6). It is the "gift of God in Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). The life the faithful have here on earth (John 3:36; 5:24; 6:47, 53-58) is inseparably connected with the eternal life beyond, the endless life of the future, the happy future of the saints in heaven (Matthew 19:16, 29; 25:46).

See Life, Everlasting
Life, Everlasting

See Punishment, Eternal
Punishment, Eternal

ETER'NALIST, noun One who holds the past existence of the world to be infinite.

ETER'NALIZE, verb transitive To make eternal; to give endless duration to. [We now use eternize.]

ETER'NALLY, adverb Without beginning or end of duration, or without end only.

1. Unchangeably; invariably; at all times.

That which is morally good must be eternally and unchangeably so.

2. Perpetually; without intermission; at all times.

Where western gales eternally reside.