Word Studies

athanasia -- G110

Original: athanasia Transliteration: athanasia Pronunciation: ath-an-as-ee Part of Speech: feminine noun (n-f) Definition: from a compound of alpha (as a negative particle) and thanatos (G2288, death); deathlessness BLB Count: 3

Translations

• 3 (100%) "immortality"

All Verses (3 total -- complete list)

Verse	Text	Subject	Timing
1 Cor 15:53	"this mortal must put on immortality"	believers	future (resurrection)
1 Cor 15:54	"this mortal shall have put on immortality"	believers	future (resurrection)
1 Tim 6:16	"[God] who only hath immortality"	God	present (inherent)

Key Observations

1. Athanasia occurs only 3 times in the entire NT. It is never applied to human beings as a present possession.
2. The only entity said to currently possess (echon) athanasia is God (1 Tim 6:16), modified by "only" (monos).
3. In both 1 Cor 15 occurrences, athanasia is something "put on" (enduo) by mortal beings at the resurrection -- not something already possessed.
4. The word is a direct negation of thanatos (death): a-thanasia = "deathlessness."

Etymology

• alpha privative (a-) = "not, without"
• thanatos (G2288) = "death"
• Result: "without death" = "deathlessness"

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aphtharsia -- G861

Original: aphtharsia Transliteration: aphtharsia Pronunciation: af-thar-see Part of Speech: feminine noun (n-f) Definition: from aphthartos (G862); incorruptibility; genitive, unending existence BLB Count: 8

Translations

• 4 (50.0%) "incorruption"
• 2 (25.0%) "immortality"
• 2 (25.0%) "sincerity"

All Verses by Translation (8 total -- complete list)

"immortality" (2x): | Verse | Text | Subject | |-------|------|---------| | Rom 2:7 | "seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life" | believers seek it | | 2 Tim 1:10 | "brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" | Christ revealed it |

"incorruption" (4x): | Verse | Text | Subject | |-------|------|---------| | 1 Cor 15:42 | "sown in corruption; raised in incorruption" | resurrection body | | 1 Cor 15:50 | "corruption [cannot] inherit incorruption" | resurrection body | | 1 Cor 15:53 | "this corruptible must put on incorruption" | resurrection body | | 1 Cor 15:54 | "this corruptible shall have put on incorruption" | resurrection body |

"sincerity" / "uncorruptness" (2x): | Verse | Text | Subject | |-------|------|---------| | Eph 6:24 | "love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity" | quality of love | | Tit 2:7 | "in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity" | quality of teaching |

Key Observations

1. When translated "immortality," aphtharsia is something humans must seek (Rom 2:7) or that Christ brought to light (2 Tim 1:10) -- not something already possessed.
2. When translated "incorruption," it describes the future state of the resurrection body (1 Cor 15) -- the transformation from corruptible to incorruptible.
3. The "sincerity" usage shows the word's root meaning: freedom from decay/corruption in any sense -- moral, physical, or ontological.
4. In no occurrence is aphtharsia said to be an inherent human possession.

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thnetos -- G2349

Original: thnetos Transliteration: thnetos Pronunciation: thnay-tos Part of Speech: adjective (adj) Definition: from thnesko (to die); liable to die: mortal(-ity) BLB Count: 6

Translations

• 5 (83.3%) "mortal"
• 1 (16.7%) "mortality"

All Verses (6 total -- complete list)

Verse	Text	What is called thnetos
Rom 6:12	"your mortal body"	the body
Rom 8:11	"your mortal bodies"	the body (future quickening promised)
1 Cor 15:53	"this mortal must put on immortality"	the mortal being
1 Cor 15:54	"this mortal shall have put on immortality"	the mortal being
2 Cor 4:11	"our mortal flesh"	the flesh
2 Cor 5:4	"mortality might be swallowed up of life"	the mortal condition

Key Observations

1. Thnetos is applied to the human body/flesh in 4 of 6 occurrences (Rom 6:12; 8:11; 2 Cor 4:11; 5:4).
2. In 1 Cor 15:53-54, "this mortal" (touto to thneton) is presented as the subject that must "put on" immortality -- the mortal puts on immortality, not a part of the human that already has it.
3. No occurrence of thnetos distinguishes between a "mortal body" and an "immortal soul." The whole person is addressed as mortal.
4. The word is from thnesko (to die) -- it describes that which is subject to death.

Hebrew Sources (from Strong's cross-reference)

• H120: adam (human being) -- count: 3, PMI: 5.05 This connects thnetos to "adam" (humankind), reinforcing that mortality is predicated of humans as such.

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aphthartos -- G862

Original: aphthartos Transliteration: aphthartos Pronunciation: af-thar-tos Part of Speech: adjective (adj) Definition: from alpha (as a negative particle) and a derivative of phtheiro (to corrupt/destroy); undecaying BLB Count: 7

Translations

• 2 (28.6%) "incorruptible"
• 1 (14.3%) "uncorruptible"
• 1 (14.3%) "an incorruptible"
• 1 (14.3%) "immortal"
• 1 (14.3%) "of incorruptible"
• 1 (14.3%) "is not corruptible"

All Verses by Category (7 total -- complete list)

Applied to God (2x): | Verse | Text | |-------|------| | 1 Tim 1:17 | "Now unto the King eternal, immortal [aphthartos], invisible, the only wise God" | | Rom 1:23 | "changed the glory of the uncorruptible [aphthartos] God into an image made like to corruptible man" |

Applied to future/heavenly things (3x): | Verse | Text | |-------|------| | 1 Cor 15:52 | "the dead shall be raised incorruptible" | | 1 Pet 1:4 | "an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled" | | 1 Cor 9:25 | "they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible" |

Applied to spiritual things in the present (2x): | Verse | Text | |-------|------| | 1 Pet 1:23 | "born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible" | | 1 Pet 3:4 | "the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible" |

Key Observations

1. God is called aphthartos (1 Tim 1:17; Rom 1:23). Man is explicitly contrasted as corruptible (phthartos) in Rom 1:23.
2. The resurrection body is called aphthartos (1 Cor 15:52) -- the dead are raised incorruptible, meaning they were previously corruptible.
3. The heavenly inheritance is aphthartos (1 Pet 1:4) -- reserved in heaven, not something presently possessed on earth.
4. The "incorruptible seed" (1 Pet 1:23) and "hidden man of the heart" (1 Pet 3:4) apply aphthartos to spiritual qualities/new birth, not to inherent human nature.

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phthora -- G5356

Original: phthora Transliteration: phthora Pronunciation: fthor-ah Part of Speech: feminine noun (n-f) Definition: from phtheiro (to corrupt/destroy); decay, i.e. ruin (spontaneous or inflicted, literally or figuratively) BLB Count: 9

Translations

• 4 (44.4%) "corruption"
• 2 (22.2%) "of corruption"
• 1 (11.1%) "perish"
• 1 (11.1%) "the corruption"
• 1 (11.1%) "destroyed"

Key Verses

Corruption/incorruption contrast (1 Cor 15): - 1 Cor 15:42 -- "It is sown in corruption [phthora]; it is raised in incorruption [aphtharsia]" - 1 Cor 15:50 -- "neither doth corruption [phthora] inherit incorruption [aphtharsia]"

Corruption as the result of sin: - Gal 6:8 -- "he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption [phthora]" - 2 Pet 2:12 -- "shall utterly perish in their own corruption [phthora]" - 2 Pet 2:19 -- "they themselves are the servants of corruption [phthora]"

Bondage of corruption: - Rom 8:21 -- "the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption [phthora]"

Corruption in the world: - 2 Pet 1:4 -- "having escaped the corruption [phthora] that is in the world through lust"

Perishing with use: - Col 2:22 -- "Which all are to perish [phthora] with the using"

Key Observations

1. Phthora is the antonym of aphtharsia. The corruption/incorruption contrast in 1 Cor 15 is phthora vs. aphtharsia.
2. Creation is in "bondage of corruption" (Rom 8:21), waiting for deliverance.
3. Corruption is linked to the flesh and sin: sowing to the flesh reaps corruption (Gal 6:8).
4. Corruption is the present human condition from which deliverance is needed.

Hebrew Sources

• H3588: ki (particle) -- count: 3, PMI: 1.83 (not conceptually significant)

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diaphthora -- G1312

Original: diaphthora Transliteration: diaphthora Pronunciation: dee-af-thor-ah Part of Speech: feminine noun (n-f) Definition: from diaphtheiro (to corrupt/destroy utterly); decay: corruption BLB Count: 6

Translations

• 6 (100%) "corruption"

All Verses (6 total -- complete list, all in Acts)

Verse	Text	Context
Acts 2:27	"neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption"	Peter quoting Ps 16:10
Acts 2:31	"neither his flesh did see corruption"	Peter interpreting Ps 16
Acts 13:34	"no more to return to corruption"	Paul in Antioch
Acts 13:35	"Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption"	Paul quoting Ps 16
Acts 13:36	"David...saw corruption"	Paul: David's body decayed
Acts 13:37	"he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption"	Paul: Christ's body did not

Key Observations

1. All 6 uses of diaphthora are in apostolic sermons interpreting Psalm 16:10 as fulfilled in Christ's resurrection.
2. The argument in both Acts 2 and Acts 13: David died and his body saw corruption (diaphthora); Christ died but his body did NOT see corruption because God raised him.
3. This demonstrates that bodily decay/corruption is the normal human experience after death -- David's body decayed. The exception was Christ's resurrection before decay could occur.
4. Diaphthora refers to physical decomposition -- the decay of the body after death.

Hebrew Sources (top 3)

• H7845: shachath (pit, corruption) -- count: 8, PMI: 8.49, score: 18.65
• H7568: resheth (net) -- count: 3, PMI: 7.20
• H7843: shachath (to decay, destroy) -- count: 3, PMI: 4.52

Note: shachath (H7845/H7843) is the Hebrew word behind "corruption" in Psalm 16:10 that diaphthora translates in the LXX.

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zoe + aionios -- G2222 + G166 ("eternal life")

zoe -- G2222

Original: zoe Transliteration: zoe Pronunciation: dzo-ay Part of Speech: feminine noun (n-f) Definition: from zao (to live); life (literally or figuratively). Compare psyche. BLB Count: 134

Translations

• 54 (67.5%) "life"
• 24 (30.0%) "of life"
• 1 (1.2%) "lifetime"
• 1 (1.2%) "of the life"

aionios -- G166

Original: aionios Transliteration: aionios Pronunciation: ahee-o-nee-os Part of Speech: adjective (adj) Definition: from aion (age); perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well) BLB Count: 71

Translations

• 19 (39.6%) "eternal"
• 13 (27.1%) "everlasting"
• 7 (14.6%) "of eternal"
• Other: "since the world began," "for ever," etc.

"Eternal Life" (zoe aionios) -- Key Passages

The phrase zoe aionios (eternal life / everlasting life) appears across many NT books. Key occurrences relevant to this study:

Verse	Text	How eternal life is described
John 3:16	"not perish, but have everlasting life"	Conditional on belief; alternative is perishing
John 3:36	"believeth on the Son hath everlasting life"	Present possession through faith
John 5:24	"hath everlasting life...is passed from death unto life"	Transition from death to life
John 6:40	"may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day"	Connected to future resurrection
John 6:47	"He that believeth on me hath everlasting life"	Present possession through faith
John 6:54	"hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day"	Connected to future resurrection
John 10:28	"I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish"	Given by Christ; anti-perishing
John 17:3	"this is life eternal, that they might know thee"	Defined as relationship/knowledge
Rom 2:7	"seek for...immortality, eternal life"	Must be sought
Rom 5:21	"grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life"	Through grace and righteousness
Rom 6:23	"the gift of God is eternal life"	A gift, not an inherent possession
1 Tim 6:12	"lay hold on eternal life"	Must be grasped
1 Tim 6:19	"lay hold on eternal life"	Must be grasped
Tit 1:2	"hope of eternal life...promised before the world began"	A promise and hope
Tit 3:7	"heirs according to the hope of eternal life"	Future inheritance
1 John 2:25	"the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life"	A promise
1 John 5:11	"God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son"	Given by God; located "in his Son"
1 John 5:12	"He that hath the Son hath life; he that hath not the Son hath not life"	Conditional on having the Son
1 John 5:13	"that ye may know that ye have eternal life"	Assurance for believers

Key Observations on "Eternal Life"

1. Eternal life is consistently described as a gift (Rom 6:23), a promise (Tit 1:2; 1 John 2:25), a hope (Tit 3:7), something to seek (Rom 2:7), something to lay hold of (1 Tim 6:12, 19), and something given through Christ (John 10:28; 1 John 5:11).
2. In John's writings, eternal life is located "in his Son" (1 John 5:11) -- he who has the Son has life; he who has not the Son has not life (1 John 5:12).
3. Multiple passages connect eternal life to the future resurrection: "I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:40, 44, 54).
4. The alternative to eternal life is described as "perish" (John 3:16; 10:28) or "death" (Rom 6:23).

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thanatos -- G2288

Original: thanatos Transliteration: thanatos Pronunciation: than-at-os Part of Speech: masculine noun (n-m) Definition: from thnesko (to die); death (literally or figuratively) BLB Count: 119

Translations

• 55 (56.7%) "death"
• 26 (26.8%) "of death"
• 5 (5.2%) "the death"
• Other: "to death," "deadly," etc.

Key Verses Relevant to This Study

Verse	Text
Rom 5:12	"by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men"
Rom 5:17	"by one man's offence death reigned by one"
Rom 6:23	"the wages of sin is death"
1 Cor 15:21	"since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection"
1 Cor 15:26	"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death"
1 Cor 15:54-55	"Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting?"
2 Tim 1:10	"Christ Jesus, who hath abolished death"
Heb 2:14	"him that had the power of death, that is, the devil"

Key Observations

1. Thanatos is the word negated in a-thanasia (G110). Athanasia literally means "no-death."
2. Death entered through Adam's sin (Rom 5:12) and passes to all humans -- it is universal.
3. Death is called "the last enemy" that will be destroyed (1 Cor 15:26).
4. Christ "abolished" (katargeo -- rendered inoperative) death (2 Tim 1:10).
5. The wages of sin is thanatos (Rom 6:23); the gift of God is zoe aionios.

Hebrew Sources (top 5)

• H4194: maveth (death) -- count: 97, PMI: 5.98, score: 27.43
• H1698: deber (pestilence) -- count: 34, PMI: 6.19, score: 22.00
• H4191: muth (to die) -- count: 84, PMI: 3.56, score: 15.81
• H7458: ra'ab (hunger/famine) -- count: 25, PMI: 4.83
• H6757: tsalmaveth (shadow of death/grave) -- count: 12, PMI: 6.09

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aidios -- G126 (Supporting)

Original: aidios Transliteration: aidios Pronunciation: ah-id-ee-os Part of Speech: adjective (adj) Definition: from aei (always); everduring (forward and backward, or forward only) BLB Count: 2

Translations

• 1 (50%) "eternal"
• 1 (50%) "in everlasting"

All Verses (2 total -- complete list)

Verse	Text
Rom 1:20	"his eternal [aidios] power and Godhead"
Jude 1:6	"in everlasting [aidios] chains under darkness"

Key Observations

1. Aidios is much rarer than aionios (2 vs. 71 occurrences). It appears to denote permanent, everlasting duration.
2. Applied to God's power (Rom 1:20) and to the chains binding fallen angels (Jude 1:6).
3. Not directly applied to human immortality in any occurrence.

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Summary: Word Family Relationships

IMMORTALITY/INCORRUPTION FAMILY:
  athanasia (G110) -- "deathlessness" (noun) -- 3x
  aphtharsia (G861) -- "incorruptibility" (noun) -- 8x
  aphthartos (G862) -- "incorruptible" (adj) -- 7x

MORTALITY/CORRUPTION FAMILY:
  thanatos (G2288) -- "death" (noun) -- 119x
  thnetos (G2349) -- "mortal, liable to die" (adj) -- 6x
  phthora (G5356) -- "corruption, decay" (noun) -- 9x
  diaphthora (G1312) -- "corruption, decay" (noun) -- 6x

LIFE/ETERNAL FAMILY:
  zoe (G2222) -- "life" (noun) -- 134x
  aionios (G166) -- "eternal, everlasting" (adj) -- 71x
  aidios (G126) -- "everlasting, eternal" (adj) -- 2x

Distribution Pattern

• Immortality/incorruption applied to God: athanasia (1 Tim 6:16), aphthartos (1 Tim 1:17; Rom 1:23)
• Immortality/incorruption as future for believers: athanasia (1 Cor 15:53-54), aphtharsia (1 Cor 15:42, 50, 53, 54), aphthartos (1 Cor 15:52)
• Immortality/incorruption applied to spiritual qualities: aphthartos (1 Pet 1:4, 23; 3:4; 1 Cor 9:25)
• Immortality/incorruption as something to seek or that Christ revealed: aphtharsia (Rom 2:7; 2 Tim 1:10)
• Mortality/corruption applied to humans: thnetos (Rom 6:12; 8:11; 2 Cor 4:11; 5:4), phthora (1 Cor 15:42, 50; Gal 6:8)
• Mortality/corruption never applied to God: God is always aphthartos, never thnetos or phthartos.
• Immortality/incorruption never applied to human beings as a present inherent possession: In no NT verse is a human being or the human soul described with athanasia, aphtharsia, or aphthartos as a current, inherent quality.

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