Study 2: Who Has Immortality? — Answer Key¶
Immortality, Mortality, and Eternal Life in Scripture
Recall from Study 1 the difference between Explicit (the Bible directly says it) and Inference (someone concludes it from the Bible, but no verse states it). Keep that distinction in mind as you work through this study.
Section A: Who Possesses Immortality?¶
1. Read 1 Timothy 6:15-16. Who does Paul say has immortality? Does he say "God and humans" or "God only"?
God only. The Greek word monos means "alone, only." Paul ascribes exclusive attributes to God: "the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality." The word monos marks exclusivity without qualification — just as "the only true God" (John 17:3) does not mean "true in a special sense."
"Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto." — 1 Timothy 6:16
2. Read 1 Timothy 1:17. What four attributes does Paul give to God? Which one relates to our study?
Paul calls God "the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God." The word "immortal" translates aphthartos (G862) — incorruptible. God's nature is incorruptibility. This is presented as a divine attribute, not a shared human quality.
"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever." — 1 Timothy 1:17
3. Read Romans 1:23. Paul contrasts "the uncorruptible God" with "corruptible man." According to this verse, which word describes the human condition — corruptible or uncorruptible?
Corruptible. Paul places God and humans on opposite sides of the divide: God is aphthartos (uncorruptible/incorruptible); man is phthartos (corruptible). The contrast is explicit and in the same verse. Man is not described as sharing God's incorruptible nature.
"And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man." — Romans 1:23
4. Read 2 Timothy 1:10. What did Christ bring "to light through the gospel"? If immortality needed to be brought to light, was it already in human possession?
Christ "abolished death, and brought life and immortality (aphtharsia) to light through the gospel." If immortality were already an inherent human possession, there would be nothing to bring to light. The language indicates immortality was revealed and made available through the gospel — not something humans already had.
"Our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." — 2 Timothy 1:10
Section B: Is the Human Body Mortal or Immortal?¶
5. Read Romans 6:12. What word does Paul use to describe the human body?
"Mortal." The Greek word thnetos (G2349) means "subject to death." Paul says "your mortal body" — directly describing the human body as mortal.
6. Read Romans 8:11. What does Paul say God will do with believers' "mortal bodies"? Is this a present reality or a future promise?
God "shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit." The verb is future — this is a promise of future transformation, not a present reality. The body is mortal now; God will make it alive in the future.
"He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." — Romans 8:11
7. Read 2 Corinthians 4:11. What phrase does Paul use for human flesh?
"Mortal flesh" (thnetos sarx). Paul identifies human flesh as mortal — subject to death.
8. Read 2 Corinthians 5:4. What does Paul want to happen to "mortality"?
Paul desires "that mortality might be swallowed up of life." He does not want to be "unclothed" (disembodied) but "clothed upon" — to receive the resurrection body so that mortality is replaced by life. This is the same event described in 1 Corinthians 15:54.
Section C: When Is Immortality Received?¶
9. Read 1 Corinthians 15:53-54. What must "this mortal" put on? When does this happen — now, at death, or at the resurrection?
"This mortal must put on immortality." The context (1 Cor 15:51-52) places this at the resurrection: "the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." The language "must put on" indicates the mortal does not currently possess immortality — it is something acquired at the resurrection.
"For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." — 1 Corinthians 15:53
10. Read 1 Corinthians 15:52. How does Paul describe the dead after they are raised?
"The dead shall be raised incorruptible" (aphthartos). They are not incorruptible now — they become incorruptible when raised. The transformation happens at the resurrection.
11. Read Luke 20:35-36. Those counted worthy of the resurrection "can die no more." What does this imply about their condition before the resurrection?
The word "no more" (Greek ouketi — "no longer") implies they previously could die. If they were already immortal, saying they "can die no more" would be redundant. The inability to die is a new condition received at the resurrection, not a pre-existing one.
"Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection." — Luke 20:36
12. Read Romans 2:7. Is immortality something humans already possess, or something they must seek?
Something they must seek. "To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life." One does not seek what one already possesses.
"To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life." — Romans 2:7
Section D: Eternal Life — Gift or Possession?¶
13. Read Romans 6:23. What is the "gift of God"? What is the alternative?
The gift of God is "eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The alternative is death: "the wages of sin is death." The contrast is death versus eternal life. Eternal life is a gift, not an inherent possession.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." — Romans 6:23
14. Read 1 John 5:11-12. Where is eternal life located? What does the person who does not have the Son possess?
Eternal life is "in his Son" — it resides in Christ. "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." The person without Christ does not have life. The text does not say they have a lesser form of life or an immortal existence in torment — it says they do not have life.
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." — 1 John 5:11-12
15. Read John 3:16. What are the two possible outcomes presented? What is the alternative to everlasting life?
The two outcomes are everlasting life or perishing. "Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The alternative to everlasting life is not eternal conscious existence in another location — the text says the alternative is perishing.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." — John 3:16
16. Read John 3:36. What does the text say about the person who does not believe?
"He that believeth not the Son shall not see life." Not "shall see a worse form of life" — shall not see life at all.
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life." — John 3:36
17. Read Genesis 3:22-24. Why did God bar Adam from the tree of life? What would it have given him?
God barred Adam "lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever." If Adam already possessed an immortal soul that could never die, this action would be meaningless — he would live forever regardless. God's action only makes sense if man is wholly mortal and the tree of life was the means by which he could have sustained life indefinitely.
Explicit or Inference? — Answers¶
A. "God only hath immortality." - Explicit. 1 Timothy 6:16 directly states this.
B. "The human soul is inherently immortal." - Inference. No verse in the Bible says this. No verse uses the phrase "immortal soul." In fact, Ezekiel 18:4 says "the soul that sinneth, it shall die," and Matthew 10:28 says God can "destroy both soul and body." The claim of an inherently immortal soul requires adding a concept the text does not contain and overriding verses that say the opposite.
C. "This mortal must put on immortality." - Explicit. 1 Corinthians 15:53 directly states this.
D. "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." - Explicit. 1 John 5:12 directly states this.
E. "All humans are born with an immortal component that can never cease to exist." - Inference. No verse states this. All 18 NT occurrences of immortality vocabulary (athanasia, aphtharsia, aphthartos) describe either God's nature or the future resurrection state. Zero occurrences describe any part of the human being as presently immortal. The claim requires importing a concept from outside Scripture.
What the Bible Says vs. What People Say the Bible Teaches¶
| The Bible explicitly says... | People often claim the Bible teaches... |
|---|---|
| God only has immortality (1 Tim 6:16) | All humans possess immortality |
| Man is corruptible; God is uncorruptible (Rom 1:23) | Humans have an incorruptible soul |
| This mortal must put on immortality (1 Cor 15:53) | Humans already have immortality |
| Immortality must be sought (Rom 2:7) | Immortality is inherent |
| The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23) | The wages of sin is eternal torment |
| He that hath not the Son hath not life (1 John 5:12) | Everyone has life forever regardless |
| Man was barred from the tree of life lest he live forever (Gen 3:22-24) | Man already has eternal existence |