AboutEternal Life
The words “eternal life” are often repeated in Christian circles without much elaboration. We tend to assume that everyone just knows what it means to have eternal life. But what about those of us with questions or uncertainties? The words on their own don’t seem to mean much.
What does it really mean to have eternal life? These Bible verses provide the answer.CLICK TO TWEET
What Does the Bible Say?
Most Christian buzzwords can be easily clarified with a quick look in the Bible, and “eternal life” is no exception. If you or anyone else is confused about what it truly means to have eternal life, these verses can help you:
- Matthew 7:13-14
- John 3:16-17
- 1 John 5:11-13
- 1 Timothy 6:12
1) Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
This verse emphasizes that eternal life is a prize found by only a precious few. While salvation is freely available to all, many will not accept it.
This verse emphasizes that eternal life is a prize found by only a precious few. While salvation is freely available to all, many will not accept it.
Pro Tip: In Matthew 7:13-14, the Greek word used for destruction is apoleia, which refers both to utter material and monetary ruin and to eternal death. In contrast, the word used for life is zoe, which refers to a fulfilled life of joy and prosperity.
2) John 3:16-17
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16 is the go-to verse for most Christians when talking about eternal life. However, most people don’t keep reading to verse 17, which elaborates on what Jesus actually meant. Eternal life implies more than just living forever and being happy. It also means we’ve been rescued from the punishment our sins deserve. Everlasting life is salvation.
3) 1 John 5:11-13
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
This verse emphasizes the gift of eternal life and its necessity for everyone. But it also takes the concept a step further by adding the idea that a person can know for sure that they have this gift. There is no uncertainty or expired warranty on salvation.
4) 1 Timothy 6:12
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
This verse is sometimes used to justify the notion that salvation is earned by good works rather than freely given. However, a closer look reveals the truth. Like any gift, salvation only becomes yours if you accept it. A neglected gift doesn’t truly belong to you. In order to enjoy the benefits of salvation and eternal life, you have to willingly accept God’s gift to you.
Thoughts on Salvation
These verses barely scratch the surface of what the Bible has to say about salvation and eternal life. The theme runs through the entire book. The best way to see the complete picture of eternal life is to do an in-depth Bible study on the topic yourself. Plenty of others will be ready to join you.
Do you still have questions about salvation and the Bible? Join the conversation to see what these verses mean to others.
Deuteronomy 33:27
The eternal God [is thy] refuge, and underneath [are] the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy [them].
Isaiah 60:15
Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through [thee], I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
Matthew 19:16
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Matthew 25:46
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Mark 3:29
But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
Mark 10:17
And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Mark 10:30
But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Luke 10:25
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luke 18:18
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
John 3:15
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 4:36
And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
John 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
John 6:54
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:68
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
John 10:28
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.
John 12:25
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
John 17:2
As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Acts 13:48
And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Romans 1:20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Romans 2:7
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Romans 5:21
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Corinthians-2 4:17
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory;
Corinthians-2 4:18
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.
Corinthians-2 5:1
For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Ephesians 3:11
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Timothy-1 1:17
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, [be] honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Timothy-1 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Timothy-1 6:19
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Timothy-2 2:10
Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Titus 1:2
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Titus 3:7
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Hebrews 5:9
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Hebrews 6:2
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Hebrews 9:12
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].
Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 9:15
And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Peter-1 5:10
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you].
John-1 1:2
(For the life was manifested, and we have seen [it], and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
John-1 2:25
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, [even] eternal life.
John-1 3:15
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
John-1 5:11
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
John-1 5:13
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
John-1 5:20
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Jude 1:7
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jude 1:21
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
19+Bible Verses – Eternal Life God Will Give Us
What can we gain from Christ? This question can be asked by many and the answer that Jesus gave is eternal life. Eternal life means a life that has no end.
When Peter asked Jesus what they would get as they had spent their lives for his mission. Jesus answered them that they will get eternal life.
Eternal life is the hope of the believers. Jesus also says that he is the resurrection and life. When a person believes in him and walks according to his instructions will inherit eternal life.
Romans 12:12 says that believers should be patient in times of sorrow but they must rejoice in the hope that they have eternal life.
Paul made it clear in Philippians 3. He described his Christian life and mentioned how he understood the value of eternal life which he found in Jesus. He also assured the believers to rely on the hope of Eternal life that Christ has prepared for us.
In 1 Corinthians 15:19, Paul said that those who depend on Christ only on this world are unfortunate among all because there is life after this world and that is eternal life. So, he urged us to look forward to eternal life so that we all can live together with Christ in heaven.
1 Thessalonians 5:8(KJV)“But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation”
Explanation:- In Christ we have the assurance of salvation and this is the hope of the believers. Paul teaches us to walk in the spirit so our hope will be fulfilled on the day of the Lord’s second arrival.
Titus 1:2(KJV)“In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began”
Explanation:- For the believers have a high hope of eternal life which has formed before the creation of this world. God has promised his faithful children to deliver them into the promised land where they will live forever.
Titus 3:7(KJV)“That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life”
Explanation:- The Lord has shown his Grace on the cross and made the way of salvation for entire human beings. God loves us very much that is why he sent his son Jesus to save us from the power of sin and give us a hope of eternal life.
Micah 7:7(KJV)“Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me”
Explanation:- God has given us the best gift that is eternal life. The Lord says none can snatch us from his hand. If we look forward to the Lord and obey all of his commandments then we will gain the promise of eternal life.
Romans 6:22(KJV)“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life”
Explanation:- The sin was introduced into the world by one man and eternal life also came to mankind by one man Jesus. He gave us the way to reach heaven by following Jesus.
Romans 6:23(KJV)“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”
Explanation:- In Christ Jesus we have a hope of eternal life and we all can get that by trusting him and walking in his teachings. By nature we all are sinners and we cannot reach heaven by our good works. The wages of sin is death but Jesus can give us eternal life when we trust him as our Lord and savior.
Romans 10:9(KJV)“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved”
Explanation:- Jesus was resurrected on the third day of his crucifixion and he proved that we will also be given a spiritual body by which we will reign with him forever.
Romans 2:6-8(KJV)“Who will render to every man according to his deeds:To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath”
Explanation:- We are the chosen people in the eyes of the Lord and he promised us that he will put us in his Kingdom where we will live with him forever. For the non-believers they do not have this hope but for us who follow Jesus and live according to his instructions will be rewarded at the time of judgement and will live with him in heaven.
John 3:16(KJV)“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”
Explanation:- God loves us very much and he doesn’t want us to perish because of his wrath. To give us a new life and eternal life he came on this earth and took the human form and died on the cross to give us salvation.
John 5:24(KJV)“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life”
Explanation:- Jesus says that whosoever will trust him and follow him will not see death and they will be given eternal life which will have no ending. He also proved eternal Life by showing his resurrected body to his disciples and all of the people who desired to see his face.
1 John 2:25(KJV)“And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life”
Explanation:- God has promised us that we will have eternal life in heaven and to inherit that we must live a holy life which pleases the Lord.
John 4:14(KJV)“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life”
Explanation:- Jesus offers the living water to everyone who believes he will drink from him and gain everlasting life and this is the hope of mankind.
1 John 5:13(KJV)“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God”
Explanation:- John wrote in his letter to believe in Jesus in order to get eternal life. This is the hope to the believers and everyone must seek after it. God will bless them who will turn their face from the sin towards his righteousness.
John 6:47(KJV)“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life”
Explanation:- If anyone believes in Jesus Christ will achieve eternal life. Jesus came on this earth to give the man full life which he has no knowledge beyond him.
John 10:27-28(KJV)“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand”
Explanation:- Jesus says that his children will obey him and follow him throughout life because they will be given the life of never-ending. This is the promise to each and every believer who will live righteously in this world.
John 11:25-26(KJV)“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this”
Explanation:- Every year many people are dying without knowing Jesus and it is a tragic moment for them when Jesus will come on this earth and they will be resurrected from their death and they will see a new life but they will not be able to enter into his Kingdom. Here Jesus expressed that whosoever will believe him will never see death but they will be rewarded with the everlasting life in heaven.
John 6:40(KJV)“And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day”
Explanation:- The followers of Jesus Christ will not gain any respect and honor from this world but they have a high hope which the world doesn’t have. They will be resurrected with the glorious body and reign with Christ in heaven in the days to come.
1 Timothy 6:12(KJV) “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses”
Explanation:- Paul urged Timothy to become a good evangelist so that he can preach the gospel to the world and people can turn their lives from sin to Jesus. Only Jesus offers eternal life which can be received by faith.
Galatians 6:7-8(KJV)“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting”
Explanation:- The scripture says we should not mock God but to take him seriously because he will give each of us eternal life according to our works on this earth. If we work for our flesh then we will inherit hell but if we think for our spirit then we will be given eternal life in heaven.
Bible Verses About Eternal Life In Heaven
“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”
– 1 John 5:11
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
– John 5:24
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
– John 3:16
I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”
– John 6:51
“And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.”
“The afflicted will eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the LORD. Let your heart live forever!”
– Psalm 22:26
“The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will be forever.”
– Psalm 37:18
“Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
– Psalm 23:6
But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me.”
– Psalm 49:15
“O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?”
– 1 Corinthians 15:55
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?””
– John 11:25-26
Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”
– John 6:27
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”
– John 10:27-28
But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.
– John 4:14
Bible Verses AboutEternal Life
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 17:3
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
John 5:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
Matthew 25:46
And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Romans 10:13
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
John 6:50-71
This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. …
John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
1 John 2:25
And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
Luke 23:43
And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Romans 2:6-8
He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Revelation 21:8
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
John 4:14
But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Acts 4:12
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Romans 8:38-39
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 John 5:13
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 6:27
Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
1 John 5:11
And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1 Timothy 1:16
But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
Romans 5:21
death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 14:23
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
John 6:40
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
John 5:28-29
Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
John 10:27-28
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Eternal life Christianity
According to mainstream Christian theology, after death but before the Second Coming, the saved live with God in an intermediate state, but after the Second Coming, experience the physical resurrection of the dead and the physical recreation of a New Earth. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “By death the soul is separated from the body, but in the resurrection God will give incorruptible life to our body, transformed by reunion with our soul. Just as Christ is risen and lives for ever, so all of us will rise at the last day.”[1]N.T. Wright argues that “God’s plan is not to abandon this world… Rather, he intends to remake it. And when he does, he will raise all people to new bodily life to live in it. That is the promise of the Christian gospel.”[2]
In the Synoptic Gospels and the Pauline Letters, eternal life is generally regarded as a future experience, but the Gospel of John differs from them in its emphasis on eternal life as a “present possession”.[3][4]Raymond E. Brown points out that in the synoptic gospels eternal life is something received at the final judgment, or a future age (Mark 10:30, Matthew 18:8-9) but the Gospel of John positions eternal life as a present possibility, as in John 5:24.[5]
Thus, unlike the synoptics, in the Gospel of John eternal life is not only futuristic, but also pertains to the present.[6][3][4] In John, those who accept Christ can possess life “here and now” as well as in eternity, for they have “passed from death to life”, as in John 5:24: “He who hears my word, and believes him that sent me, has eternal life, and comes not into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”[7] In John, the purpose for the incarnation, death, resurrection and glorification of The Word was to provide eternal life to humanity.[6]
In the New TestamentEdit
While the Synoptic Gospels are seen as focusing on the proclamation of the Kingdom of God, some scholars see eternal life as the central theme of Jesus‘ preaching in the Gospel of John,[6][12][13] where receiving eternal life is seen to be synonymous with entering the Kingdom.[14] In Christian teachings, eternal life is not an inherent part of human existence, and is a unique gift from God, based on the model of the Resurrection of Jesus, viewed as a unique event through which death was conquered “once for all”, permitting Christians to experience eternal life.[7] This eternal life is provided to believers, generally assumed to be at the resurrection of the dead.[7]
In New Testament theology, in addition to “life” (zoe, i.e. ζωὴ in Greek), there is also a promised spiritual life sometimes described by the adjective eternal (aionios i.e. αἰώνιος in Greek) but other times simply referred to as “life”.[7][15] In both John and Paul the possibility of attaining eternal life and avoiding the wrath of God is dependent on believing in Jesus, the Son of God. For John abiding in Christ involves love for one another, as in John 15:9-17, and John 5:24. The existence of divine love in believers, then facilitates the influence of the gospel on the world, and lead to widespread salvation.[7]1 John 3:14 then manifests “the already but not yet” acquisition of eternal life by referring to the acquisition of eternal life as a once for all (ephapax) event, and the role of love in attaining it: “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death”, somewhat reminiscent of the words of Jesus in John 5:24.[16]
Pauline lettersEdit
In the Pauline epistles, the oldest texts in the New Testament,[citation needed] eternal life becomes possible in the person of Christ, where by the grace of God and through faith in Christ humans can receive the gift of eternal life.[17] For Paul (as in Galatians 6:8) future eternal life arrives as a result of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit during the present life.[18][19] Paul views sin as an obstacle to attaining eternal life, as in Romans 6:23. For Paul eternal life is a future possession and “the eschatological goal towards which believers strive.”[4] Paul emphasizes that eternal life is not merely something to be earned, but a gift from God, as in Romans 6:23: “wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”[4] Romans 6:23 thus also counter-positions sin and eternal life: while sin results in death, those who are “in Christ” will reap eternal life.[20]
Paul also discusses the relationship of eternal life to the Holy Spirit, stating that to be with the Spirit and to think with the Spirit leads to eternal life, e.g. Galatians 6:8: :”he who sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.”[18] For Paul future eternal life arrives as a result of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit during the present life, and the inter-related statements about the present life, the Spirit and future life form a key element of the teachings on the topic in Galatians.[19]
1 Timothy 1:16 characterizes Christians by reference to eternal life and calls the followers of Jesus: “an ensample of them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life.” and 6:12 advises them to “fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal”.[4]
Synoptic GospelsEdit
The New Testament includes fifteen occurrences of the word life, eight of these including the adjective eternal.[15]
There are parallels in how the synoptics refer to “being saved” and John refers to eternal life, as in the table below:[21]
| Matthew 16:25 | Mark 8:35 | Luke 9:24 | John 12:25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| … whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. | … whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s shall save it. | … whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. | … he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. |
In the Gospel of Luke, the Parable of the Good Samaritan begins with a question about eternal life in 10:25 when a lawyer asks Jesus what he needs to do to “inherit eternal life”.
The Gospel of Matthew includes references to eternal life, in 19:16, 19:29 and 25:46. The reference in Matthew 19:16 is within the parable of Jesus and the rich young man which also appears in Mark 10:17–31 and Luke 18:18–30.[22] This parable relates the term “eternal life” to entry into the Kingdom of God.[23] The parable starts by a question to Jesus from the young man: “what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” and Jesus advises him to keep the commandments, and then refers to entry into the “Kingdom of God” in the same context.[15][23]
Johannine literatureEdit
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
The Johannine concept of eternal life differs from the synoptic view.[3]Johannine writings specifically present the view of eternal life as not simply futuristic, but also pertaining to the present, so those who hear the words of Jesus and trust in Yaweh can possess life “here and now” as well as in eternity, for they have “passed from death to life”, as in John 5:24.[6][7] Overall, the New Testament balances the present and future with respect to eternal life: the believer has passed from death to eternal life, but this remains to be totally realized in the future.[9][24]
There are about 37 uses of the word life in the Gospel of John, of which about half refer to eternal life.[6][13][15][25] There are six appearances in 1 John.[6] The concept so permeates Johannine writings that in many cases one may just read life as eternal life.[13]
Reformed evangelical theologian D. A. Carson sees John 5:24 as giving the “strongest affirmation of inaugurated eschatology in the Fourth Gospel“: it is not necessary for the believer to “wait until the last day to experience something of resurrection life.”[26]George Eldon Ladd points out that, like the Kingdom of God, eternal life is “not only an eschatological gift belonging to the Age to Come; it is also a gift to be received in the old aeon”.[14] In this context, the gift of eternal life in the old aeon in which sin and death are still present is contrasted with eternal life in the new aeon of life and righteousness, the World to Come to which the faithful will belong.[27][28]
However, although as in John 3:16 God has provided the gift of eternal life to believers, the possibility of perishing (απόληται) remains if one rejects Jesus. According to John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
Towards the end of the Gospel of John (20:31), the purpose of writing the Fourth Gospel is stated as: “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name”.[12] This is often correlated to 1 John 5:13: “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”[29]
John’s Gospel positions eternal life around the person of Jesus, the Christ.[30] In the Johannine view Christ can reveal life to humans because he is life himself.[7]1 John 1:2: “proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us” is compared to John 1:1: “and the Word was with God”, referring to the pre-existence of Christ.[29]
The term is used in the Gospel of John in the context of the Water of Life and John 4:14 states: “the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life.”[31]
In John 6:51 Jesus states that: “he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” This has been transposed, not only into a relationship with Jesus in common with Christian Theology but also into the Eucharist as an element of obtaining eternal life.[32] The Catechism of the Catholic Church (item 1212) teaches that Christians are born through the sacrament of Baptism and receive the “food of eternal life” in the Eucharist.[33]
In John 10:27–28 Jesus states that: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.” This refers to the personal, heart to heart relationship the Christian is expected to have with Jesus.[34]
Another use is in John 17:3: “And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, Jesus Christ”, this usage relating to the “theme of life” in the Book of Revelation.[35]
