immortality

IMMORTALITY

Exemption from death; the state of living forever. Thus, immortality is the opposite of mortality, or being subject to death. In the Bible, the word immortality refers primarily to the spirit, but is also used of the resurrected or transformed body.

The pagan Greeks had no concept of a bodily resurrection. Plato taught that spirit is everything and that matter is nothing. He believed the spirit lives on but the body returns to dust. In <1 Corinthians 15>, Paul answered this idea. Paul also spoke of immortality and the resurrection in his sermon to the Greek philosophers on Mars Hill. Some mocked, while others said, "We will hear you again on this matter" .

The biblical concept of immortality is rooted in man's creation in God's image and likeness . God is spirit. So the reference in Genesis is not to bodily form but to spiritual nature. As the Eternal, God is also immortal <1 Tim. 6:16>. "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being" . Like all other creatures, man has animal life. Only of man is it said that he "became a living being" God made man to live forever, physically and spiritually. At death the body returns to dust , but the spirit lives on.

The ancient Hebrews believed in the survival of the spirit, although they thought of the afterlife as a shadowy existence. But the idea of a bodily resurrection gradually evolved . In Jesus' time the Sadducees denied a bodily resurrection, while the Pharisees believed in it.

However, at least the tone of a hope of immortality pervades the entire Old Testament, including the faith of the patriarchs-- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob-- in God's promises . Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac is interpreted in as an act that involved faith in a resurrection.

In Jesus Christ we have God's full revelation about immortality of both body and spirit . His bodily resurrection is proof of our immortality <1 Cor. 15:12-16>.

The nature of the resurrection body is not clear. Some see it as like that of Jesus-- a real body, but not subject to time, space, or density . But the matter should not be pressed too far. As our present bodies are fitted to conditions on earth, so will our resurrection bodies be suitable for conditions in heaven <1 Cor. 15:38-44>.

Although death is an enemy <1 Cor. 15:26>, Paul thought of death as necessary in order that believers may receive immortal, incorruptible bodies <1 Cor. 15:50-57>. Those living at the Lord's return will receive transformed bodies <1 Cor. 15:51-54>.

In <1 Thessalonians 4:14-17> Paul taught that "the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."

Jesus spoke of "the resurrection of life" and "the resurrection of condemnation" . Thus, we may assume that both believers and unbelievers will receive resurrection bodies-- but their eternal destiny will be different. .

(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

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