Surprised by Hell: Mortality and Immortality

As we continue our word studies, we next take on the verses dealing with immortality.

Immortality

One element of the conditionalist position is that immortality is not an inherent element of human life. Rather, immortality is something God gives to those who are faithful —

(1 Tim 6:15-16) which God will bring about in his own time — God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

And Paul certainly says that only God is immortal. The Greek word is athanasia, meaning deathless.

(Rom 2:7) To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

“Immortality” translates aphtharsia, meaning incorruptibility. It’s the same word translated “imperishable” in 1 Cor 15 —

(1 Cor 15:42-44) So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

(1 Cor 15:53-54) For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

Eternal life is a gift that not all receive. We aren’t born immortal. We are born perishable and mortal. But some are given immortality and imperishability. The rest die — twice.

Mortal

When we look at the verses dealing with mortality, we see the same lesson — immortality is gift given to some but not all.

(Rom 8:11) And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

(2 Cor 5:4) For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Both passages say much the same thing. We are by nature mortal, but God will give his children immortality.

The early Christians who argued for everlasting torment did so based on the theory that humans are, by nature, immortal. But these verses plainly teach that we are mortal by nature, but have eternal life as a gift.

About Jay F Guin

My name is Jay Guin, and I’m a retired elder. I wrote The Holy Spirit and Revolutionary Grace about 18 years ago. I’ve spoken at the Pepperdine, Lipscomb, ACU, Harding, and Tulsa lectureships and at ElderLink. My wife’s name is Denise, and I have four sons, Chris, Jonathan, Tyler, and Philip. I have two grandchildren. And I practice law.
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8 Responses to Surprised by Hell: Mortality and Immortality

  1. Alan says:

    But these verses plainly teach that we are mortal by nature, but have eternal life as a gift.

    The idea of the "second death" suggests that there is a part of a person (the soul) which will live until thrown into the lake of fire. That part of a lost person is by nature immortal, but will be destroyed by the second death.

  2. Rusty P. Shackleford says:

    Paul is writing to those who have eternal life. He is not dealing with eternal "death" separation. But Jesus plainly says,
    "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

    The point isn't the 'eternality' of the matter but the matter of life (with God) or death (separation from God).

  3. Jay Guin says:

    Alan,

    I think the damned also experience a bodily resurrection. A future post will address the question.

  4. Jay Guin says:

    Rusty,

    What teaches that eternal death or the second death equates with separation from God? I agree that the damned will be separated from God, but I don't know any verse that says "death" or "destruction" is separation while being eternally alive.

  5. Rusty P. Shackleford says:

    Paul is writing to those who have eternal life. He is not dealing with eternal “death” separation. But Jesus plainly says,
    “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

    The point isn’t the ‘eternality’ of the matter but the matter of life (with God) or death (separation from God).

  6. Pingback: Surprised by Hell: Who Will Be Resurrected? « One In Jesus.info

  7. guestfortruth says:

    Jay,

    Does the bible teach that the Soul ( heb. nephesh,greek psyche) is mortal? what passages support that?

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