The Ancient Word...

John 3:16, perhaps the most well-known verse in the Bible, announces one of the central themes of this important Gospel:

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. (John 3:16, NIV)

The Greek phrase translated "eternal life" is aionios zoe. The noun zoe means "life." From it, we get the English word "zoo," where we see many of the wondrous "life" forms God has created. Aionios is the adjective form of the Greek noun aion, which means "eon" or "age." Put the two together and the phrase aionios zoe literally means "eonic life" or "age life."

New Testament writers think in terms of two ages: In the first age, the world God created "good" (Genesis 1:31) fell into sin and decay, leading the Apostle Paul to call it "the present evil age" (Galatians 1:4). Jewish leaders mention this first "age" in John 9:32, where they exclaim:

Since the age (aion) [began], it has never been heard that someone opened the eyes of a man born blind. (literal translation)

However, New Testament writers also anticipate a new age, or "last age," in which God will do away with sin and evil by reexerting his kingship, or His lordship, over all Creation. Christ speaks of this emerging new age or "Kingdom" in John 18:36:

My Kingdom is not of this world...my Kingdom is from another place. (In other words, Christ's Kingdom is other-worldly, super-natural, not from humans but from God.)

When John writes about aionios zoe, he is thinking about "age life," or the life of the new age.

Translating aionios zoe as "eternal life" is acceptable because the life of the new age does indeed last forever. However, the traditional translation reveals only half of John's meaning: Not only is "age life" a life of infinite quantity; it is also life of a new and different quality -- namely, life lived under the Kingship of God and the Lordship of Christ.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have the life of the new age. (John 3:16)

In this series, we will explore the nature of "age life" -- how John describes not only the quantity but also the quality of the life we have in Christ.

... for Today

The Amish community has always appeared other-worldly in their rejection of television, cell phones, modern appliances, and electronic conveniences. The horse-and-buggies, the black broad-brimmed hats, the plain dresses and bonnets, and the biblical names -- all suggest a retreat from life.

Until two weeks ago -- October 2, 2006.

That peaceful Monday turned tragic when Charles Roberts burst into the small Amish schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, and shot ten young girls -- five of them fatally.

Some would say that those five, who perished so brutally, now have "eternal life." As believers in Christ, those young lives now live forever in the care and company of Jesus.

Such a statement would be true. But it could easily overlook the biblical truth that their surviving families also have "eternal life" right now. And the clearest evidence that they live the new "age life" lies in their response to the tragedy.

Amidst their own grief and pain, the Amish families and community immediately (within hours) visited the gunman's wife and children -- not to confront them, but to comfort them and to extend forgiveness and support to them.

Their response has been riveting.

Yes, "age life" involves both how long we live, but also how we live.

"Eternal life," or "age life," refers not only to "pie in the sky by and by." It breaks into our experience right now. The new "age life" is underway, changing us and changing communities wherever it breaks in.

Discuss...

1. How does this idea of "age life" affect your traditional understanding of "eternal life"?
   
2. Describe some ways in which living "age life" might change you.

Chris Davis, PhD & David Timms, PhD
Hope International University
Fullerton, California

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