Question 1

What does "Eternal" mean in the King James Bible?

Accepted Answer

In the KJV, "Eternal" means "forever." The qualitative dimension. Jesus defined eternal life as knowing God -- not as existing for infinite time. Aionios life was God's own quality of existence shared with humans. A person could begin experiencing eternal life now, in the present, because it was not about duration but about the source and quality of the life.

Question 2

Why did the word "Eternal" disappear from modern English?

Accepted Answer

Hebrew olam ('hidden time/age-spanning/beyond the horizon') and Greek aionios ('pertaining to the age/quality of God's own life') were reduced to 'lasting forever' -- a merely quantitative concept of endless clock-time rather than qualitative divine existence. The word was at peak usage around 1611 and declined by still used but temporalized (~1800).

Question 3

What modern word replaced "Eternal"?

Accepted Answer

"Eternal" was replaced by: "forever" (though this clock-time extension; aionios described a quality of life -- god's own life-quality, not just long duration); "everlasting" (though this still durational; eternal life in john 17:3 was defined as knowing god, not as living endlessly); "permanent" (though this static and unchanging; olam was dynamic -- the hidden, unfolding purpose of god across ages).

What Does “Eternal” Mean in the Bible?

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