The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1

IV. Pauline Portrayal and Usage of “Immortal” and “Immortality”

The term “immortality” is used but five times in Scripture, and “immortal” but once. All are in the New Testament, and all are Pauline. CFF1 319.3

1. ABSOLUTE IMMORTALITY IS ATTRIBUTE OF GOD ALONE

Absolute immortality is an attribute belonging solely to God, along with His omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. These are exclusively His. “The blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality [athanasian, “incorruption”]” (1 Timothy 6:15, 16; cf. 1 Corinthians 15:53, 54). The inescapable inference therefore follows that man does not possess the attribute of immortality by nature. It is not a natural characteristic of man. It is ever to be sought for (Romans 2:7), and is always and only to be received as a gift (Romans 6:23). In various passages the adjective “mortal” (thnetos) is applied to man (see Romans 6:12; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15:53, 54; 2 Corinthians 4:11; 2 Corinthians 5:4), while “immortal” is applied only to God. And with this agrees the solitary use of “immortal.” CFF1 319.4

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal [aphtharto, “not liable to corruption”], invisible, the only wise God” (1 Timothy 1:17). CFF1 320.1

There is thus perfect agreement in the Pauline testimony and fundamental harmony with the testimony of Christ, the other apostles, and the prophets. CFF1 320.2

2. CHRIST THE REVEALER OF IMMORTALITY TO MAN

The second basic truth essential for our understanding is Christ’s relationship to it all. “By the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10). The eternal Son of God, then, has brought within the knowledge and grasp of man that everlastingness of perfect being, which is now the possession of God alone. Man is to share this at God’s appointed time. CFF1 320.3

3. IMMORTALITY NOT PRESENT POSSESSION OF HUMANITY

Immortality is someday erelong to be received by those who seek for it in God’s way and upon whom He will bestow it as a gift. “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life” (Romans 2:7). CFF1 320.4

4. MAN, NOW MORTAL, TO PUT ON IMMORTALITY

That day of bestowal is drawing near: “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53). Obviously one does not put on what he already has inherently. But when will this bestowal take place? CFF1 320.5

5. RESURRECTION IS TIME OF PUTTING ON IMMORTALITY

The resurrection day is not far away, with its glorious, eternal victory, and its transformation for man. CFF1 321.1

Picture 1: Eve in the Garden:
Eve Was Beguiled by the Dazzling Tempter Into Believing She Could Attain Innate Immortality Through Disobedience.
Page 321

It cannot be overstated that God is the sole present possessor of immortality. He is the source from which man, at present mortal, must obtain immortality. Christ is the revealer and channel of eternal life and immortality. He has brought to light the possibility and provision of attaining immortal life—it is provided in Him as the channel through which it may flow to us. Man is to seek for it, and the seeker will be rewarded. Man will put on immortality at the resurrection of the just. But it will always be derived, contingent immortality—not independent immortality. That is ever and only God’s. CFF1 321.2

And now let us look at the opposite side of the picture, through Paul’s eyes. CFF1 321.3

6. THOSE NOT RECEIVING IMMORTALITY ARE DOOMED

Paul consistently refers to immortality as a goal, an objective, which lies before the righteous, who live in quest of immortality. On the contrary, the “wrath” (orge) of God inevitably awaits the unrighteous. And Paul faithfully depicts the awful doom of sin’s retribution. Thus he contrasts the eternal life, which is the “gift of God” to man, with the final death, which is the “wages of sin” (Romans 6:23). CFF1 321.4

“Who [God] 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 [orge], tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil” (Romans 2:6-9). CFF1 321.5

The Greek word aphtharsia, here translated “immortality,” is rendered “incorruption” in the Revised Version. Aphtharsia (literally “imperishability”) and aphthartos (translated “incorruptible,” “immortal”) and their cognate opposites phthora and phthartos (translated “corruption,” “dissolution,” and “perishable”) throw no small light on both the nature and the destiny of mortal man. All four words are related to the verb phtheiro, translated “to destroy” in 1 Corinthians 3:17: “If any man defile the temple [body] of God, him shall God destroy [phtheiro].” That is the other, the somber, the tragic, reverse side of the picture of Life Only in Christ. CFF1 321.6

7. IMMORTALITY PREDICATED ONLY OF GOD

It is never to be forgotten that absolute, underived immortality is predicated only of God. With Paul this word “immortal” (aphthartos), meaning not liable to corruption, as elsewhere remarked, is never joined with the Greek words for “soul” or “spirit,” although pneuma (spirit) occurs 385 times in the New Testament, and psuche (soul) 105 times, a total of 490 times. Furthermore, in the Old Testament immortality is never once predicated of ruach, for spirit (occurring 400 times), or nephesh, for soul (used 752 times), a combined grand total of 1,642 times! It is predicated of one Being only—God. This is basic theology. It is the revealed message of God. (Cf. Romans 1:23; 1 Corinthians 9:25; 1 Corinthians 15:22; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 Peter 3:4. Also 2 Timothy 1:10.) CFF1 323.1

And athanasia (“immortality”) is expressly declared to be possessed by God alone (1 Timothy 6:16). It is not “put on” by man until the resurrection, when mortality shall be “swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:53, 54). Such is the beautiful unity, the inexorable logic, and sublime consistency of the theology of Paul, the master theologian of the centuries. CFF1 323.2

“For this corruptible [phtharton] must put on incorruption [aphtharsian], and this mortal [thneton] must put on immortality [athanasian]. So when this corruptible [phtharton] shall have put on incorruption [aphtharsian], and this mortal shall have put on immortality [athanasian], then shall be brought to pass the saying ..., Death [thanatos] is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:53, 54). CFF1 323.3