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Son into the world. This statement, then, refers to the future second advent of Christ. The
word is used far more frequently in the Gospel of John than in any other book in the New
Testament.
Note:
Other words are rendered “again” in the
KJV
, which the
RV
corrects, namely,
$
and
! 4 $
signifies “a second time,” John 9:24; Acts 11:9.
*
signifies “from above, or anew.” See the
RV
of John 3:3, 7, and the
KJV
and
RV
of v. 31. Nicodemus was not puzzled about birth from heaven; what perplexed him was
that a person must be born a second time. This the context makes dear. This is really the
meaning in Gal. 4:9, where it is associated with
, “over again.” The idea is “anew,”
for, though the bondage would be the same in essence and effect, it would be new in not
being in bondage to idols but to the Law. See also Matt. 27:51; Mark 15:38; John 19:23,
“from the top.”
*
may mean “from the first,” in Luke 1:3 and Acts 26:5. For the
meaning “from above,” see Jas. 1:17; 3:15, 17.¶
For
AGAINST
see Note
†
, p. 1
AGE
A. Nouns.
1.
(
*0
, 165), “an age, era” (to be connected with , “ever,” rather than with
, “to breathe”), signifies a period of indefinite duration, or time viewed in relation to
what takes place in the period.
The force attaching to the word is not so much that of the actual length of a period,
but that of a period marked by spiritual or moral characteristics. This is illustrated in the
use of the adjective [see Note (1) below] in the phrase “life eternal,” in John 17:3, in
respect of the increasing knowledge of God.
The phrases containing this word should not be rendered literally, but consistently
with its sense of indefinite duration. Thus
does not mean “unto the age” but
“for ever” (see, e.g., Heb. 5:6). The Greeks contrasted that which came to an end with
that which was expressed by this phrase, which shows that they conceived of it as
expressing interminable duration.
The word occurs most frequently in the Gospel of John, the Hebrews and Revelation.
It is sometimes wrongly rendered “world.” See
COURSE
,
ETERNAL
,
WORLD
. It is a
characteristic word of John’s gospel.
Notes:
(1)
*
, the adjective corresponding, denoting “eternal,” is set in contrast
with
, lit., “for a season,” 2 Cor. 4:18. It is used of that which in nature is
endless, as, e.g., of God, Rom. 16:26, His power, 1 Tim. 6:16, His glory, 1 Pet. 5:10, the
Holy Spirit, Heb. 9:14, redemption, Heb. 9:12, salvation, 5:9, life in Christ, John 3:16, the
resurrection body, 2 Cor. 5:1, the future rule of Christ, 2 Pet. 1:11, which is declared to
be without end, Luke 1:33, of sin that never has forgiveness, Mark 3:29, the judgment of
God, Heb. 6:2, and of fire, one of its instruments, Matt. 18:8; 25:41; Jude 7. See
ETERNAL
,
EVERLASTING
.