Definition of the Greek Word aionos (i-O-nos):
(1) the universe with some association to age or eon with the contextual idea that God has made everything (Heb 1:2; 11:3);
(2) an age or period of time (Rom 12:2; Eph 1:21; 2 Tim 4:10);
(3) a system of thought, belief, or zeitgeist (1 Co 1:20; 2:6, 8; Eph 2:2) marked by certain “standards” (1 Co 3:18);
(4) the full extent of all time eternally, an unlimited duration of future time (“the messiah will remain forever,” John 12:34 or “He will remain a priest forever,” Heb 7:3; cf. 1 Pet 4:11; Eph 3:21). More elaborate expressions using the word are emphatic, particularly in doxologies (Luke 1:33; Rom 16:27; 2 Pet 3:18; Jude 25). “Eternal” also references unending time in both directions (“his eternal power and divine nature,” Rom 1:20 or “of the eternal God,” Rom 16:26). The idiomatic statement “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8) references eternal time in terms of immutability;
(5) an exceedingly long period of time from an assumed beginning up to the present (“from the beginning of time,” John 9:32; “since all ages past,” Jude 25). Of particular interest, however, are the happenings which transpired within that span. For instance Colossians 1:26 identifies that there had been “a secret hid…from mankind” while Romans 16:25 expands “the revelation of the secret truth which was hidden from the beginning of time.” 2 Timothy 1:9 specifies “grace” as the gift given in Jesus “from all ages past.”
Exposition
Planned before time (Rev 13:8; 17:8), the space-time event of “eternal life” was seen and testified by Jesus’ followers (1 John 1:2). Restoration of all things (Acts 3:21) was promised to the prophets marked by specific fulfillments (such as the gospel going to the Gentiles) which were known by God for all ages (Acts 15:18).
“God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden…before time began” (1 Co 2:7) is in direct contrast to the “spirit of the age” held by rulers during a given time (1 Co 2:6, 8). Revelatory truth was written down for us “on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come” (1 Co 10:11).
For those who live in a post-ascension world, we are part of the plan given in times past; what C.S. Lewis called “deep magic” in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. “The eternal purpose” of Jesus’ accomplishment is now made known “through the church” to “the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms” (Eph 3:10-11). His power now works within us, the church” for His glory (Eph 3:20-21).
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen; “what is unseen is eternal” (2 Co 4:17-18, 5:1). “Sowing to please The Spirit, reaping eternal life” (Gal 6:8). Jesus’ sacrifice “through the eternal Spirit” moves us to “serve the living God” (Heb 9:14) based on “the eternal covenant” which equips us with “everything good for doing His will” (Heb 13:20-21). For in this life we have “eternal encouragement and good hope” which strengthens us for every “good deed and word” (2 Th 2:16-17). We are to “take hold of the eternal life” (1 Tim 6:12) because “faith and knowledge rests on the hope of eternal life” (Titus 1:2; 3:7) prompting us toward devotion “doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.” (3:8). Perseverance is necessary for those who wait to be brought to eternal life (Jude 21).
Application
Biblically Integrative History: History begins in Eternity. God is the author of history (Gen 1:1; Ecc 3:10-11; Dan 4:34-35; Eph 1:9-10; Heb 1:1-2; Rev 22:1-7). God created all matter, space, and time, but God does not wear a watch. He is not bound by time (cf. 2 Peter 3:8) since He is outside of and apart from time but God has chosen to work within time to accomplish His plan. Jesus is the central person in God’s plan and human history. Only He can, by His coming in the form of a man, bridge the gap between God’s eternal kingdom and the temporal world (cf. Isaiah 9:6-7; Galatians 4:4-5). When studying history, we must frame our understanding of people, places, and events in the grand narrative of God’s plan to make it meaningful. Apart from God, history is a meaningless record of man’s vanity.
To End All Wars Prior to World War II, his three-year confinement in a prisoner of war camp, and Christ’s salvation, the author Ernest Gordon believed,
“The rapid progress being made in [the sciences] indicated that man could take care of himself and unravel his own dilemma without help from a divine power, no matter how benign. Of such was the real world in which man had been placed by the evolutionary process, as the one creature conscious of what was going on. As he floated down the stream of history, he could know that the current would ultimately land him in Utopia. Many brave worlds were being projected in those days, and mine was one of them.”
After salvation, Gordon wrote, ““Our regeneration, sparked by conspicuous acts of self-sacrifice, had begun . . . It was dawning on us all—officers and other ranks alike—that the law of the jungle is not the law for man. We had seen for ourselves how quickly it could strip most of us of our humanity and reduce us to levels lower than the beasts. We were seeing for ourselves the sharp contrast between the forces that made for life and those that made for death . . . Through our readings and discussions we gradually came to know Jesus. He was one of us. He would understand our problems, because they were the kind of problems he had faced himself.”
Questions How does media impact relationships, original thinking or creativity? How is innovation corrupted by human thought or action? Do we consider the human source of invention, the creative person’s beliefs? Define the words utopia and dystopia. Has any person or group ever created a utopia? Do utopias become dystopias? Why or why not?