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kolasis aionios - what does it mean?

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marrcus:
Does anyone want to talk about the Greek words "kolasis aionios" - typically (mis)translated as "eternal (aionios) punishment (kolasis)"?

I am satisfied that the translation of aionios in most Bibles as eternal/everlasting/forever was more a matter of 5th/6th century doctrinal preference and theology than an objective rendering of the word in English.

It seems (to me) that the adjective aionios and its noun aion are, nevertheless, hard words to translate in English - and it seems that perhaps we do not have a direct English word that means the same as aion/aionios. Perhaps the closest we can get is a word like "lifespan".

For what I can understand, an aion is:

(1) a period of time.

(2) the duration depends on the subject, i.e. in this case, kolasis, or "punishment".

I understand that every object can have its own particular aion.

The aion of a man is about three score and twenty years.

The aion of a housefly is much less, say 30 days.

The aion of a galaxy might be billions of years.

So the durational meaning of aion/aionios depends on the context.

This bit I get.

But what can "aionian punishment" mean?

What is the natural aion of punishment?

I would be tempted to say that the natural aion of a punishment is variable. The length of a punishment is generally connected to the severity of the crime.

This implies (to me) that every person will be punished according to their crimes (sins).

Thoughts, anyone?

What do you think the word aion means in connection with punishment?

thetruth:
Hello,marrcus
Hope this is of some help. God bless!

The root of "kolasis" means "cutting off," as in pruning a tree. One prunes a tree to make it PRODUCE MORE FRUIT, not to kill it!  The wicked are chastised (judged) for the period of Christ's reign and the Saints reign for the period of Christ's reign. Both periods are the same length--until their purpose has been accomplished.
God be with you,
Ray

marrcus:

--- Quote from: thetruth on February 02, 2012, 07:13:44 PM ---Hello,marrcus
Hope this is of some help. God bless!

The root of "kolasis" means "cutting off," as in pruning a tree. One prunes a tree to make it PRODUCE MORE FRUIT, not to kill it!  The wicked are chastised (judged) for the period of Christ's reign and the Saints reign for the period of Christ's reign. Both periods are the same length--until their purpose has been accomplished.
God be with you,
Ray

--- End quote ---


Hi Ray,

I can go with that. Punishment is also a potential mistranslation and a better word might have been chastisement or pruning.
So what would be the aion inherent in the ideas of pruning or chastisement?

Oh, to get inside the head of the a first century Greek speaker - I am sure that to them, the meaning of kolasis aionios was quite obvious!!!

It is evident, however, from the universal salvation ideas of very early Christian theologians like Origen, that whatever kolasis aionios means, it CANNOT be "eternal punishment". Not in the sense we today understand the word eternal. Clearly he, and others like him, saw a very different meaning to kolasis aionios.

thetruth:
Hello, marrcus

So what would be the aion inherent in the ideas of pruning or chastisement?
969 days,12 hours,13 min,42 secs......LOL...jUST kidden my friend.I have know idea since a day can mean a thousand years.And to the best of my knowleadge which is limited. ONLY God knows the answer to this question.If i am understanding what your asking correctly?As only God knows as of now ..maybe thechrist=the elect will know then how long it will take to convert the unjust hearts! I am at the end of the line on my understanding in regards to how long the age of chastisement will be.So God bless marrcus look forward to future fellowship.

Foxx:

--- Quote from: marrcus on February 02, 2012, 07:42:01 PM ---
--- Quote from: thetruth on February 02, 2012, 07:13:44 PM ---Hello,marrcus
Hope this is of some help. God bless!

The root of "kolasis" means "cutting off," as in pruning a tree. One prunes a tree to make it PRODUCE MORE FRUIT, not to kill it!  The wicked are chastised (judged) for the period of Christ's reign and the Saints reign for the period of Christ's reign. Both periods are the same length--until their purpose has been accomplished.
God be with you,
Ray

--- End quote ---


Hi Ray,

I can go with that. Punishment is also a potential mistranslation and a better word might have been chastisement or pruning.
So what would be the aion inherent in the ideas of pruning or chastisement?

Oh, to get inside the head of the a first century Greek speaker - I am sure that to them, the meaning of kolasis aionios was quite obvious!!!

It is evident, however, from the universal salvation ideas of very early Christian theologians like Origen, that whatever kolasis aionios means, it CANNOT be "eternal punishment". Not in the sense we today understand the word eternal. Clearly he, and others like him, saw a very different meaning to kolasis aionios.

--- End quote ---


yes the words punishment,torment and judgment are sort of used interchangeably in the English among those who support eternal damnation . in regards to the word “torment” it comes from the word “basamos” which is the Greek word for a Touchstone. For those who don’t know what a touchstone is exactly, it is a stone that is used to test the quality of a piece of gold. Jewelers still use them to this day.

They would rub the gold on the touchstone then apply an acid I believe to determine its worth. The words interrogate, torture, torment, etc all came from this word basamos. It is the same word used in Revelations and is used in parables that Jesus provided. A touchstone was a TEST to see the true worth of something. It had a purpose..not just mindless torture in hell forever. That is what people will go through…a test…

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