ἀθανασία (athanasia)
athanasia
immortality
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun athanasia refers to the state of being undying or free from death. Derived from a negative prefix and the word for "death," it describes an imperishable quality rather than a mere long lifespan. In the New Testament, this term appears only three times, giving it significant theological weight in specific contexts.
Paul uses it to describe the transformation of believers at the resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15:53-54, he contrasts the current perishable body with the future state that will "put on" immortality. Here, it is not an innate human trait but a gift received when mortality is swallowed up by eternal life.
The term also appears in 1 Timothy 6:16 to describe God Himself. Paul writes that no one has seen or can see Him, for He alone possesses immortality. This usage distinguishes the Creator from creation; while humans may receive imperishability, God inherently possesses it as an essential attribute of His divine nature.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word athanasia points to a state of being free from death, not as an innate human trait, but as a gift. In 1 Corinthians 15:53, Paul explains that our current perishable bodies must "put on" this immortality. This is a future hope for believers, where mortality is finally swallowed up by eternal life. It reminds us that our present struggles with decay and ending are not the final word.
This hope stands in contrast to God’s own nature. In 1 Timothy 6:16, we read that He alone possesses immortality inherently. While humans receive imperishability as a grace at the resurrection, God has it by His very essence. This distinction highlights His sovereignty and our dependence on Him for eternal life.
For your faith, this means your ultimate destiny is secure in Christ. You do not need to fear the end, because the One who holds immortality has promised to share it with you. Rest in this assurance that death is not the final chapter, but a transition into victory.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- immortality,2×
- immortality.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀθανασίαν,2×
- ἀθανασίαν.1×
Key Verses
-
I Corinthians 15:53
For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
This verse marks the moment believers receive immortality as a gift to replace their perishable bodies.
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I Corinthians 15:54
But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Here, the word confirms that death is completely defeated when mortality puts on immortality.
-
I Timothy 6:16
He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen nor can see, to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.
This occurrence distinguishes God’s inherent, uncreated life from the derived immortality given to humans.