, 1874-03-15

Letter 4rOm N1fs J@ kAs .t0FQSAus
II The Editor Of The chteaoo TRIBUNE:
S1R: Last Sundays TRIBUNE (March 81 con-
tanned learned and somewhat critical article
On theology, or rather on the meaning OF certain
Greek words III the New Testament, AZ applied
to punishment, ETC.: by our versatile and enter
prisng Stato's Attorney, Charles H. Reed, Esq,
That article, in my opinion, calls for reply
and, "a it's author is. as suppose, only lny1nan
in the work OF the Gospel-7ineyard, have
thought it but proper that layman sho:ld take
some notice Of it. therefore rroceed TO Dc
so:
And tirsts
MR. REID ADMITs,~
ut the outset, that the Greek noun nior, in its
legitimate and proper meaning. signifies an in
definite. and, therefore, limited, period OF time,
AS "the life OF man, ""oue's lifetime, " life, u
san age" or "generation !" which fact also
admit It is not necessary, therefore. to tako mp
room in quoting from lexicons and learned COM
mentators in proof of this definition. It is the
commonly accepted one by ali the best authori-
ties. The most common idea OF the word aio1.
and think most correct 1T may be allowed the
expression). is '*ase," 'age-lsssing, or during
the age.'' It is never, think, used to denp,o
'.enaless DURATION" and can, Of itself, never
After giving the trne meaning Of this word.
as above stated. air. Reed adis: The foregoing
are unqueetiouably the correct definitions OF
aion therefore, may bo admitted that the orig
iuaI meauins Of alon was hfe,: o. stated "
Dr. Deecber, But this by no mBanB dlsproves
the doctrine OF future eternal punishment, for
there ie another woid-an adi diec:lve-used ID the
New Testament, Hlich has only the meaning,
tlasting. 'constant,' perpetual, everlasting,
seteruxL' This word il aionios."
Right here III the point at issue In the brss
place, dio1atos ia
NOT "ANoTRER WORD"
but Is the same word elongated aud changed into
80 adjective. Will MIR. Reed be good enough to
tell Us how an adjective can mean more, or DO
nade to moan more than the noun from which it
is deriyed5 Such thing, I undertake to say, 's
impossible, as well Is contrary to al rules Of
language. II oion meads "age," OF life, +" or
Ill indefinite period OF time, then 01on7os cau
c1lv mean "agc-.asting." or during the ago or
afe Or. At most, long, but ,,tan ~. ana e'1e an,
b. aald Of 1t; and that, am pleased to say. is
in exact accordance with the weight Of authority
througnou1 the learned Christian world. It la
the general testimony Of learned commentators
and lsxicogTarhefs tho world over. ! am pre-
pared to say. aud do say, that aion1os-trans!at-
ed Is eternal " Ard "eyer;asting" in the New
TeB:ament-never does mean. and cannot mean.
"enaless." unless the subject to Which It ID ap-
piled is, in and OF itself, VI enalsss duration Is
punishment" Tor, IS tie original Means
ture, "endless'7 u - dfo ""e endless" y? Ii
not, then the application OF dinios or atonaots
CANNOT MAKE THEM ENDLESS,
nor signify endless in duration.
"Al photographers" =" says Mr. Reed, "agree
perpetual everlasting of long duration, ;
eternal"
It means 'endless," or neyer-ending." As
have Ea1d tie testimony Of the ablest and best
Biblical scholars-the weight Of authority among
indefinite time, most nearly expressed by the
terms "asc-lastiug,' or s'durins the ages" and
that is. IN r1J opinion, correct
But. says 1lf. Heed, "Wbenever, in the New
Testament the doctrine Of future eternal LIE
is taught, this adjective dlonios is used, con-
Joined With the Greek word zoe life, or some
foim Of aion." And ag.in: ''The doctrine Of
future eternal life il founded solely upon these
words in the Nev Testament II they do not
prove the doctrine OF eternal lie, then it cannot
be proved in the New Testament"
This Ii 4 most surprising statement, to come
from one who makes any p1eteDsion to kno"l-
edse Of the New Testament, to say nothing OF
The original taxi OF TINT book. It is simply an:
APPEAL TO IGNORANT PREJUDICE.
t;n ano y fitting response to the aboye s3- asset
teady and ablo to prove, viz: that the adjective
0iontos, <ur nio1io ia probably never used in the
hev Testament, ~ Christ or any Of His Apos-
Ties, to prove or describe tho doctrine Of the
n coniatcsion toih that Gfe. This may be, and
fn.ouotlees will be by many, consider ed =, start
ting and presump,uous a statement a. that
y Mr. Reed I maintain, however, that it
u susceptible Of the cleal est proof. Ton may
0ke AWAY, blot ont from the New Instrumental
record, the word dior,ios or dloaaof wlel ever it
occurs. aud you will not Affect or iniure the doc
Glne or trutn Of future. life, ox the condition