And when that “eternal” ends up being derived from a word that means “lifelong” and not “forever,” one then has a choice to make, imo.
Mark 3:29
But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
The word “eternal” used above is the Greek word αἰώνιος. It does not mean “lifelong” as you claim. Below are both Strongs and Thayers definitions for the word:
Strong’s Definitions
αἰώνιος aiṓnios, ahee-o'-nee-os; from
G165; perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well):—eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS G166:
αἰώνιος, -ον, and (in
2 Thessalonians 2:16;
Hebrews 9:12;
Numbers 25:13; Plato, Tim., p. 38 b. [see below]; Diodorus 1:1; [cf. WHs Appendix, p. 157; Winers Grammar, 69 (67); Buttmann, 26 (23)]) -ος, -α, -ον, (αἰών);
1. without beginning or end, that which always has been and always will be: θεός,
Romans 16:26 (ὁ μόνος αἰώνιος, 2 Macc. 1:25); πνεῦμα,
Hebrews 9:14.
2. without beginning: χρόνοις αἰωνίοις,
Romans 16:25; πρὸ χρόνων αἰωνίων,
2 Timothy 1:9;
Titus 1:2; εὐαγγέλιον, a gospel whose subject-matter is eternal, i. e., the saving purpose of God adopted from eternity,
Revelation 14:6.
3. without end, never to cease, everlasting:
2 Corinthians 4:18 (opposed to πρόσκαιρος); αἰώνιον αὐτόν, joined to thee forever as a sharer of the same eternal life,
Philemon 1:15; βάρος δόξης,
2 Corinthians 4:17; βασιλεία,
2 Peter 1:11; δόξα,
2 Timothy 2:10;
1 Peter 5:10; ζωή (see ζωή, 2 b.); κληρονομία,
Hebrews 9:15; λύτρωσις,
Hebrews 9:12; παράκλησις,
2 Thessalonians 2:16; σκηναί, abodes to be occupied forever,
Luke 16:9 (the habitations of the blessed in heaven are referred to, cf.
John 14:2 [also, dabo eis tabernacula aeterna, quae praeparaveram illis, 4 Esdras (
Fritzsche, 5 Esdr.) 2:11]; similarly Hades is called αἰώνιος τόπος, Tobit 3:6, cf.
Ecclesiastes 12:5); σωτηρία,
Hebrews 5:9; [so
Mark 16 WH, in the (rejected) 'Shorter Conclusion'].
It is clear that your claim “eternal” means “lifelong” is false.
