"an age," is translated "eternal" in Eph 3:11, lit., "(purpose) of the ages" (marg.). See AGE.
<2,,166, aionios>
"describes duration, either undefined but not endless, as in Rom 16:25, 2Ti 1:9, Tit 1:2; or undefined because endless as in Rom 16:26, and the other sixty-six places in the NT.
"The predominant meaning of aionios, that in which it is used everywhere in the NT, save the places noted above, may be seen in 2Co 4:18, where it is set in contrast with proskairos, lit., 'for a season,' and in Phm 1:15, where only in the NT it is used without a noun. Moreover it is used of persons and things which are in their nature endless, as, e.g., of God, Rom 16:26; of His power, 1Ti 6:16, and of His glory, 1Pe 5:10; of the Holy Spirit, Heb 9:14; of the redemption effected by Christ, Heb 9:12, and of the consequent salvation of men, Heb 5:9, as well as of His future rule, 2Pe 1:11, which is elsewhere declared to be without end, Luk 1:33; of the life received by those who believe in Christ, Joh 3:16, concerning whom He said, 'they shall never perish,' Joh 10:28, and of the resurrection body, 2Co 5:1, elsewhere said to be 'immortal,' 1Co 15:53, in which that life will be finally realized, Mat 25:46, Tit 1:2.
"Aionios is also used of the sin that 'hath never forgiveness,' Mar 3:29, and of the judgment of God, from which there is no appeal, Heb 6:2, and of the fire, which is one of its instruments, Mat 18:8, Mat 25:41, Jud 1:7, and which is elsewhere said to be 'unquenchable,' Mar 9:43. "The use of aionios here shows that the punishment referred to in 2Th 1:9, is not temporary, but final, and, accordingly, the phraseology shows that its purpose is not remedial but retributive." * [* From Notes on Thessalonians by Hogg and Vine, pp. 232,233.]
<3,,126, aidios>
see EVERLASTING.
