The Christian's "Thanatopsis"
One of the passages in the English translation which presents difficulties in interpretation is John 8:51, where our Lord says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death." We have called this "Golden Nugget," "The Christian's 'Thanatopsis'." The word "thanatopsis" comes from two Greek words which together mean "seeing death." Our Lord here presents the Christian view of death.
The assertion in the Greek is very strong. The idea is, "shall absolutely not see death." Then the statement is made stronger by the addition of a phrase which in other places in the New Testament is translated "forever." Thus, "If any man keep my saying, he shall absolutely not see death, never."
The key to the interpretation of the verse is found in the meaning of the word "see." There are six words in the Greek language which mean "to see." The first refers simply to the act of physical sight (Matt. 12:22). The second refers to physical sight that is accompanied by mental discernment (I John 1:1, "have seen"). The third means "to look upon, contemplate, view attentively," used, for instance, of a civilian watching a military parade (I John 1:1, "looked upon"). The fourth means "to scrutinize with the purpose of bringing about the betterment of the person so observed" (Hebrews 2:6, "visitest," Acts 20:28, "overseers"). The fifth word means "to fix one's eyes upon," metaph., "to fix one's mind upon one as an example" (Acts 3:4, "fastening his eyes upon him with John,"). Even Peter and John judged their beggars as to their worthiness to receive alms. The sixth word is the one used in John 8:51. It is used, primarily, not of an indifferent spectator, but of one who looks at a thing with interest and for a purpose. It expresses a fixed contemplation and a full acquaintance.
Now, the death spoken of here is physical death, for the Jews speak of Abraham as being dead, and our Lord does not correct them by saying that He was speaking of spiritual death. He therefore says that when a Christian is being put to sleep in Jesus (I Thess. 4:14, Greek), as he is dying, he will not look at Death with interest and for a purpose. He will be an indifferent spectator of Death, for he will have his eyes fixed on Jesus. The terrors of that awful thing called death, are not experienced by the one who puts his faith in the Lord Jesus. His attention will not be focused on death, nor will he feel its bitterness. This is what Paul means when he says (I Cor. 15:55), "O death, where is thy sting?" But those that go out of this life rejecting Him, have before them all the terrors of death. Oh, reader, are you sure that you are trusting in the precious blood of Jesus poured out in the substitutionary atonement on the Cross for you personally? We read in Hebrews 2:9 that Jesus tasted death for every man. That is, He not only died, but He experienced all the terror and bitterness of death in order that those who place their trust in Him as Saviour, will not experience the terror and bitterness of it all.
About Wuest's Word Studies in the Greek New Testament
These studies and translations of the Greek New Testament are simplified commentaries on the Greek text for the Bible student who is not conversant with the Greek language. The set includes commentaries on the Gospels and Epistles; graphic elucidations of selected passages, words, and phrases; and devotional studies on the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.
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