Matthew 18:8
In verses 8 and 9 we have one of the dualities or doublets in Matthew (5:29-30). Jesus repeated his pungent sayings many times. Instead of εις γεενναν (5:29) we have εις το πυρ το αιωνιον and at the end of verse 9 του πυρος is added to την γεενναν. This is the first use in Matthew of αιωνιος. We have it again in 19:16, 29 with ζοη, in 25:41 with πυρ, in 25:46 with κολασιν and ζοην. The word means ageless, without beginning or end as of God (Ro 16:26), without beginning as in Ro 16:25, without end as here and often. The effort to make it mean " αεονιαν " fire will make it mean " αεονιαν " life also. If the punishment is limited, ipso facto the life is shortened. In verse 9 also μονοφθαλμον occurs. It is an Ionic compound in Herodotus that is condemned by the Atticists, but it is revived in the vernacular Koine. Literally one-eyed. Here only and Mr 9:47 in the New Testament.
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