Mortality
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Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Nature:
Mortality refers to the state of being subject to death. In the biblical context, it encompasses the human condition of being finite and the inevitability of physical death as a consequence of sin. Mortality is a central theme in Scripture, highlighting the transient nature of human life and the contrast between the temporal and the eternal.

Biblical Origin:
The concept of mortality is introduced in the early chapters of Genesis. God created man in His own image, intending for humanity to live in communion with Him. However, mortality entered the human experience through the disobedience of Adam and Eve. Genesis 2:17 records God's warning: "but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die." This death was both spiritual and physical, marking the beginning of human mortality.

The Fall and Its Consequences:
The fall of man, as described in Genesis 3, brought sin into the world, and with it, death. Romans 5:12 states, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned." This passage underscores the universality of mortality as a result of sin, affecting all of humanity.

Human Life and Its Brevity:
Scripture frequently reflects on the brevity and fragility of human life. Psalm 90:10 observes, "The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty if we are strong—yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away." James 4:14 further emphasizes this by comparing life to a mist: "You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."

The Hope of Resurrection:
Despite the reality of mortality, the Bible offers hope through the promise of resurrection and eternal life. Jesus Christ's victory over death is central to Christian belief. In John 11:25-26 , Jesus declares, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die." This assurance of eternal life through faith in Christ provides comfort and hope to believers facing the reality of mortality.

The Transformation of Mortality:
The Apostle Paul speaks of the transformation that will occur at the resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15:53-54 , he writes, "For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'"

Living in Light of Mortality:
The awareness of mortality calls believers to live wisely and purposefully. Psalm 90:12 prays, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." This perspective encourages a life of faithfulness, stewardship, and readiness for the life to come.

Eternal Perspective:
While mortality is a present reality, the Bible encourages believers to maintain an eternal perspective. Colossians 3:2 advises, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." This focus on the eternal helps Christians navigate the challenges of mortal life with hope and assurance in God's promises.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) The condition or quality of being mortal; subjection to death or to the necessity of dying.

2. (n.) Human life; the life of a mortal being.

3. (n.) Those who are, or that which is, mortal; the human race; humanity; human nature.

4. (n.) Death; destruction.

5. (n.) The whole sum or number of deaths in a given time or a given community; also, the proportion of deaths to population, or to a specific number of the population; death rate; as, a time of great, or low, mortality; the mortality among the settlers was alarming.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MORTAL; MORTALITY

mor'-tal, mor-tal'-i-ti (thnetos to thneton): The meaning is "subject to death" (Romans 6:12; Romans 8:11 1 Corinthians 15:53, 54; in 2 Corinthians 5:4 the Revised Version (British and American) has "what is mortal"). In Job 4:17, the Hebrew word is 'enosh, "mortal man."

See IMMORTAL.

Greek
2349. thnetos -- subject to death
... Word Origin from thnesko Definition subject to death NASB Word Usage mortal (6).
mortality. From thnesko; liable to die -- mortal(-ity). see GREEK thnesko. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2349.htm - 6k
Library

Mortality.
... MORTALITY. In plant, animal, and spiritual life mortality is greatest in infancy.
The plant in the first few days of its existence is very tender and delicate. ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/mortality.htm

Treatise vii. On the Mortality.
... Treatise VII. On the Mortality. Argument."The Deacon Pontius in a Few Words
Unfolds the Burthen of This Treatise in His Life of Cyprian. ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/treatise vii on the mortality.htm

And Again Paul Says: "That Mortality Might be Swallowed up of Life ...
... Section XXI. And again Paul says: "That mortality might be swallowed up of life.?
And again Paul says: "That mortality might be swallowed up of life. ...
/.../section xxi and again paul.htm

Psalm 89 Part 6 Mortality and Hope. A Funeral Psalm.
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 89 PART 6 Mortality and hope. A funeral psalm. v.47ff
LM. Mortality and hope. A funeral psalm. Remember, Lord, our mortal state,. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 89 part 6 mortality.htm

Psalm 90 Part 2 Infirmities and Mortality the Effect of Sin.
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 90 PART 2 Infirmities and mortality the effect of
sin. v.8-12 CM. Infirmities and mortality the effect of sin. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 90 part 2 infirmities.htm

Psalm 89:7. 47 &C. Sixth Part. Mortality and Hope. A Funeral Psalm ...
... Psalm 89:7. 47 &c. Sixth Part. Mortality and hope. A funeral psalm. 1 Remember,
Lord, our mortal state, How frail our life, how short the date! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/the psalms of david/psalm 89 7 0 47 &c sixth.htm

Cyprian's Treatise "On the Mortality. "
... A Treatise on the predestination of the saints, Chapter 28."Cyprian's Treatise
"On the Mortality.". ... Footnotes: [3507] Cyprian, On the Mortality, as above. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 28 cyprians treatise on the.htm

Psalm 102 Part 3 Man's Mortality, and Christ's Eternity.
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 102 PART 3 Man's mortality, and Christ's eternity.
v.23-28 LM. Man's mortality, and Christ's eternity. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 102 part 3 mans.htm

The Doctrine of Apelles Refuted, that Christ's Body was of ...
... Substance, Not Born. Nativity and Mortality are Correlative Circumstances,
and in Christ's Case His Death Proves His Birth. But certain ...
/.../tertullian/ on the flesh of christ/chapter vi the doctrine of apelles.htm

There was no Other More Suitable Way of Freeing Man from the ...
... Book XIII. Chapter 10."There Was No Other More Suitable Way of Freeing Man from
the Misery of Mortality Than The Incarnation of the Word. ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 10 there was no other.htm

Thesaurus
Mortality (3 Occurrences)
... also, the proportion of deaths to population, or to a specific number of the population;
death rate; as, a time of great, or low, mortality; the mortality...
/m/mortality.htm - 8k

Imperishable (11 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 15:53 For so it must be: this perishable nature must clothe itself
with what is imperishable, and this mortality must clothe itself with ...
/i/imperishable.htm - 9k

Perishable (9 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 15:53 For so it must be: this perishable nature must clothe itself
with what is imperishable, and this mortality must clothe itself with ...
/p/perishable.htm - 9k

Mortal (35 Occurrences)
... mortal hours. 8. (n.) A being subject to death; a human being; man. Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia. MORTAL; MORTALITY. mor'-tal, mor ...
/m/mortal.htm - 17k

Mortally (17 Occurrences)

/m/mortally.htm - 11k

Nature (80 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 15:53 For so it must be: this perishable nature must clothe itself
with what is imperishable, and this mortality must clothe itself with ...
/n/nature.htm - 35k

Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences)
... they loathed the food which they had desired; it bred disease in them; the divine
anger aggravated the disease into a plague, and a heavy mortality was the ...
/k/kibroth-hattaavah.htm - 10k

Kibrothhattaavah (5 Occurrences)
... they loathed the food which they had desired; it bred disease in them; the divine
anger aggravated the disease into a plague, and a heavy mortality was the ...
/k/kibrothhattaavah.htm - 10k

Longevity
... I have never seen anyone among them who could prove that he was 80 years
of age; the rate of infant mortality is appallingly high. ...
/l/longevity.htm - 9k

Flux (26 Occurrences)
... of Medicine, II, 841). It is also prevalent in Palestine at certain seasons,
and in Egypt its mortality was formerly about 36 percent. ...
/f/flux.htm - 16k

Resources
What is the biblical view of mortality? | GotQuestions.org

Mortality and Eternity ' Article Index | GotQuestions.org

How can I overcome the fear of death? How can I stop being scared of dying? | GotQuestions.org

Mortality: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Mortality (3 Occurrences)

1 Corinthians 15:53
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 15:54
But when this corruptible will have put on incorruption, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 5:4
For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
(KJV WEY WBS)

Subtopics

Mortality

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Mortal Man
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