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These are the verses in Matthew that use the noun form of "aion". None of them are translated as forever. They speak of the current age (world) or the end of the age. So the verse you shared would reasonably be the end of the age and not the physical world. The author's audience probably understood it that way.
The use of the noun in singular 'aion' always refers to a finite period of time. In modern Greek it always refers to a 100-year time period, i.e. we live in the 21st 'aion'. The only exception to this rule is the phrase "eis ton aiona ton aionon" (literally: to the century of centuries) used to indicate an immeasurable period of time, i.e. forever.
When the noun is used in its plural form 'aiones' and in the absence of a numerical or other predicative qualifier (e.g. 2 aiones = 2 centuries = 200 years) it can only be translated as referring to an immeasurable period of time, practically everlasting. In ancient texts and the NT the phrase 'eis tous aiones' (literally: towards the centuries) is being used and it can only be translated to indicate something that lasts beyond our ability to measure, i.e. everlasting.
The adjective "aionios" indicates something that spans an indefinite/immeasurable number of centuries, i.e. for all intents and purposes eternal.
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Then we have the noun, "aion", used as an adjective, "aionios", which is translated as eternal in Matthew. We have eternal fire, eternal life, and eternal punishment.
it's not a case of the noun being used as an adjective, "aionios" is an adjective in its own right and it is used to assign the attribute of immeasurable / indefinite duration.
purpledawn writes:
But if the noun means a finite period of time how does it then mean the complete opposite as an adjective?
dunno, I didn't make up the rules
. I suppose it's because it's derived from the unqualified plural form of the noun which denotes unbounded duration. I can't think of an English word equivalent off the top of my head.
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Also in this article entitled Olam/Aion/Aionian/Aionias (by Mike Burke), Burke and others suggest that the usage of olam/aionios may deal more with quality than duration.
this is like saying that the adjective 'colourful' deals with size !
"In life, you have to face that some days you'll be the pigeon and some days you'll be the statue."