Bios and Zoe

My knowledge of Greek is a little bit rusty, and I'm not even sure this entry is correct, but this is how I understand these two words that I'm going to write about today. Please feel free to offer correction or comments.

There are two Greek words that translate into "life" in English-- Bios (βιος) and Zoe (ζωη). Even though they translate into the same word, they don't mean the same thing.

Bios is basically biological life-- digestion, blood circulation, secretions-- things that can be examined. Zoe, on the other hand, embraces biological existence, but transcends it in terms of quality. It is the spiritual part of us that participates in the kingdom of God and cannot be reduced to organic terms. It includes those things which we would call heart, soul, spirit, emotions, intuition, love, etc. Zoe is not those things, but it is the qualitative aspect of those things.

When Scripture talks about "eternal life" it uses the word zoe. This means that Scripture does not promise a quality biological existence. We know that our bodies get sick, wounded, and eventually die. What Scripture does promise is a place for the existence of our depth and for the immeasureable dimensions of our being where we are in communion with God. In other words, we are promised a quality inner life through Christ.

This doesn't mean that our inner lives are going to be satisfactory to us all of the time. But it does mean that our entire being is pleasing to God and loved by God. Zoe is not dependent on what we think about it. It is dependent on God's grace and mercy through Christ. Zoe apprehends and comprehends Christ who lives in us, and then is manifested outward in a way that includes our Bios.

What does this all mean? God loves all of you, all of the time! God is not hurt or surprised or shocked or angered by you. God embraces you completely. God loves everything about you, and absolutely nothing will change this!