Paul's usage of the term "[the] death" to indicate Mortality
by Wayne D. Turner
From BibleTrack
Copyright 2009

Paul uses a specific Greek term in his epistles which is not reflected in English translations. While the Greek noun for "death" ("thanatos") is used by Paul a total of 56 times in his writings, he only uses the definite article ("the") without being followed by a possession clause a total of 16 times in 15 verses. So here's the question: What is "[the] death" that Paul speaks of in these 15 verses. For the sake of an accurate discussion, let's list all of the verses. I've indicated in brackets and in red the word "the" to indicate that it precedes the Greek noun in each occurrence within these verses.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and [the] death by sin; and so [the] death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 5:14 Nevertheless [the] death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Romans 5:17 For if by one man’s offence [the] death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Romans 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto [the] death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into [the] death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto [the] death.
Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this [the] death?
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and [the] death.
1Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came [the] death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is [the] death.
1Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, [the] death is swallowed up in victory.
1Corinthians 15:56 The sting of [the] death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
2Corinthians 1:9 But we had the sentence of [the] death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
2Corinthians 3:7 But if the ministration of [the] death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
2Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished [the] death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

While the definite article [the] appears in the Greek text in front of each of these occurences of the word "death," it is not reflected in the English. So, what's unique about these 16 occurrences out of the 56. The answer is to be found in the context. I Corinthians 15:54 displays it most clearly. Paul's term "the death" is a metaphor for "mortality" when he says, "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, [the] death is swallowed up in victory." So, go through the other verses and substitute the word "mortality" every time you see the term "[the] death." You'll see that what Adam brought into the world through his sin was mortality in lieu of the originally-designed immortality of man.

Salvation through Jesus Christ restores the immortality that existed before the Genesis 3 fall. You will recall in Genesis 3:22-24 that God banished Adam and Eve from the garden to prevent them from partaking of the "tree of life." To be able to partake of that tree would have given them continued immortality. Yet, once banished from the garden and unable to partake of the "tree of life," they were to be mortals. So, you see, immortality was lost because of sin. And that's the point Paul is making in these 16 references to "the death."

In each of these verses, [the] death is a metaphor for mortality.

So, here's the bottom line: Immortality is restored to every person at the point of salvation in Jesus Christ. Eternal life follows that decision for Christ. Eternal life begins at that moment. Mortality has then been defeated.