Over 90% of the time when zoe is used in the New Testament it is clearly referencing the assurance of “immortal life” (eternal zoe) that God gives as a gift of salvation to the believer, saving them from death. 

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Psuche on the other hand, is never directly depicted as the gift of immortal life (salvation).  Rather it is a person’s psuche that is clearly the beneficiary of this gift of zoe (assurance of psuche’s resurrection from the dead to immortality).

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Zoe is frequently contrasted as the opposite of death, perishing or destruction.

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Psuche is never contrasted as the opposite of death or perishing, rather it is implicitly but clearly understood that death or perishing is the death or perishing of that person’s psuche.

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A person is inherently “psuche” as part of their original nature, and their psuche is merely mortal. 

Zoe on the other hand is frequently depicted as part of God’s nature, of which one key aspect is “immortality”.

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In my opinion, understanding these distinctions is absolutely essential to understanding the message of salvation in the New Testament. This book seeks to clarify these distinctions, and how these words hold the key to understanding Jesus’ original teaching.

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