QUICKEN

This English term is a rendition of the Greek zoopoieo, "to make alive." It is found about a dozen times in the N.T. and is rendered by such expressions as "quicken," "give life," and "make alive." Consider these facts: (a) The power to "make alive" is always attributed either to God (Jn. 5:21; Rom. 4:17; 8:11) or to Christ ( Jn. 5:21; 6:63; 1 Cor. 15:22, 45). This is strong testimony to the deity of Jesus. (b) God, by the act of creation, has "given life" to all things (1 Tim. 6:13; cf. Acts 17:25). (c) The word is used of granting life to one who has been spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1, 5; Col. 2:13 -- In these latter two passages, zoopoieo has the prefix sun, "with," demonstrating that spiritual life is conferred only in connection with the work of Christ). Paul argues that the law of Moses could not confer this life (Gal. 3:21). (d) Zoopoieo is employed with reference to the bodily resurrection of Jesus (1 Pet. 3:18). (e) Finally, it signifies the reanimation of the human body at the time of the general resurrection (Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 15:36).

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Adapted from the book "Bible Words and Theological Terms Made Easy" by Wayne Jackson