The eternal life is eternal not only with respect to time, but also with respect to quality.

[jidong xiao]

那已经显现出来的生命，乃是永远的生命。“永远”一辞不仅是指时间上永远长存，无穷无尽，也是指品质上绝对完美完全，毫无短缺瑕疵。这样的辞句着重神圣的生命，即永远之神的生命，那永远的性质。使徒看见过这永远的生命，现在又作见证，并且将这生命传与人。他们所经历的不是任何道理，乃是神的儿子基督这永远的生命：并且他们的见证和传讲不是出于神学或圣经知识，乃是出于这样一个实在的生命。

我们已经指出，永远的生命不仅在时间上是永远的，在品质上也是永远的。这生命在其范围上也是永远的。所以，永远一辞指三件事：时间、空间和品质。就时间的元素说，这生命要持续到永远。就空间、范围说，这生命是广大、无限的。就品质说，永远的生命是完美完全，毫无瑕疵短缺的。永远生命的范围或领域包含整个宇宙。永远的生命是如此广大，包括了整个生命的领域。凡在生命的领域里的，都包含在这永远的生命里。然而，我们人的生命却非常不同。我们的生命不仅短暂，也很有限。但永远的生命既非短暂，也非有限；反而在时间上是永远长存的，在空间上是无限的。不仅如此，我们的生命有许多瑕疵短缺；但神圣的生命，永远的生命，却没有瑕疵，也没有短缺。

The life that was manifested is the eternal life. The word "eternal" denotes not only the duration of time, which is everlasting, without end, but also the quality, which is absolutely perfect and complete, without any shortage or defect. Such an expression emphasizes the eternal nature of the divine life, the life of the eternal God. The apostles saw this eternal life and testified and reported it to people. Their experience was not of any doctrine, but of Christ the Son of God as the eternal life, and their testimony and preaching were not of theology or biblical knowledge, but of such a solid life. 

We have pointed out that the eternal life is eternal not only with respect to time, but also with respect to quality. This life is also eternal with respect to its sphere. Therefore, the word eternal denotes three things: time, space, and quality. As to the element of time, this life will last forever. As to space, to sphere, this life is vast, unlimited. As to quality, eternal life is perfect and complete, without defect or shortage. The sphere or field of eternal life encompasses the whole universe. Eternal life is so vast that it covers the entire field of life. Whatever is in the field of life is encompassed by this eternal life. Our human life, however, is very different. Our life is not only temporary, but it is also limited. But eternal life is neither temporary nor limited; rather it is everlasting with respect to time and unlimited with respect to space. Furthermore, our life has many defects and shortages. However, the divine life, the eternal life, has no defects and no shortages.