Time&Eternity

No Concept of Time without Narrated Time 25
ratio of eternity terminology to time terminology is 0.55:1. Of the twentyseven
passages containing eternity terminology, fifteen contain evig (eternal)
and eight contain evighet (eternity). Eternity formulations containing double
usage of the noun eternity occur four times, all under the category
Psalms and Canticles. 68 Eternal time is mentioned twice. The adjective “eternal”
is used once each for God’s day and God’s love, for heaven, for the
fount, and for spring. 69 Something can also be in eternal agreement with
God’s calendar. 70 When considering eternity terminology in the literal
sense, SA is very similar to Ps90, since here one also finds almost twice as
much time terminology as strictly literal eternity terminology. In this case,
the exact ratio of eternity terminology to time terminology is 0.57:1. The
picture changes radically, however, when one considers eternity terminology
in a more general sense. Then the ratio becomes 1.67:1. In other words, this
means that the major portion of eternity terminology in SA consists of ever
and evermore. Twenty-three passages contain these two terms, while eternal
and everlasting occur only eight or four times. The noun eternity does not
appear at all. Eternal life 71 is mentioned three times. The divine name, 72
God’s love, and the signs of this divine love 73 are also eternal. Finally, it is
also said that the Son, the heavenly feast, and the goal are eternal. 74
Of all the hymnbooks studied, the AHB incorporates the most terminology
concerning eternity. Eternity terminology in the most literal sense of
the word occurs in approximately the same ratio to time terminology as it
does in GL.
In the AHB, the ratio of time to eternity is 1:2. When eternity in a more
general sense is included, it rapidly increases to 1:3.75. Ever and evermore occur
164 times. 75 In the case of literal eternity terminology, most of the 112
occurrences consist of eternal, 76 co-eternal, 77 eternally, 78 and the Eternal. 79
The remaining eighty-four incidences are distributed among everlasting, 80
endless/unending, 81 and eternity. 82 Here, the list of everything that can be
“eternal” is also long and complex. The words God, Father, Son, Spirit, Lord,
The One or Three in One, Savior, King, Ruler, in combination with eternal,
are used as direct terms for God. A certain triumphalism cannot be ignored:
eternal decree, honors, strength, Head, arms, righteousness, splendor, glory, rock,
throne, praise, and rays of resurrection. Of course, one also mentions the eternal
word, name, light, life, peace, love, grace, mercy, rest, truth, loving kindness,
and joy. Some concepts of time can even be eternal, for example, day, night,
spring, years, ages, and Eastertide. Furthermore, eternity can also appear as
an attribute of house and home, gates, doors, and gifts of Christ.
The terms hymn, merit, covenant, purpose, bread, fount of love, thought,
theme, seat, woe, ransom, and things, and things “in general,” are also combined
with “eternal.”