trip eternity meaning

Triquetra Meaning + History of Celtic Trinity Knot Symbol

By Author Keith O'Hara

Posted on Last updated: April 29, 2024

The Triquetra symbol, which means ‘three-cornered’ in Latin, is also known as the Trinity Knot. Although it holds different meanings across several religions, the power of three is a central theme, represented by the symbol’s interconnected design with its three arcs.

Arguably best-known for its appearance in the ancient Book of Kells, the Celtic Trinity Knot has also been found carved onto stones in many parts of Northern Europe.

It’s one of the more notable Celtic Knots and it’s arguably one of the most popular Celtic symbols when it comes to tattoos and jewellery.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at the design, its origins and the various Trinity Knot meanings.

Table of Contents

Quick need-to-knows about the Trinity Knot / Triquetra

© The Irish Road Trip

Before we look at the Trinity Knot meanings and it’s history, take 20 seconds to read the points below as they’ll get you up-to-speed quickly:

1. Its Origin

The Triquetra symbol is old, but like many ancient symbols, its exact origin is unknown. Although widely debated, it’s generally accepted that the symbol is at least 5,000 years old.

It’s not unique to Celtic culture either, with examples of the Triquetra being found across the globe, dating back to the 4th century BC.

2. First appearance in Celtic art

The Celtic Triquetra first appeared in insular art around the 7th century, famously in the Book of Kells , but also carved into Celtic Crosses and holy buildings and monuments.

3. The Design

The Triquetra symbol is created with one interconnecting and never-ending line that forms three pointed arcs.

The central arc points up, while the other two sit on either side of it, pointing down and to the sides. It’s made from one continuous, ever-flowing line, which may represent eternity or infinity.

4. The Christian Trinity

Also known as the Celtic Trinity Knot, the Triquetra has a strong connection to the Holy Trinity in Christianity. The symbol’s earliest appearances in Celtic insular art are on religious manuscripts and stonework, from the time of Celtic Christianity.

Some historians believe the Celtic Triquetra symbol was used by Celts before they converted to Christianity, and that missionaries used the symbol as a teaching aid. In fact, the Fish sign—a classic Christian symbol—is essentially a Triquetra on its side.

5. Beware of recent inventions

You may see variations of this design, and it’s not uncommon for the Triquetra to be interlaced with a circle. A relatively modern take on the Celtic Triquetra symbol has it entwined with a love heart, symbolising love (see the Celtic Love Knot for more).

Triquetra Meaning / Trinity Knot Meaning

Many assume that the Celtic Trinity Knot is all about the Holy Trinity, however, the Triquetra meaning varies  greatly  depending on the group using it

Remember, this is an ancient symbol that predates Christianity by hundreds of years.

1. What it meant for Celts

The Celts revered the number three, believing that everything of importance came in threes.

For them, the Triquetra’s three arcs may have symbolised the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, with the endlessly looping pattern representing eternity.

This  may  be backed up by the importance the group placed the ancient oak tree (see the Tree of Life ), which symbolised all of the above.

2. What it meant for Wiccans

To this day you’ll find many people with deep Irish roots talking about the Triquetra representing, not the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone.

This relates to the nature of the ancient Celtic Goddess ; the mother represents creation, the maiden represents innocence, and the crone symbolises wisdom.

3. What it meant for Pagans

Some believe that the three arcs mirror the three domains of earth; land, sea, and sky.

One of my favourite takes on it is that the Triquetra symbolises the body, mind, and spirit, bound together to form the soul.

If you look up the Serch Bythol symbol you’ll see how this symbolism can be expanded on in other designs, which is why it is one of the more popular Celtic family symbols .

4. What it meant for Christians

The Triquetra meaning for Christians was simple – it was a tool for teaching the ways of Christianity and the Holy Trinity.

It would’ve been easy enough to work with something familiar to teach new lessons of faith.

In fact, versions of the Triquetra meaning from the Celtic Christianity period formed the sign of the fish, a symbol synonymous with Christianity.

The History of the Triquetra symbol

Now that we have the Triquetra meaning out of the way, it’s time to look at the symbol’s rich history.

As we said earlier, no one knows when the Triquetra was drawn for the first time, though it’s believed to date back as far as the 4th century BC.

We do know that it wasn’t originally a Celtic symbol, and it has appeared in cultures around the world and across the ages.

Symbols bearing three arcs, such as the Celtic Trinity Knot and the Triskelion , first became widespread around the 4th century BC.

Early examples have been found adorning ornamental ceramics from Persia and Anatolia, as well as on Ancient Greek/Lycian coins.

However, the very earliest Celtic Trinity Knots go back much further than that, with stone carvings depicting the Triskelion dating back to 3200 BC.

Since the 4th century BC, the Triquetra has been found on Scandinavian rune stones and Germanic coins. But it wasn’t until the 8th century AD that it became widespread among the Celts in Ireland and Britain.

Use in Insular Art

Insular art refers to artwork produced in Ireland and Britain during the post-Roman era. It’s largely characterised by Celtic interlace patterns and knots.

Early examples date back to the 7th century, but the style really kicked off a century later and continued until around the 12th century in Ireland.

Insular art was mainly found in metalwork, such as brooches and decorative goblets, illuminated manuscripts, and carved into stone slabs and Celtic Crosses .

One of the best examples of insular art is the unfinished Book of Kells, which features the Triquetra regularly.

Around this time, the Celtic Triquetra was also frequently used on coins in Britain and Ireland.

Usage in more recent times

The popularity of the Triquetra hasn’t waned after all these many thousands of years. In fact, it’s seen a surge in popularity recently, becoming a common choice for logos, artwork, tattoos, and jewellery.

Look closely, and you’ll start seeing it everywhere. In popular culture, the Triquetra has made an appearance on album covers (Led Zeppelin IV), movies (the hammer in Thor), and TV shows (it frequently pops up in Charmed and more recently the German Netflix series “Dark”).

You’ll also see it used as a Celtic symbol for friendship , a sisterhood symbol and as a brotherhood symbol , too.

How to make an Irish Trinity Knot tie

After reading about the Trinity Knot meaning, many people having an Irish themed wedding opt for using an Irish Trinity Knot tie.

If you’d like to wrangle your tie into the Trinity symbol, the video above should give you a good insight into how it’s done.

FAQs about the Celtic Triquetra

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Where does the Trinity Symbol come from?’ to ‘What is the Trinity Knot meaning?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

What does Trinity knot symbolize?

The Celtic Trinity Knot meaning varies greatly between Celts, Pagans, and Wiccans, symbolising everything from the Holy Trinity to the cycle of life.

Is the Trinity knot a pagan symbol?

Several resources state that the Triquetra Knot is a Pagan symbol, however, we can’t find one solid resource to cite, so we can’t argue for or against.

Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries . Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Friday 9th of December 2022

Well Keith, I bet you haven’t even thought about this article in a while! But let me tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it very informative. It ended up being just about everything I was looking to know… and all in one spot! The tie tying video was a nice little bonus as well. Hope you made memories that will withstand the test of time! Thank you for sharing as you went…

Anthony Hodgson

Tuesday 29th of September 2020

Hiya Keith. 'Praise where praise is due' so thanks for this great article - have been doing Celtic knots for years yet only just found out that one of them is called the triquetra! Now I know. Good on yer!

• Daily Crossword
• Word Puzzle
• Word Finder
• Word of the Day
• Synonym of the Day
• Word of the Year
• Language stories
• All featured
• Gender and sexuality
• All pop culture
• Writing hub
• Grammar essentials
• Commonly confused
• All writing tips
• Pop culture
• Writing tips

Advertisement

[ ih- tur -ni-tee ]

• infinite time; duration without beginning or end.

the eternity of God.

• Theology. the timeless state into which the soul passes at a person's death.

We had to wait an eternity for the check to arrive.

• eternities, the truths or realities of life and thought that are regarded as timeless or eternal .

/ ɪˈtɜːnɪtɪ /

• endless or infinite time
• the quality, state, or condition of being eternal
• usually plural any of the aspects of life and thought that are considered to be timeless, esp timeless and true
• theol the condition of timeless existence, believed by some to characterize the afterlife

an eternity of waiting

Discover More

Other words from.

• none·terni·ty noun
• pree·terni·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of eternity 1

Example Sentences

If you want to build a paradise on Earth or you want to achieve your salvation in eternity, you may go to war because you’ll feel less frightened of death and you’re part of a much greater cause.

Kylie’s time under house arrest soon grows quite eventful, but it starts out with the palpable slow slog of eternity.

We waited for what seemed like an eternity before the light was extinguished accompanied by the sound of glass shattering and a dog barking.

Accelerating this way meant that Santul ran about 45 seconds faster, which can feel like an eternity when running a marathon.

The wizened 69-year-old, with a Gandalf-like demeanor and a do-it-yourself ethos, wants to preserve information for eternity.

After what seemed a desperate eternity, a doctor shook his head.

The Newsroom aired its final episode on Sunday, already an eternity ago in news-cycle terms.

He rests lavishly, depicted in a marble sarcophagus that stares up for eternity at the carved depictions of his life story.

But this is also a parody of narcissism, just a little detour to eternity.

Finally, after an eternity—lasting maybe two seconds—I did what I usually do when faced with fear squatting in my stomach.

The blessings of time and eternity constitute the part of the promise offered to believers, through Christ.

One instant in all eternity would have made just the difference between life and death to you.

He who wrongs a fellow-creature wrongs himself as well, and wrongs both for all eternity.

At the close of the supper he filled his glass, and rising, proposed to drink to the eternity of the Republic.

An eternity did it seem before those men returned and marched once more over his head.

Words and phrases

Personal account.

• Access or purchase personal subscriptions
• Get our newsletter
• Save searches
• Set display preferences

Institutional access

Sign in with library card

Sign in with username / password

Recommend to your librarian

Institutional account management

Sign in as administrator on Oxford Academic

eternity noun

• Hide all quotations

What does the noun eternity mean?

There are 13 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun eternity . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

How common is the noun eternity ?

How is the noun eternity pronounced, british english, u.s. english, where does the noun eternity come from.

Earliest known use

Middle English

The earliest known use of the noun eternity is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).

OED's earliest evidence for eternity is from around 1374, in a translation by Geoffrey Chaucer, poet and administrator.

eternity is a borrowing from French.

Etymons: French eternité .

Nearby entries

• eternalization, n. 1928–
• eternalize, v. 1620–
• eternally, adv. a1385–
• eternalness, n. 1727–
• eterne, adj. c1366–
• eterne, v. 1605–18
• eternify, v. 1610–1818
• eternish, v. 1578–94
• eternitarian, n. 1746
• eternitize, v. a1713–
• eternity, n. c1374–
• eternity ring, n. 1939–
• eternization, n. 1864–
• eternize, v. 1568–
• eternized, adj. 1603–
• eternizement, n. 1595
• eternizer, n. 1593–1636
• eternizing, n. 1591–
• eternizing, adj. 1659–
• eternness, n. 1606–08
• etesian, adj. 1601–

Thank you for visiting Oxford English Dictionary

To continue reading, please sign in below or purchase a subscription. After purchasing, please sign in below to access the content.

Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for eternity, n..

eternity, n. was first published in 1891; not yet revised.

eternity, n. was last modified in July 2023.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

• corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into eternity, n. in July 2023.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1891)

• Find out more

OED Second Edition (1989)

• View eternity in OED Second Edition

Please submit your feedback for eternity, n.

Please include your email address if you are happy to be contacted about your feedback. OUP will not use this email address for any other purpose.

Citation details

Factsheet for eternity, n., browse entry.

Editor's Choice for vocabulary building

Dictionary definition of eternity

A concept or state that represents endless or infinite duration, transcending the constraints of time and space. "The beauty of the starry night sky made them feel connected to the vastness of eternity ."

Detailed meaning of eternity

It denotes a timeless existence that is beyond the boundaries of our mortal perception. Eternity suggests an everlasting or timeless quality, devoid of beginning or end. It encompasses the notion of permanence, continuity, and immortality. The concept of eternity is often associated with philosophical and religious perspectives, where it signifies an eternal existence beyond the temporal realm. It can be understood as a state of timelessness, where past, present, and future converge into an eternal now. Eternity is frequently contemplated in discussions surrounding the afterlife, the universe's origins and destiny, and the nature of the divine. It evokes a sense of boundless duration, beyond the limitations of our human comprehension and the transient nature of our mortal existence.

Example sentences containing eternity

1. Their love for each other will last for an eternity . 2. The artist sought to capture the essence of eternity in their timeless masterpiece. 3. The concept of eternity fascinated philosophers throughout history. 4. They believed in the existence of an eternal soul that transcends physical death. 5. The poet's words contemplated the mysteries of eternity and the meaning of life. 6. The ancient monument stood as a symbol of eternity , defying the passage of time.

History and etymology of eternity

The word ' eternity ' has a rich etymological history rooted in Latin and beyond. It can be traced back to the Latin term 'aeternitas,' which was formed from 'aeternus,' meaning 'eternal' or 'everlasting.' 'Aeternus' itself is derived from 'aevum,' denoting 'age' or 'time,' and it carries connotations of the timeless and unending. Beyond Latin, the concept of eternity has deep philosophical and theological roots, transcending the constraints of time and space. It represents a timeless and infinite duration that exists beyond our temporal understanding. The etymology of ' eternity ' reflects the human quest to grasp the concept of the infinite and the enduring, serving as a reminder of our enduring fascination with the mysteries of existence beyond the bounds of time and space.

Quiz: Find the meaning of eternity

Continue Quiz

Further usage examples of eternity

1. She wished to be reunited with her loved ones in eternity . 2. The eternal flame burned brightly, representing the enduring spirit of the fallen heroes. 3. Time seemed to stand still as they gazed into each other's eyes, lost in eternity . 4. The concept of eternity offered solace in the face of mortality and the impermanence of life. 5. They pondered the question of what lies beyond the boundaries of eternity . 6. Love has the power to make a moment feel like an eternity . 7. Staring at the starry night, I pondered the concept of eternity . 8. The universe's vastness hints at the mysteries of eternity . 9. In the desert, the horizon seemed to stretch into eternity . 10. Some believe in the existence of an afterlife, an eternal eternity . 11. The beauty of nature often evokes a sense of timeless eternity . 12. The philosopher contemplated the meaning of eternity and existence. 13. The ancient pyramid's construction symbolized the pursuit of eternity . 14. The poet's verses explored the depths of the human soul and eternity . 15. Time spent with loved ones can feel like a glimpse of eternity . 16. Stars in the night sky remind us of the grandeur of eternity . 17. A peaceful lake mirrors the tranquility of eternity 's essence. 18. The concept of eternity is a recurring theme in religious texts. 19. The artist's masterpiece captured the essence of eternity 's beauty. 20. Gazing at the ocean, I lost myself in thoughts of endless eternity . 21. The philosopher sought to define the boundaries of eternity . 22. The concept of eternity transcends the limitations of our reality. 23. The mystic meditated to connect with the infinite realm of eternity . 24. The concept of eternity has fascinated thinkers throughout history. 25. The belief in reincarnation explores the idea of a cyclical eternity .

infinity, moment, instant, transience

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/eb68db_7eca51f0c20b45c3a25e6ebbf598afe2~mv2.jpg, https://static.wixstatic.com/media/eb68db_3d0b76aa2c5f4988a3b79c60fd01ccd3~mv2.jpg, https://static.wixstatic.com/media/eb68db_baf0bf5e2ba248b7a86313b8253f0d3e~mv2.jpg

ACT 3 (American College Testing), High School 20, Time and Chronology

duration,infinity,perpetuity

eb68db_5e6028b41d0b45a3a304a4320061a410.mp3

ceaselessness,endlessness,everlastingness,forever,immortality,permanence,sempiternity,timelessness

Quiz categories containing eternity

Find the Meaning

Find the Antonym

Same or Different?

Spelling Bee

Definition of 'eternity'

eternity in British English

Eternity in american english, examples of 'eternity' in a sentence eternity, cobuild collocations eternity, trends of eternity.

View usage for: All Years Last 10 years Last 50 years Last 100 years Last 300 years

Browse alphabetically eternity

• eternally young
• eternity ring
• All ENGLISH words that begin with 'E'

Related terms of eternity

• spend eternity
• last an eternity

Wordle Helper

Scrabble Tools

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Score: 0 / 5

• Dictionaries home
• American English
• Collocations
• German-English
• Grammar home
• Practical English Usage
• Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)
• Word Lists home
• My Word Lists
• Recent additions
• Resources home
• Text Checker

Definition of eternity noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• There will be rich and poor for all eternity.
• They believed that their souls would be condemned to burn in hell for eternity.
• I will love you for all eternity.
• This great work of art is now preserved for eternity.
• This mathematical pattern will repeat itself into eternity.

Want to learn more?

Find out which words work together and produce more natural-sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of eternity – Learner’s Dictionary

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

(Definition of eternity from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Translations of eternity

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

a territory (= a large area of a country that has some local government but less independence than a province or a state) of northern Canada, whose capital city is Iqaluit

Fakes and forgeries (Things that are not what they seem to be)

Learn more with +Plus

• Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
• Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
• Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
• Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
• English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
• English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
• English–Dutch Dutch–English
• English–French French–English
• English–German German–English
• English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
• English–Italian Italian–English
• English–Japanese Japanese–English
• English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
• English–Polish Polish–English
• English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
• English–Spanish Spanish–English
• English–Swedish Swedish–English
• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
• an eternity
• Translations
• All translations

To add eternity to a word list please sign up or log in.

Add eternity to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.

8 Ways the Doctrine of Eternity Clarifies Our Values

Recognize eternity’s gift.

By God’s design we are value-oriented, goal-oriented, purpose-oriented, and importance-oriented beings. We are all living for something, in pursuit of something, or in the service of something. There are things in our lives that we value, and things that have little value to us. There are things that we say we value, but that we don’t invest in in the way that you would expect if we valued them as much as we say we do. There are things in our lives that rise in levels of value way more than their true value, and when they do, they begin to control our thoughts, desires, words, and actions. Your life is shaped by what you value. If you want to know what you truly value, consider where you tend to invest your time, energy, gifts, and money.

The doctrine of eternity is an enormous help when it comes to our struggle of values, because it teaches us what is truly valuable and worth living for. Eternity blesses us with ultimate values clarification. Go to Revelation, and listen to the voices that are on the other side. What is the subject of their celebration? It’s not wealth, power, grand palaces, people’s acclaim, success, or achievement. No, the constant focus of the celebration is the Savior and his faithful and victorious grace. We need the values clarification of eternity because we so easily lose our sense of what’s important. For some of us this means that we spend way too much time, energy, money, and worry on our lawn. Thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours are invested fighting weeds and producing the green that has become so important to us. Is your lawn more important to you than it should be?

Do You Believe?

Paul david tripp.

In his latest book, Do You Believe? , pastor and bestselling author Paul David Tripp unpacks 12 core doctrines and how they engage and transform the human heart and mind.

Or maybe you’re the husband who has invested too much on your man toys. You don’t need to invest any more in guns, tennis rackets, fly rods, or golf clubs. Have you spent so much time using your collections of toys that you don’t have the time you should to spend with your wife and children? Do you spend too much time and energy on your appearance? Perhaps you have too much makeup and too many outfits in your closet. Are your true values revealed by the fact that you spend more time on your appearance than you do on your daily personal time of worship? Maybe you’re a university student and keeping up with social media has become far too important. Having a voice in the endless conversation means too much to you, and scrolling to the next site eats too much of your time. Yes, we all can benefit from the values clarification that the doctrine of eternity blesses us with.

How is it that the doctrine of eternity clarifies our values? I suggest eight ways.

The existence of eternity immediately tells me that I have been designed with bigger concerns than a right-here, right-now focus on my wants, needs, and feelings. If there is a such thing as eternity, then whatever I want, whatever it is that I think I need, and my feeling of the moment must be understood and evaluated in light of what is to come.

The existence of eternity tells me that since this is not a destination but a preparation for a final destination, the goal of this moment is not to use my resources to turn now into as much of paradise as I can afford. If there is no such thing as eternity, then it makes sense to grab as much personal pleasure and comfort as you can get, because this life is all you have. But if there is an eternity, then it means that my life is not about just the pleasures of the moment, but more significantly about the destination that is to come.

The existence of eternity tells me where and when my only true satisfaction will be found. Eternity confronts us with the fact that the ultimate in personal happiness, joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction will never be found in the created world of people and things. Eternity invites us to understand that the highest of human pleasures are found in a person, the Lord Jesus Christ. When he is at the center, when he is my reason for everything and I am living in complete surrender to him, then I will know unfettered joy and contentment of heart. The doctrine of eternity exposes the lie of materialism for the deceit that it is. It constantly reminds me that material things will not satisfy the longings of my heart, because whether I realize it or not, those deep longings are really for God.

The existence of eternity tells me what I should be investing my resources in. It tells me what will bring me the greatest return. Jesus told his followers to invest in a purse that would not wear out. Paul pleaded with his readers to “seek the things that are above” (Col. 3:1). Some things provide temporary pleasure but soon fade away. But there are investments you can make with your time, energy, and money that will last for all of eternity. The doctrine of eternity calls for us to have long-term values and to invest in things that have more than quickly fading fruit.

The existence of eternity clarifies my values by alerting me to what is truly important. As I said earlier, our lives are always shaped by naming some things as important and other things as unimportant. It is vital to get this function right. How sad it would be to invest your life in things that turned out to be not so important after all.

If God has graced me with a place with him in eternity, then he will also give me all the grace that I need along the way.

The existence of eternity tells me the danger of giving way to the temptation to worship the creation and not the Creator. We all live in the middle of a daily worship battle. There is a constant battle for what will rule our hearts, and in so doing, control the way we live. Our hearts are either being ruled by love for and worship of the Creator or by something in the creation. The glory of our final home will be that finally the Creator will be in his rightful place in our hearts, never to be replaced by anything ever again. The highest joys of the human existence are found when the Creator is in his rightful place as King in our hearts.

The existence of eternity assures me of the grace I need to fight the values battles that will wage in my heart. In this struggle of values, we are never alone, because the King of kings has invaded our lives by his grace. He never sends us into battle without going with us. He never calls us into battle without providing us with the right weapons. And he fights for us even in those moments when we are too discouraged, too weak, or too foolish to fight for ourselves. If God has graced me with a place with him in eternity, then he will also give me all the grace that I need along the way. The doctrine of eternity reminds me that embedded in the promise of future grace is the guarantee of present grace.

The existence of eternity gives me hope when I get my values completely wrong. It is a hope not based on my track record, but on the grace and goodness of my Lord. There will be moments when you and I will lose sight of what’s important. Our hearts won’t always love what is best. But eternity reminds me that my ultimate hope is not in my getting it right, but in the one who always got it right and always did what is right. My ticket into the glory of eternity was not purchased by my right values and obedience, but by Jesus’s perfect life, substitutionary death, and victorious resurrection. Because this is true, I can run to him now with my values failures and know I will find his mercy and grace. The doctrine of eternity reminds me that with all of my wanderings, he will keep me to the end and welcome me into my final home to live with him forever.

This article is adapted from Do You Believe?: 12 Historic Doctrines to Change Your Everyday Life by Paul David Tripp.

Paul David Tripp (DMin, Westminster Theological Seminary) is a pastor, an award-winning author, and an international conference speaker. He has written numerous books, including  Lead ; Parenting ; and the bestselling devotional  New Morning Mercies . His not-for-profit ministry exists to connect the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life. Tripp lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Luella, and they have four grown children.

Related Articles

Why Is Doctrine So Important?

Kathleen Nielson

Doctrine is a body of teaching. Christian doctrine is the teaching found in the Bible—about who God is, who we are, and why the world exists.

How to Move Doctrine from Head to Heart

Joel R. Beeke

If you preach to the heart, you enter into the experience of the people of God as they encounter doctrine in their own lives.

Does Doctrine Matter for the Everyday Christian?

Matthew Barrett

Does the doctrine of justification make a difference in the way that we live the Christian life?

A Momentary Affliction in Light of Eternity

All Christians, especially those who are suffering, should be daydreaming about eternity on a regular basis.

Related Resources

Connect with Us!

• Retail Partners
• International Distributors
• About the ESV
• Read Online
• Mobile Apps
• Crossway Review Program
• Exam Copies
• History of Crossway
• Statement of Faith
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service
• Submissions
• Permissions

© 2001 – 2024 Crossway, USA

• Recent Content
• Wednesday's Word
• John Bible Study
• Old Testament Bible Study
• New Testament Bible Study
• Psalms Bible Study
• Proverbs Bible Study
• 1 Peter Bible Study
• The Connecting Podcast
• Ask Paul Tripp
• Download The App
• On-Demand Events
• Host an Event
• Do You Believe?: 12 Historic Doctrines to Change Your Everyday Life

The Doctrine of Eternity

Doctrine—what Christians believe—directly influences how they live. The biblical truths about God, humanity, and the world are not merely about knowing more—they are also about loving God and making sense of this life and the life to come. But what happens when there is disparity between what believers confess and how they live?

In his latest book, Do You Believe? , pastor and best-selling author Paul David Tripp takes a close look at 12 core doctrines and how they engage and transform the human heart and mind. According to Tripp, “true belief is always lived.” To demonstrate, he unpacks each doctrine and presents its relevance for the Christian life. As readers explore topics such as the doctrine of God, the holiness of God, and the doctrine of Scripture, they will be fueled to fall deeper in love with and stand in awe of their Creator and Father—putting the truths of God’s word on display for all the world to see.

Discover The Other Doctrines

Transcript: The Doctrine of Eternity

I think a lot of the dysfunction in the Christian community is the result of eternity amnesia. Although we say we believe in eternity, we live as if we believe this is all we have, “And so, my job is to turn this into a paradise and if my marriage isn't a paradise, and if I don't have paradise children, and my job isn't a paradise, then I'm unhappy and dissatisfied and complaining and grumbling.”

This will never be a paradise. The apostle Paul says we live in a world that's groaning, waiting for redemption. Now, what the doctrine of eternity tells me is be sure, paradise is coming. It's not this place where we're floating around with wings, playing harps.

The Bible presents that all of this stuff is going to be burned up and we're going to live in a newly created new heavens and new earth, where shalom exist. Shalom isn't peace. It means much more than that. Shalom means everything is now in its right place, doing exactly what it was meant to do.

It's peace and righteousness reigning forever and ever and ever. Nothing broken. No bad people. No bad motivations or intentions. Every animal, every created thing, every moment, and every location being perfectly what it was meant to be. That's coming.

Now, here's what you understand. That teaching means that this moment we're in now is not a destination. It's a preparation for a final destination and so, everything that God brings my way is intended to be preparatory. I don't live with a destination mentality, trying to turn my world into a paradise, because this isn't intended to be a destination.

And so, I've got to live with that preparation mentality. Practice is repetitive. Practice is energy-taxing. Practice is meant to teach. This is practice is developing capabilities that you didn't have before, you practice. That's all what preparation is.

And so, if you live with a preparation mentality, you get why life is hard. You get why you need to persevere. And you get why you don't put your hopes and dreams into “now” because “now” won't deliver. You don't get to marry a perfect person. Your marriage doesn't get to live in a perfect world. You don't get to raise pre-sanctified children.

Your boss isn't going to be perfectly holy because this isn't paradise. But take heart, take heart. Paradise is coming. It will be perfect beyond your wildest imagination, and you will look back and you will say every moment of hardship was worth it.

You can't stop and camp before the destination. You can't be like the family going to Disney World and they stop at the first sign that says, “Disney World - 150 miles,” and have the vacation there. It'll never work. You got to press on. Destination’s coming and it will be worth it.

Discover the 12 Doctrines

Sign up for wednesday's devotional.

Subscribe Today

Get the Paul Tripp App

Download Now:   iOS   Android

Synonyms of eternity

• as in perpetuity
• as in immortality
• as in forever
• More from M-W
• To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

Thesaurus Definition of eternity

Synonyms & Similar Words

• foreverness
• everlasting
• timelessness
• endlessness
• boundlessness
• limitlessness
• interminableness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• impermanence
• transitoriness
• ephemerality
• temporariness
• immortality
• split second
• microsecond

Thesaurus Entries Near eternity

Cite this entry.

“Eternity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eternity. Accessed 5 Jul. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on eternity

Nglish: Translation of eternity for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of eternity for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about eternity

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Plural and possessive names: a guide, commonly misspelled words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), absent letters that are heard anyway, how to use accents and diacritical marks, popular in wordplay, it's a scorcher words for the summer heat, flower etymologies for your spring garden, 12 star wars words, 'swash', 'praya', and 12 more beachy words, 8 words for lesser-known musical instruments, games & quizzes.