Always

3842 PANTOTE (41): always; on every occasion. Pantote is an adverb that specifies "how often" something occurs. In the FCM (NT) it never means a duration or period of time.

For example, 1Th.1.2: "We give thanks to God always (pantote) concerning all of you+, unceasingly making mention of you in our prayers." Also, Phm.4: "I give thanks to my God, always (pantote) making mention of you in my prayers." In both of these passages whenever a prayer was made the believers were mentioned therein. The duration of the period of "always praying" is not included in its meaning, but is limited to the present age (aion); that is, between now and Judgment Day. This time period is comparable to duration 3 in the word-study, "age," (0165 aion ).

Similarly, in Mt.26.11 Jesus said, "For you+ always (pantote) have the poor with you+, but you do not always (pantote) have me." And in 1Ti.6.7 Paul wrote, "For we brought nothing into the [human] world and neither can we carry anything out." So, after this physical life no human will be rich or poor in material possessions, and pantote is limited to the present age (aion ).

In Jn.8.29 Jesus said: "And the [one] having sent me is with me. He did not leave me alone, because I always (pantote) do the things pleasing to him." Jesus is telling how often he pleased his Father, not during what time period.

In the King James translation of Lk.15.31 pantote is translated "ever" instead of "always": "And he said unto him, 'Son, you are always (pantote) with me, and all that I have is yours.'" Pantote does not here mean an endless period of time. "Always" is limited to the present age (aion ).

With one exception in the FCM, pantote refers to something happening during the present age. But in 1Th.4.16-17, the "always" takes place in the duration AFTER Judgment Day: "...because the Master [him]self will descend from heavenwith a commanding shout, with the voice of a chief angel and with a trumpet of God. And the dead ones in Christ will be raised up first; then also we, the living ones (zao) remaining, will be caught up in clouds together with them to a meeting with the Master in [the] air; and thus we will always (pantote) be with [the] Master." But the New International Version (NIV) translates pantote as "forever" in this passage. Although the duration of "always" may be "endless" in this passage, "always" and "forever" are not synonyms. (Compare this duration to duration 6 in the word-study, "age," 0165 aion .)

Translation:

"ALWAYS," DESCRIBING SOMETHING OCCURRING IN THE PRESENT AGE:

ALWAYS Mt.26.11,11. Mk.14.7,7. Lk.15.31; 18.1. Jn.6.34; 7.6; 8.29; 11.42; 12.8,8; 18.20. Rom.1.9. 1Co.1.4; 15.58. 2Co.2.14; 4.10; 5.6; 9.8. Gal.4.18. Eph.5.20. Php.1.4,20; 2.12; 4.4. Col.1.3; 4.6,12. 1Th.1.2; 2.16; 3.6; 5.15,16. 2Th.1.3,11; 2.13. 2Ti.3.7. Phm.4. Heb.7.25.

"ALWAYS," DESCRIBING SOMETHING OCCURRING IN THE DURATION AFTER THE PRESENT AGE:

ALWAYS 1Th.4.17.