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... In his quest to explain the nature of time, and its relationship to eternity, Plotinus starts with the treatment of eternity. In his treatment of eternity, Plotinus clearly defines the very concept of eternity. ... Being in Eternity is very different from being in Time. Time is associated with changing reality and it envelops all temporal objects. Eternity, on the other hand, is an unchanging reality associated with non-temporal being. Time is found in the activity of the Soul because it is a temporal object. In contrast, God is eternal because he is beyond time.
Plotinus said, “The whole question turns on the distinction between being in Time and being in Eternity, and this will be best realized by probing to the Nature of Time. We must, therefore, descend from Eternity to the investigation of Time.” Therefore, Plotinus had to differentiate eternity and everlasting in order to explain the concept of time. ...
According to Plotinus, eternity is “a Life changelessly motionless and ever holding the Universal content in actual presence; not this now and now that other, but always all; not existing now in one mode and now in another, but a consummation without part or interval. ... ” An everlasting being may exist forever, but it must be within frame of time. This everlasting being will be bound by time.
Approximate Word count = 1073
Approximate Pages = 4.3
(250 words per page double spaced)
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