zoe denotes life, chiefly eternal life received or possessed in connection with the Son, and also present mortal existence.

The attested passages chiefly use the term for eternal life given, promised, or possessed in connection with the Son and set over against perishing or death. Other contexts speak of present mortal existence, of life revealed or associated with God, Christ, or Jesus, and of life in contrasts with death, corruption, or judgment.

1. Eternal life granted, promised, or possessed · dominant

   The accusative singular form ζωὴν occurs where the APB renders believers having or receiving “eternal life”: in John 3:15 it follows believing, in John 10:28 it is given so that they will not perish, and in 1 John 5:11 it is said to be given and located in the Son. Acts 13:48 likewise joins belief with appointment to eternal life, while Galatians 6:8 presents it as the harvest of sowing to the spirit.

   John 3:15John 10:281 John 5:111 John 5:12Acts 13:48Galatians 6:8
2. Present bodily or earthly existence · common

   The term can denote the life presently lived: in Acts 17:25 the APB renders God giving “life and breath and everything,” and in 1 Peter 3:10 it renders a desire to “love life” and see good days. In 1 Corinthians 15:19, the dative singular ζωῇ occurs in the phrase rendered “in this life,” while 1 Timothy 4:8 distinguishes the life that now is from the life to come.

   Acts 17:251 Peter 3:101 Corinthians 15:191 Timothy 4:8John 12:25Acts 8:33
3. Life revealed or identified with God, Christ, or Jesus · occasional

   Nominative singular ζωὴ occurs in 1 John 1:2 in the clause the APB renders “The life was revealed,” followed by proclamation of eternal life that was with the Father. In 2 Corinthians 4:10 and 2 Corinthians 4:11, the APB renders “the life of Jesus” being revealed in the body and mortal flesh; Colossians 3:3 calls the readers' life hidden with Christ in God.

   1 John 1:22 Corinthians 4:102 Corinthians 4:11Colossians 3:3Colossians 3:4Ephesians 4:18
4. Life contrasted with death and its outcome · occasional

   The term is placed in explicit contrast with death: 2 Corinthians 2:16 has the APB rendering “from death to death” and “from life to life,” and 2 Corinthians 5:4 renders what is mortal being swallowed up by life. In John 5:29, the genitive singular form appears in “the resurrection of life,” contrasted in the same verse with resurrection of judgment; 1 John 3:14 describes departure from death into life.

   2 Corinthians 2:162 Corinthians 5:4John 5:291 John 3:142 Timothy 1:101 John 5:16

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the term with “life” and frequently with “eternal life”; it also has phrases such as “life of Jesus,” “life that now is,” and “resurrection of life.” These phrasings describe the verse-level rendering rather than a fixed English equivalent for each occurrence.