[paladinan]

The noted scholar of New Testament Greek, the late Nigel Turner, Ph.D, says: “It would be imprecise to translate aionios as ‘eternal.’ It means ‘belonging to the future age or dispensation’” (Christian Words, T & T Clark, 1980, pp. 452, 455, 456).

I'm afraid the good doctor was being a bit illogical... since the very same word ("aionion" = objective case) is used in the very same verse (Matthew 25:46) to describe "ETERNAL punishment" ("kolasin aionion") and "ETERNAL life" ("zoen aionion")! Unless he's suggesting that neither hell nor HEAVEN are eternal (i.e. if he's saying that there's no such thing as eternal life, but only "life for an epoch or age"), his idea needs some correction, I think.

[Genoa]

I think Turner only means to suggest that “aionian” or “age-abiding” must be allowed to have a rather broad meaning based on just what is being asserted in the context.

[Genoa]

Another point that needs to be made is that there can be a difference between “everlasting punishment” and “everlasting torment.” The punishment can be construed to be irreversible destruction.