Imperishable (862) (aphthartos from a = negates what follows + phtheiro = to corrupt) means nothing can corrupt or ruin, not liable to pass away, not subject to corruption, decay or dissolution and so imperishable. Absolutely nothing can ruin your eternal inheritance beloved.
In secular Greek aphthartos described something that had not been ravaged by an invading army.
Aphthartos is used 7 times in the NT (1x Ro;2x 1Co;1x 1Ti;3x 1 Pe) and is translated in the as immortal, 1; imperishable, 4; imperishable quality, 1; incorruptible, 1.
Paul calls God aphthartos writing in Romans that men
"exchanged the glory of the incorruptible (aphthartos) God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures." (see note Romans 1:23)
This inheritance is totally unlike any earthly inheritance. A Christian’s inheritance cannot be ravaged by hostile forces! Sometimes wills are successfully contested by parties not mentioned in them. Sometimes people are deprived of an inheritance because of legal technicalities. So many inheritances vanish away before they are obtained or are quickly squandered after they are obtained...but not this one.
As John reminds us
the world is passing away, and also its lusts but the one who does the will of God abides forever. (1Jn 2:17)
Every stone of earth will crumble, every column will fall, every arch will collapse. Diamonds chip, gold wears away, but this inheritance of ours is a truly “imperishable” commodity and will endure forever.
The psalmist speaks of the transient nature of earthly riches writing
Surely every man walks about as a phantom. Surely they make an uproar for nothing. He amasses riches, and does not know who will gather them. (Ps 39:6)
In this same chapter Peter explains they had
been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable (aphthartos), that is, through the living and abiding word of God. (see note 1 Peter 1:23)
Human life is brought into being by means of seed that must obey physical laws of decay and death, but not so with the spiritual life implanted by the Holy Spirit Who uses the Word of God to produce this new life.
Paul uses aphthartos in the letter to the "sports crazed" Corinthians writing that
everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath (one that will wither), but we an imperishable (aphthartos - one that cannot wither)." (1Cor 9:25) (see notes)
The blessings of heaven that shall be bestowed on the righteous are often represented under the image of a crown, here one that is unfading.
Paul uses to aphthartos describe the believer's transformed, glorified, resurrection body writing
Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable (aphthartos - free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed." (1 Cor 15:51)
Albert Barnes adds that this inheritance
"It will not fade away and vanish, as that which we inherit in this world does. The meaning here is, that the inheritance will be imperishable, or will endure forever. Here, to whatever we may be heirs, we must soon part with the inheritance; there it will be eternal." (Barnes' Notes on NT)
J Vernon McGee told the following story...
I heard of a man who was willed a beautiful Southern home in Louisiana, but the very night the original owner died, the house caught on fire and burned down—and there was no insurance. The wonderful home that he was to inherit went up in smoke. (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson or Logos)
Compare the following passages that speak of our inheritance in heaven (Mt 5:12-note; Mt 6:19, 20, 21-notes, Lk 12:33) If you want to be further encouraged study the passages compiled by Torrey relating to the topic the Reward of Saints.
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Greek Word Studies ( - )
Read freely Greek Word Studies from the Austin Precept text commentary of the Bible in text and pdf format. Precept Austin is an online free dynamic bible commentary similar to wikipedia with updated content and many links to excellent biblical resources around the world. You can browse the entire collection of Commentaries by Verse on the Precept Austin website.We have been "bought with a price" to be "ambassadors for Christ" and our "salvation is nearer to us than when we believed" so let us "cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" "so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming." (1Cor 6:20, 2Cor 5:20, Ro 13:11, 2Cor 7:1, 1Jn 2:28)