What is DEATH in the Bible? How did Christ "abolish death"? (John Stott on 2 Timothy 1:9,10)

DEATH, in the Bible, is spoken of 3 ways. There is physical death, with which all people are familiar. This death, Scripture says, is the separation of the soul or spirit from the body. Second, there is spiritual death -- the separation of the soul from God. Last, there is second death, eternal death -- the separation of the soul and body from God forever. As to the last 2 forms of death, we need Scripture to define them since, in the physical universe, we can have little or no personal experience of their reality. In 2 Timothy 1:9,10, we hear that Christ "abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel." Since physical death is very obviously still with us, what does Paul mean by Christ "abolished death"? TEXTS: Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1,2; Revelation 20:14; Revelation 21:8; 1 Corinthians 15:26,54-55; Revelation 21:4; Hebrews 2:14-15; Romans 6:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-15; Philippians 1:21,23; 1 Corinthians 3:22-23; John 11:25-26; Romans 8:38-39; Revelation 2:11; John 5:24; 1 John 3:14 [John Stott, "Guard the Gospel: The Message of 2 Timothy"]