Death is a loose term in English. For example, death is a means for believers to leave Earth and go to Heaven. Death is also the wage of sin.

Using one word for both of these instances can be confusing, which is why the original Greek is very helpful.

The wages of sin is death, or eternal separation from God. That is a punishment, or a result of the sins people sow while on Earth. The death that is a punishment is an eternal death or death everlasting.

The verb of passing away, death, is not a punishment. It is simply a verb. As in to live or to die. This is the death that is in God's plan.

God wants us to be with Him in Heaven. In order for us to do that, we must believe in Jesus, do what Jesus says, and then leave this Earth. Die an earthly death.