Download Lesson 5 - Words Associated

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Annihilationist’s And Universalist’s Doctrinal Objections To The
Teaching Of Eternal Torment
Lesson Five
Pastor Tony Butler
A look at the words associated with eternal punishment
(punishment, damnation, perish, and destroy/destruction)
Mt. 25:46 is a primary verse that evangelicals use for the doctrine of eternal torment. The verse contains
the word aiŌnion, which we disovered in our last lesson was an adjective form of aiŌn and is perfectly
acceptable to translate as “eternal” as we think in our western minds.
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The Bible doesn’t use aiŌn in the same sense we westerners use “eternal”; it uses the term in a
way that denote an age or succesive ages or indefinite periods of time. It is important to
understand that the scriptures teach that only God is eternal, with no beginning or end.
In Eph. 3:21 glory is to go to God “ to the age of the ages - τοῦ αἰ ῶ νος/ toū
aiŌnos ( singular – “to the age”) τῶ ν αἰ ώνων/ tŌn aiŌnŌn (plural “of the ages” )
This aspect of plural ages is seen in Rev. 14:11 where the smoke of the torment of those that
receive the mark of the beast ascends “into ages of ages” εἰ ς αἰ ῶ νας
αἰ
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ώνων/ice aiŌnias aiŌniŌn
In Jn. 17:3 “eternal life” is in the plural = αἰώνιος ζωή/ aiŌnios zoe
There is another word that is used one time for the eternal nature of God, "aidios" which is only
found twice in the NT; once in Rom. 1:20 concerning God’s eternal power and godhead and once
in Jude concerning the chains of fallen angels. The Greek primarily uses forms of “aiŌn” to
describe the “eternal” or “age to age” existence of God.
However, the ages were created by God (Gen. 1:1) which is all things which are contained in the
ages, such as the universe, time, people, and history. Therefore nothing within an “age” is
strictly seen as “eternal” from a Biblical perspective, whether it is salvation, punishment, or
anything else. Only God existed before the very ages He created and therefore He is seen and
called, the “the age” or “everlasting God” because God preceded the ages, created the ages, and
endures through them all for the rest of time.
Since men have a beginning, in the Greek mind there is no eternal punishment with the western idea of
“eternal”. In a more literal way the Greek expresses that the lost will experience successive “age “ or “aiŌnion”
punishment. To me this is where U&A’s fail in their doctrine. I have no problem with the use of the word
“eternal” because I am a westerner. I see no difference between using the word “age/ aiŌnion” life in Christ (Jn.
3;16) or “age/ aiŌnion” punishment outside of Christ (Mt. 25:46). The adjective use of “age/ aiŌnion” may be a
more accurate strict translation, but the results are the same as the use of “eternal”.
The only way to stop “age” punishment (everlasting punishment) is for the age to cease. To me if that is
the case, then even “age” life (eternal life) must cease. You can’t have it only one way.
U&A Objection Number Three
1. The use of the word “punishment” in Mt. 25;46 is a false translation.
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And these shall go away into everlasting punishment (κόλασιν αἰ
righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46
ώνιον = Kolasin aiŌnion): but the
The argument used by annihilationists concerns the Greek word “kolosin”. Kolasin is a derivative of the
Greek word “Κόλάζω/KolazŌ”. The NT translators translated the word as punishment. However, U&A’s
declare that the word doesn’t mean punishment but rather it means “to cut off, or to prune”. Annhilationists
therefore teach that in a particular age, the wicked will be cut off/annhilated and cease to exist. The NWT
(New World Translation) bible of the Jehovah’s Witnesses translates it as such which is consistent with its
theology but not with common usage in New Testament times. “46 And these will depart into everlasting
cutting-off, but the righteous ones into everlasting life.”
2. The context of the verse has nothing to do believing or not believing.
Another reason U&A’s object to a literal meaning of Mat. 25:46 is because of the basis of judgment for
eternal punishment or eternal life. When reading Matthew 25:32-46 in context, you will see a judgment of the
nations taking place when Christ returns to the earth. The basis of judgment isn’t because one did or did not
take the mark of the beast or because one did or did not believe the gospel. It is based entirely as to how one
treated God’s people. Since this is the only place where the term “eternal punishment” is used by translators,
and the fact that it has nothing to do with belief, it is therefore wrong to apply it to people who don’t know
Christ or refuse to believe in Christ. This verse speaks only to the mistreatment of God’s people as a basis of
judgment whereby they will be annhilated.
A Biblical and Evangelical response
1. The use of the “punishment” is a correct translation.
The error of U&A’s is the fact that they site the use of the word “kolosin” in classical Greek which did
translate the word in as punishment. However, the NT wasn’t written in Classical Greek. It was written in
“Koine/Common” Greek. In koine Greek the word took on a new meaning for punishment. This is seen in the
NT as well as extra biblical writings. NT Greek scholars have always understood this.
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Prop[erly] to lop, prune as trees, wings ... to chastise, correct, punish: so in the N.T. (Thayer)
"To cut short," "to lop," "to trim," and figuratively a. "to impede," "restrain," and b. "to punish" ... A common use is for
divine chastisement....The NT uses kolazw in Acts 4:18 and 2 Peter 2:9. Only the latter refers to God's punishment (The
Theological Dictionary of the New Testament)
Punish (BAGD) - This lexicon lists dozens of examples from literature contemporary with the NT and lists "punish" as the
only meaning for kolazw in this time period. (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian
Literature)
Moulton & Milligan suggest that kolazw retains the meaning "correcting," "cutting down" in later documents, such as
Galen, but note that "punish" is the proper translation in the NT, and cite several contemporary sources supporting this
meaning.
Explore – Look up Acts 4:21 and II Pet. 2:9. See how each of these passages use the word “kolosin”.
2. The context of Matt. 25:46 does have to do with believing or not believing.
Matt. 16:27 declares that when Jesus returns to the earth every man would be judged according to his
works. Works are a legitimate way to test true faith. (See James 2:18-26 and Eph. 2:10) In Matthew 25 it is the
Gentile nations that are being judged. Their treatment of God’s people is the evidence of whether they belived
or not. Jesus declared very plainly that true people of faith will always acknowledge Him as the Messiah and do
righteous works. (Jn. 8:39-45) Jesus equates the treatment of His people, whether positive or negative, as the
same treatment to Himself resulting from faith or unbelief. Those that treated God’s people with compassion
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and care inherited the kingdom of God because they also were believers and those that didn’t were cast into
“aiŌnion/ age” fire because they were unbelievers. (See rev. 20:8)
U&A Objection Number Four
1. The use of the word “Destruction” in Mt. 10:28 means “cessation of existence.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but
rather fear him which is able to destroy/ ἀ πολέσαι/apolesai both soul
and body in hell/Gehenna. (Matthew 10:28)
Anihilationists teach that people who die without Christ will either cease to exist right after they die or
that there will be some form of judgment that will cause an immediate annhilation of the soul. They base their
belief on their understanding of the word “apollumi/destruction” and various usages of God’s description of
judgment upon the wicked. Annihilationists think that “destruction” = “cessation of existence”.
Psa 37:18-20 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. 19 They shall not be
ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies
of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
A Biblical and Evangelical response
1. The use of the word “destruction” in Mt.
10:28 can have other applications for
interpretation.
FYI – With the exception of about three times, the word
“perish” in the Bible comes from the Greek word “apollumi”.
John 3:16 sets destruction in contrast to eternal life: “For God so
loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in
him should not “perish/ἀπόληται/apolaytai” but have
“eternal/age/aiŌnion life.”
The Greek root word for destruction is “apollumi”. The
Greek word has several different applications which are all
guided by context.
Explore – Look up the following verses and see how the various forms of the Greek word “apollumi” is used
for destroy, destroyer, and destruction. Mt. 2:13;7:13; 12:14;21:41;27:20; Mk. 1:24; 3:6; 9:22; 11:18; 12:9; Lk.
4:34; 6:9; 9:56; 19:47; 20:16; Jn. 10:10; Rom. 3:16; 9:22; 14:15,20; I Cor. 1:19; I Cor. 10:10; Php. 3:19; II pet.
2:1James 4:12 - How many different ways did you discover the words to be used?
Want to see something interesting?
Look up the following and see how other words are used that come from “appolumi”. Mt. 10:42 (to lose) Jn.
3;16 (perish) Mt. 10:6 (lost – how can you send out disciples to the non- existent?) Rom. 14:5 (destroy – How
can you make a believer cease to exist because he ate meat?) Mk. 3:16 (destroy as in kill – The Pharisees
couldn’t make Jesus cease to exist) Rev. 8:9 (destroyed as in ruined/inoperable) Mt. 8:25 (perishing/about to
die – How could the disciples be on the verge of ceasing to exist?)
So what do we learn?
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Apollumi has a range of meanings, extending from losing coins to death (such as dying by the sword or
by drowning). There is nothing in the word itself that necessitates apollumi to mean a permanent and total
cessation of existence afterdeath. It could carry that meaning as a possibility, but it is context and one’s own
theological understanding conveyed by the word that will make the final decision.
When Jesus talked about destroying the soul in Gehenna, it appears to have the more consistent idea of
ruination. Jesus used the word “to kill” concerning what men could do to someone (which is cessation of life)
and contrasted it with God destroying both soul and body in Gehenna. Jesus didn’t use the word “kill”
concerning the soul. If he had there would be a better argument by the U&A for cessation of existence. Jesus is
speaking more about “age to age” ruination. Destruction primarily means the ruination of a thing from its
initial state or condition. I can destroy/ruin a tank in war. I don’t make it cease to exist. It does cease to exist in
its intended function.
When we look at the false prophet and the anti-Christ in the lake of fire, they are still there after one
thousand years. In Rev. 19:20 both were thrown into the lake of fire when Christ returns to the earth. One
thousand years later the unrighteous dead are raised for judgment and are thrown into the lake of fire as well.
It is mentioned that the false prophet and anti-Christ are still there. (Rev. 20:10 - Just to be fair and honest –
some modern translations put “were” rather than “are”Nither word “are” or “were” aren’t in the Greek. They
are included to make the English match the Greek thought. When the Greek word “basanisthēsontai” (“they
shall be tormented” - third person plural) is used here, it is referring to the devil being tormented with the
false prophet and beast. This couldn’t happen if the the false prophet and beast weren’t still there. Thus the
verb “are” or “were” put in italics.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast
and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. RV
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the
false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. KJV
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast
and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and
the false prophet had been thrown.
Rev 20:10 and the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the
false prophet were. They will be tortured day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)
Other words translated as “destroy/destruction” in the Bible:
kataluō - Mt. 5:17; 10:28; Mt. 26:61; Mk. 14:58;; Acts 6:14
luo - Jn. 2:19; I Jn. 3:8;
fthiro – I Cor. 3:17 (look up Col. 2:22 – “perish” same word
Deefthiro – Rev. 11:18 (look up II Cor. 4:16- “perish” same word)
katageō - I Cor. 6:13; II Thess. 2:8; Heb. 2:14;
olethros – I Cor. 5;5; I Thess 5:3; II Thes. 1:9; I Tim. 6:9
katha’ee’res - II Cor. 10:8; 13;10
soomtrima – Rom. 3:16
As to Psa 37: 20 - But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall
consume; into smoke shall they consume away. David is speaking in context “of the days of famine” and merely using
a simile to describe the fact that the wicked won’t be around anymore when the righteous receive the inheritance.
There is no doctrine being developed here as to eternal cessation of existence. Such language is used throughout the
OT concerning the wicked by being cut off from the land of the living,
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For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. Psa 37:9
For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble:
and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
(Malachi 4:1)
Isa 47:14 Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the
flame:
Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for
reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the
flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have
cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 5:22-24)
U&A Objection Number Five
1. The use of the word “damnation/damned” is a false translation.
Universalists declare that the word “damnation” merely means “judgment” and has nothing to do with eternal
torment. They see it as an archaic KJV word that has no real place in modern times. The word has very negative
connotations of severity in the average mind when the reality is the word only has to do with being judged.
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Matthew 23:33)
But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: (Mark
3:29) (see also – Mt. 23:14; Mk. 3:29; 12:40; Lk. 20:47; Jn. 5:29; Rom. 3:8; I Cor. 11:29; I Tim. 5:12; II Pet. 2:3)
Who are the people who have damnation or are damned?
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Someone who drinks wine or eats food unworthily during communion – I Cor. 11:29
Widows seeking husbands more than seeking Christ – I Tim. 5:12
Blasphemers of the Holy Spirit – Mk. 3:29
Pharisees – mt. 23;14
Those that have done evil – Jn. 5:29
Religious show offs – Luke 20:47
Those that disobey laws – Rom. 13:2
Slanderers – Rom. 3:8
Religious profiteers – II Pet. 2:3
He who doesn’t believe in Jesus – Mk. 16:16
He that doubts and goes against his conscience – Rom. 14:23
People who believed the lie – II Thess. 2:12
A Biblical and Evangelical response
2. The use of the word “damnation” is a rather archaic old English word which comes from
the Greek word “Kree-sis” which basically means, “judgment, condemnation,
accusation, to be placed before a tribunal”.
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The word can refer to the judgment of eternal torment as in Mt. 23:33 or it can refer to
temporary judgments on believers as in Rom. 14:23. It is also used of temporary judgments made by
rulers of authority such as a judge or king.
Conclusion:
I know this is all a bit technical and perhaps a bit boring to some of you but it is necessary for us to see how these
words are used to promote the false doctrines of U&A. This will help you to raise the proper questions and do more
research when you encounter such beliefs as the U&A. It will also help you to understand Greek understanding and some
of the dificulties translators have going from the Greek into another language. Often times the less literal Greek meanings
are substituted to a more relevant cultural meaning so the intent of the text is understood.
The problems come as cultures change and meanings attributed to words change. This is one of the
reasons why Bible translations need to be updated to minister to the minds of the present culture.