The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1
I. Multiple Terms Affirm Destruction, Perishing, Extinction
1. ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS SIGNIFY UTTER “DESTRUCTION.”
Like the inspired penmen of the Old Testament, the New Testament writers used the strongest terms at their command to assert a total bringing to nought, or ultimate excision, both of evildoers and of Satan, the source of evil, and of his fallen angels. Many of these New Testament terms, it is to be noted, are borrowed from the Greek Septuagint translation of the Old Testament, likewise distinctly declaring the total extinction, or absolute suppression and abolition of the wicked. Thus we are led dependably into the Greek equivalents. CFF1 486.3
But let us begin with the simplest and most elemental evidence. Here are some twenty of the most common expressions, as they appear in the English Authorized Version translation, with sample supporting texts. Observe the scope and comprehensiveness of the coverage, consistently stressing total obliteration. Here are the leading ones, alphabetically arranged: CFF1 487.1
BLOT OUT OF EXISTENCE.—Hebrews 9:26; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 18:21. CFF1 487.2
BRING TO NOUGHT.—1 Corinthians 1:19. CFF1 487.3
CAST AWAY, CAST OFF.—Matthew 13:42, 48, 50; John 12:31. CFF1 487.4
CONSUME, DEVOUR UTTERLY.—Matthew 3:12; Matthew 13:30, 40; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Hebrews 12:29; Revelation 18:8. CFF1 487.5
CRUSH.—Romans 16:20. CFF1 487.6
CUT OFF, CUT DOWN.—Matthew 3:10; Matthew 7:19; Luke 13:7, 9; John 15:2; Acts 3:23; Acts 23:13, 31; Romans 11:20, 22, 24. CFF1 487.7
DEATH.—Romans 5:20; Romans 6:21, 23; Romans 7:5; Revelation 21:8. CFF1 487.8
DESTROY.—Matthew 10:28; Matthew 27:20; Romans 6:6; Romans 7:6(1 Corinthians 1:19); 1 Corinthians 2:6; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Corinthians 15:24, 26; Galatians 5:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 Timothy 6:9; 2 Timothy 1:10; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8. CFF1 487.9
DEVOUR.—Hebrews 10:27; Revelation 11:5; Revelation 20:9. CFF1 487.10
DIE.—John 5:24; John 6:50; John 8:24; Romans 7:6, 10; Romans 8:13; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 32; Ephesians 2:1, 5; Philippians 2:27; 1 Peter 2:24. CFF1 487.11
DROWN.—1 Timothy 1:19; 1 Timothy 6:9; 2 Peter 3:11, 12. CFF1 487.12
FALL.—Matthew 7:27; Luke 6:49. CFF1 487.13
FOUND NO MORE.—Revelation 18:21. CFF1 487.14
GRIND TO POWDER.—Matthew 21:44; Luke 20:18. CFF1 487.15
KILL OUTRIGHT, PUT TO DEATH.—Matthew 10:28; Matthew 21:41; Matthew 22:7; Mark 12:9; Luke 19:27; John 10:10; Romans 7:11; Romans 8:13; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Colossians 3:15; Revelation 2:23. CFF1 487.16
LOSE LIFE.—Matthew 7:13; Mark 4:38; John 11:42; John 17:12; Acts 8:20; Romans 9:22; Philippians 3:19; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 6:9; 2 Peter 2:1, 2; 2 Peter 3:7, 16; Revelation 17:8, 11. CFF1 487.17
NEVER SEE LIFE.—John 3:36; John 5:40; Acts 13:46; 1 John 3:15; 1 John 5:12. OVERTHROW.—Luke 1:52. CFF1 487.18
PERISH.—Acts 13:41; 1 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 6:8; 2 Peter 1:4; 2 Peter 2:12; Revelation 11:18. CFF1 487.19
ROOT OUT.—Jude 12. CFF1 487.20
RUIN.—Matthew 7:27; Luke 6:49; 2 Corinthians 10:8; 2 Corinthians 13:10. CFF1 487.21
SWALLOW UP.—1 Corinthians 15:54; 1 Peter 5:8. CFF1 487.22
THROW DOWN.—Revelation 18:21. CFF1 487.23
VANISH AWAY.—Hebrews 8:13. CFF1 487.24
These are, of course, all English translations. So, let us turn next to the original Greek terms, and seek out their exact meanings. These are likewise listed alphabetically. But we should first note the observation of a noted Anglican scholar of a generation back, who likewise made a list and then an analysis. CFF1 488.1
2. CONSTABLE’S CONSIDERED SUPPORTING CONCLUSIONS
While various men have developed similar lists, 1 one of the most scholarly analytical tables of the leading Greek terms by which the New Testament describes the future punishment of the wicked, either by way of “infliction or deprivation,” is given by Canon Henry Constable, Prebendary of York, in his Duration and Nature of Future Punishment (6th ed., London, 1886, pp. 58, 59). Here he lists thirteen principal terms, together with a tabulation of “all the meanings,” as applied to each term. The result is most impressive. Constable’s considered conclusion is: “A single glance will show that what we understand as the terrible punishment of the wicked, viz., their ‘loss of existence,’ is found under every one of the above terms” (p. 60). CFF1 488.2