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NASB | Matthew 10:28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 10:28 "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. |
Bible Question:
What do the Scriptures say about eternal suffering in Hell vs. destruction of the soul itself? The verse above (Matthew 10:28) and others appear to indicate that the norm is eventual destruction of the soul itself. Other verses, however (like Matt 25:46), appear to indicate eternal suffering. And still others (Mark 9:47-48) focus more on the eternality of Hell itself. It seems clear from Rev. 14:11 that at least those who worship the beast and-or receive his mark will burn forever. However, Matt 10:28 (as referenced above) indicates that the soul can be and is destroyed. I have an earlier question related to this that can be accessed by searching under this same verse (Matt 10:28), and I closed it off after getting some excellent answers from kalos and JonnyRay49423 at that time. However, I'm looking for a little extra detail on the Scriptural statements this time. |
Bible Answer: The text reveals several things: 1.) “Fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell”. It is the destruction of both soul and body. The whole man is ruined; if the soul is lost, the body is lost too. They sinned together; the body was the soul’s tempter to sin, and its tool in sin, and they must eternally suffer together. 2.) This destruction comes from the power of God: He is able to destroy; it is a destruction FROM his glorious power (2 Th. 1:9); He will in it make his power known; not only his authority to sentence, but his ability to execute the sentence, Rom. 9:22 3.) Destroy [apollumi – Strongs from (575) and the base of (3639)] is used synonymous with eternal suffering. It is equated with a “losing”, or as to one being “lost”. It is, and continues to be, the loss and ruin of the man, for all eternity. The constant destruction of the soul and body. Here is its definition: 1. to destroy a. to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin b. render useless c. to kill d. to declare that one must be put to death e. metaph. to devote or give over to eternal misery in hell f. to perish, to be lost, ruined, destroyed 2. to destroy g. to lose Annihilation cannot even be inferred, it is not even part of the definition of destroy. Its use is that of a losing or a ruining, in which the man is lost from God, and the man is separated or ruined from God, as Isaiah realized in Isa 6:1. One must deduce and conclude these things from the clear passages of eternal punishment; Mat 18:8, 25: 41, 25:46, Mark 10:17, 2 Thes 1:9, Heb 6:2, Jude 1:6-7. |