Hi Everyone:
I’ve come across a couple of words for destruction that aren’t often used in the bible, and I’d like to know if anyone has studied these and knows any info about them besides what Strong and Thayer have to say?
2 Peter 2:12 (and elsewhere) G5356 φθορά phthora
G2704 καταφθείρω kataphtheirō
and
Revelation 11:18 (and elsewhere) G1311 διαφθείρω diaphtheirō
TIA!
Cindy
From Vines.
phthora (φθορά, 5356), connected with phtheiro, No. 2, above, signifies “a bringing or being brought into an inferior or worse condition, a destruction or corruption.” It is used (a) physically, (1) of the condition of creation, as under bondage, Rom. 8:21; (2) of the effect of the withdrawal of life, and so of the condition of the human body in burial, 1 Cor. 15:42; (3) by metonymy, of anything which is liable to “corruption,” 1 Cor. 15:50; (4) of the physical effects of merely gratifying the natural desires and ministering to one’s own needs or lusts, Gal. 6:8, to the flesh in contrast to the Spirit, “corruption” being antithetic to “eternal life”; (5) of that which is naturally short-lived and transient, Col. 2:22, “perish”; (b) of the death and decay of beasts, 2 Pet. 2:12, rv, “destroyed” (first part of verse; lit., “unto … destruction”); © ethically, with a moral significance, (1) of the effect of lusts, 2 Pet. 1:4; (2) of the effect upon themselves of the work of false and immoral teachers, 2 Pet. 2:12, rv, “destroying”; kjv, “corruption,” and verse 19. See destroy, perish.¶
Note: There is nothing in any of these words suggesting or involving annihilation.
(Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W. 1996. Vine’s complete expository dictionary of Old and New Testament words . T. Nelson: Nashville)
kataphtheiro (καταφθείρω, 2704), kata, “down,” intensive, and No. 2, is said of men who are reprobate concerning the faith, “corrupted in mind” (kjv, “corrupt”), 2 Tim. 3:8. For 2 Pet. 2:12, rv, “shall be destroyed,” see No. 2.¶
Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W. 1996. Vine’s complete expository dictionary of Old and New Testament words . T. Nelson: Nashville
All verses where phthora is used
Romans 8:21 …itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children …
1 Corinthians 15:42 …resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:It …
1 Corinthians 15:50 …cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you …
Galatians 6:8 …to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit …
Colossians 2:22 …not; handle not;Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and …
2 Peter 1:4 …be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust…
2 Peter 2:12 …natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they …
…not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption ;And shall receive the reward of …
2 Peter 2:19 …promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, …
verses where kataphthora is used:
2 Timothy 3:8 …so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. …
2 Peter 2:12 …evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;And shall …
Thanks for that website, Sonia. It looks really interesting, and like it may have just the sort of information I’m after.
And thanks so much, Sherman! That is very helpful. I kept putting off buying the complete Vines for e-sword because it was expensive, and now they don’t offer it any more. 