The New Testament Greek word καταστροφή, katastrophe occurs two times in the New Testament. The verse that is related to annihilationism is 2 Peter 2:6. There, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is declared. We know that the two cities were obliterated and nothing alive was left. The question then becomes is the analogy of Sodom and Gomorrah a one-to-one correspondence to the human soul? Does it necessitate the annihilation of the wicked on the Day of Judgment? Annihilationists assert that it does. However, the context of the verse does not necessitate their assumption. After all, it is the cities that were reduced to ashes and the people were not said to cease existing.
- Greek word: καταστροφή, katastrophe
- Meaning: destruction, overthrow, ruin
- Strong’s #: G2692
- Frequency: 2 occurrences in 8 verses.
Summary of the meaning of the Greek word katastrophe , destruction, in all verses where it occurs in the New Testament.
- Spiritual ruin
- 2 Tim. 2:14
- Physical destruction
- 2 Pet. 2:6
| TABLE OF ALL NEW TESTAMENT USAGES OF KATASTROPHE, καταστροφή | ||
| Address | Verse | Meaning |
| 2 Tim. 2:14 | Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. | Spiritual ruin |
| 2 Pet. 2:6 | and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter; | Physical destruction |
Dictionaries and Lexicons consulted
- “καταστροφή katastrophḗ; gen. katastropḗs, fem. noun from katastréphō (2690), to overthrow, overturn, ruin. A catastrophe, overthrow, destruction, as of cities (2 Pet. 2:6). Metaphorically, subversion, the opposite of tó chrḗsimon (5539), profit, profitable (2 Tim. 2:14).”
- Zodhiates, Spiros. The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000.
- “to do serious harm to, with the implication of misleading—‘to cause harm, to cause ruin to.’ μὴ λογομαχεῖν, ἐπʼ οὐδὲν χρήσιμον, ἐπὶ καταστροφῇ τῶν ἀκουόντων ‘not to fight over words; it does no good but rather harms those who hear’ 2 Tm 2:14.”
- Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
- “TDNT 7:715; TDNTA 1093; GK 2953; Two occurrences; AV translates as “subverting” once, and “overthrow” once. 1 overthrow, destruction. 1A of cities. 2 metaph. of the extinction of a spirit of consecration.
- Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995.
