The Greek word καθαιρέω, kathaireo occurs nine times in the New Testament. It has a variety of meanings including to conquer (Acts 13:19), refute (2 Cor. 10:5), remove (Luke 1:52; Acts 19:27), take down (Mark 15:36, 46; Luke 23:53; Acts 13:29), and tear down (Luke 12:18). None of the usages require an interpretation of nonexistence after death of at the final judgment. Therefore, none of the verses in which the word occurs can be used to support the idea of annihilationism.

• Greek word:  καθαιρέω, kathaireo
• Meaning:  tear down, conquer, remove, demolish, do away with
• Strong’s #: G2507
• Frequency:  9 occurrences in 9 verses.

Summary of the meaning of the Greek word kathaireo, tear down, in all verses where it occurs in the New Testament.

1. Conquer, 1 occurrence
   1. Acts 13:19
2. Refute, 1 occurrence
   1. 2 Cor. 10:5
3. Remove, 2 occurrences
   1. Luke 1:52; Acts 19:27
4. Take down, 4 occurrences
   1. Mark 15:36, 46; Luke 23:53; Acts 13:29
5. Tear down, 1 occurrence
   1. Luke 12:18

 

TABLE OF ALL NEW TESTAMENT USEAGES OF KATHAIREO, καθαιρέω
Address	Verse	Meaning
Mark 15:36	“Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, ‘Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.'”	Take down
Mark 15:46	“Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.”	Take down
Luke 1:52	“He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble.”	Remove
Luke 12:18	“Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.”	Tear down
Luke 23:53	“And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain.”	Take down
Acts 13:19	“When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land as an inheritance—all of which took about four hundred and fifty years.”	Conquer
Acts 13:29	“When they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb.”	Take down
Acts 19:27	“Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.””	Remove
2 Cor. 10:5	“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,”	Refute

 

Dictionaries and Lexicons consulted

• “καθαιρέω kathairéō; contracted kathairṓ, 2d fut. kathelṓ, 2d aor. katheílon, from katá (2596), down, and hairéō (138), to take for oneself. To take down or away (Mark 15:36, 46; Luke 23:53; Acts 13:29; Sept.: Josh. 8:29; 10:27); to cast or pull down as princes or potentates (Luke 1:52); to take, pull down, demolish buildings (Luke 12:18), reasonings (2 Cor. 10:5; Sept.: Zech. 9:6); to destroy nations (Acts 13:19; Sept.: Jer. 24:6; 49:10) or grandeur, magnificence (Acts 19:27).”
  • Zodhiates, Spiros. The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000.
• “καθαιρέω: to destroy by conquering and overpowering—‘to destroy, to conquer.’ καθελὼν ἔθνη ἑπτὰ ἐν γῇ Χανάαν ‘he destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan’ Ac 13:19.”
  • Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
• “καθαιρέω [kathaireo /kath·ahee·reh·o/] v. From 2596 and 138 (including its alternate); TDNT 3:411; TDNTA 380; GK 2747; Nine occurrences; AV translates as “take down” four times, “destroy” twice, “put down” once, “pull down” once, and “cast down” once. 1 to take down. 1A without the notion of violence: to detach from the cross, one crucified. 1B with the use of force: to throw down, cast down. 2 to pull down, demolish. 2A the subtle reasonings (of opponents) likened to a fortress, i.e. to refute, to destroy.”
  • Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995.