The Greek word καθαίρεσις, kathairesis occurrs three times in the New Testament.  It means to conquer (2 Cor. 10:4) and tear down (2 Cor. 10:8; 13:10).  The only verse where it can be applied to destroying a person or persons is in 2 Cor. 10:8.  There Paul is talking about building people up not destroying them. So the verse cannot be used to support annihilationism.

• Greek word:  καθαίρεσις, kathairesis
• Meaning:  conquer, tear down
• Strong’s #: G2506
• Frequency:  3 occurrences in 3 verses.

Summary of the meaning of the Greek word kathairesis, conquer, in all verses where it occurs in the New Testament.

1. Conquer, 1 occurrence
   1. 2 Cor. 10:4
2. Tear down, 2 occurrences
   1. 2 Cor. 10:8; 13:10

 

TABLE OF ALL NEW TESTAMENT USAGES OF KATHAIRESIS, καθαίρεσις
Address	Verse	Meaning
2 Cor. 10:4	“for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.”	Conquer
2 Cor. 10:8	“For even if I boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame,”	Tear down
2 Cor. 13:10	“For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.”	Tear down

 

Dictionaries and Lexicons consulted

• “καθαίρεσις kathaíresis; gen. kathairéseōs, fem. noun from kathairéō (2507), to cast down. Demolition, destruction of a fortress (2 Cor. 10:4). Figuratively of religious knowledge and experience, demolition, destruction, opposite of oikodomḗ (3619), building, edifying (2 Cor. 10:8; 13:10).”
  • Zodhiates, Spiros. The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000.)
• “καταλύωa; καθαιρέωc; καθαίρεσις, εως f: to destroy completely by tearing down and dismantling—‘to destroy, to tear down, destruction.’  καταλύωa: οὐκ ἀφεθήσεται λίθος ἐπὶ λίθῳ ὃς οὐ καταλυθήσεται ‘there will not be one stone left on another which will not be torn down’ Lk 21:6.” .
  • Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
• “καθαίρεσις [kathairesis /kath·ah·ee·res·is/] n f. From 2507; TDNT 3:412; TDNTA 381; GK 2746; Three occurrences; AV translates as “destruction” twice, and “pulling down” once. 1 a pulling down, destruction, demolition.”
  • Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995.