The Greek word πορθέω, portheo occurs three times in the New Testament.  It is used in the context of trying to destroy the Christian church, which is its people (Gal. 1:13, 23) and in Acts 9:21 where it refers to destroying those who called on the name of Christ. But this can only mean physical death since it was Paul who was killing Christians – not annihilating them. Therefore, these verse cannot be used to support annihilationism.

• Greek word:  πορθέω, portheo
• Meaning:  ravage, destroy
• Strong’s #: G4199
• Frequency:  3 occurrences in 3 verses.

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

1. Destroy, 2  occurrence
   1. Gal. 1:13, 23, destroying the church
2. Physical death, 1 occurrence
   1. Acts 9:21, Paul has sought to destroy those who are calling on Jesus’ name

 

TABLE OF ALL NEW TESTAMENT USAGES OF PORTHEO, πορθέω
Address	Verse	Meaning
Acts 9:21	“All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?””	Physical death
Gal. 1:13	“For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.”	Destroy
Gal. 1:23	“but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.””	Destroy

 

Dictionaries and Lexicons consulted

• “πορθέω porthéō; contracted porthṓ, fut. porthḗsō. To ravage, destroy, such as the Church (Gal. 1:13), the faith (Gal. 1:23). See Acts 9:21.
  • Zodhiates, Spiros. The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000.
• “πορθέω: to attack with the intent or result of destroying—‘to attack, to destroy.’ οὐχ οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ πορθήσας εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ τοὺς ἐπικαλουμένους τὸ ὄνομα τοῦτο ‘isn’t this the man who in Jerusalem was destroying those who call on this name’ Ac 9:21; τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐπόρθουν ‘I attacked with the purpose of destroying the church of God’ Gal. 1:13.”
  • Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
• “πορθέω [portheo /por·theh·o/] v. Prolongation from pertho (to sack); GK 4514; Three occurrences; AV translates as “destroy” twice, and “waste” once. 1 to destroy, overthrow.”
  • Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995.