The Greek word τιμωρέω, timoreo occurs two times in the New Testament. In each, it deals with the punishment of people. In Acts 22:5 and 26:11, the specific nature the physical punishment is not declared. The context of both does not tell us if the punishment means those punished are executed. Even if the case could be made that they were, such physical execution does not mean the soul ceases to exist – unless someone is presupposing that when the physical body dies the soul ceases to exist as well. So, these two verses cannot be used to demonstrate annihilationism is true.
- Greek word: τιμωρέω, timoreo
- Meaning: revenge, punishment
- Strong’s #: G5097
- Frequency: 2 occurrences
Summary of the meaning of the Greek word dike/katadike, penalty, in all verses where it occurs in the New Testament.
- Punishment, 1 occurrence
- Acts 22:5
- Punishment while alive, 1 occurrence
- Acts 26:11
| TABLE OF ALL NEW TESTAMENT USAGES OF TIMOREO, τιμωρέω | ||
| Address | Verse | Meaning |
| Acts 22:5 | “as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished.” | Punishment |
| Acts 26:11 | “And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.” | Punishment experienced while alive |
Dictionaries and Lexicons consulted
- “τιμωρέω timōréō; contracted timōrṓ; fut. timōrḗsō, contracted from timōrós (n.f.), watching one’s honor, which is from timḗ (5092), revenge, punishment, and horáō (3708), to see, inspect. To vindicate, avenge, punish in behalf of someone (Acts 26:11); pass. (Acts 22:5).”
- Zodhiates, Spiros. The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000
- “τιμωρέω; τιμωρία, ας f; ἐπιτιμία, ας f: to punish, with the implication of causing people to suffer what they deserve—‘to punish, to suffer punishment (with passive construction), punishment.’
- Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
- “τιμωρέω [timoreo /tim·o·reh·o/] v. From a comparative of 5092 and ouros (a guard); GK 5512; Two occurrences; AV translates as “punish” twice. 1 to be a guardian or avenger of honour. 1A to succour, come to the help of. 2 to avenge. 3 in the NT, to take vengeance on one, to punish.”
- Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995.
