One of the words for “destroy” is the Greek apollumi, ἀπόλλυμι.  It has several meanings depending on the context. Annihilationists assert that concerning the judgment of persons, “destruction, perishing, etc.,” it ultimately means that people will cease to exist. But is that true? After all, context determines the meaning of the word. Nevertheless, there are several instances where the word is used to show that something is destroyed, but also still exists. For example, the word is used to describe wineskins that burst and are ruined (apollumi), but the wineskins are still there (Matt. 9:17; Luke 5:37). Likewise, the word is used to describe how the world was destroyed (apollumi) “being flooded with water,” but the world was still there (2 Peter 3:6). Also, consider how it can be in references to people who are spiritually lost (apollumi) such as the lost sheep of Israel but were still alive (Matt. 10:6; 15:24), and the Prodigal Son who was lost (apollumi), yet still alive (Luke 15:24, 32). So, it can be used to designate the destruction of something that remains. I’ve done an analysis of every instance of apollumi in the New Testament below in the table below.

Destruction in reference to Jesus

In addition, the ungodly religious leaders of Israel wanted to destroy (apollumi) Jesus (Matt. 2:13; 12:14; 27:20; Mark 3:6; 11:18; Luke 19:47). In each of these verses, the word means to kill him physically. But, since Jesus is God in flesh with two natures (hypostatic union), for him to be killed physically could not have meant he would cease to exist or that his human spirit left him and returned to the Father as conditionalist routinely and erringly state as they fail to properly understand  Ecc. 12:7 which speaks of the spirit of a person returning to God. Annihilation must apply to Christ since both his human and divine natures are tied to his personhood which cannot cease to exist as a unity. Therefore, we can see the word “destroy” (apollumi) when used of Jesus, necessitates that such a destruction of physical life means he continues to exist.  See the article Soul sleep, Jesus’ human nature, and conditionalism

Destruction in reference to non-existence

On the other hand, “destroy” (apollumi) is also used in various contexts to designate nonexistence. Someone can lose (apollumi) his reward (Matt. 10:42; Mark 9:41). Wine can be completely lost (apollumi) (Mark 2:22) to the point where it does not exist anymore. This is also the case with food (John 6:27), plants (James 1:11), gold (1 Peter 1:7), body parts (Matt. 5:29-30), and luxurious and splendid things (Revelation 18:14). But, this is never stated of people. It is never stated that a person does not exist at the Final Judgment the way we know for a fact that various objects, from their context, necessitates the interpretation of nonexistence. To apply a “necessity” of nonexistence to people is to commit the fallacy of begging the question and misapply how the word is used in the New Testament.

Summary

The word destruction (apollumi), when it is in reference to people, has a total of 60 occurrences in the New Testament: Lines 2, 3, 5 7, 12, 13, and 14 in the summary outline below. But, of those 60 occurrences, none necessitate, from context, that nonexistence is the proper interpretation. This is important since there are contexts (Line 10) where the nonexistence of objects are clearly understood: flowers (James 1:11), gold (1 Pet. 1:7), luxurious things (Rev. 18:14), and wine (Mark 2:22). Nevertheless, within those 60 occurrences where apollumi is in reference to people, the only verses where physical death is necessary as an interpretation totals 23 (Line 13). But they do not necessitate that these people cease to exist. Furthermore, this means that 37 occurrences of apollumi range in topics including the option of existence or nonexistence (Line 2), physical death or spiritual death (Lines 7, 12), damnation (Line 3), death of Jesus where he obviously would continue existence after physical death (Line 5), and of a nation disappearing (Line 14). Furthermore, the other contexts deal with such things as accomplishment (Line 1), demons (Line 4), objects destroyed but still there (Line 6), hindrance (Line 8), loss of reward (Line 9), heaven and earth not remaining (Line 11), rendering wisdom invalid (Line 15), removal of a body part (Line 16), and something unaccounted for (Line 17). That is 21 occurrences where apollumi does not mean physical or spiritual death. Annihilationists who insist that the word apollumi, when in reference to people, must mean the ultimate nonexistence of those people, are wrong. This is not to say it can’t mean it, but that it does not necessarily mean it. Therefore, they are reading into the text what is not logically required. They are begging the question.

• Greek word: ἀπόλλυμι apóllumi;
• Meaning: destroy, perish
• Strong’s #:  G622
• Frequency:  90 occurrences in 84 verses in NASB

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

1. Accomplishment 1 occurrence
   1. Do not lose what you have accomplished, 2 John 8
2. Continued existence or Non-existence, both are possible, 2 occurrences
   1. Destroy the body and soul in hell, Matt. 10:28
   2. The thief comes to steal, kill, destroy, John 10:10
3. Damnation, Spiritual death, 11 occurrences
   1. God not wishing any to perish, 2 Pet. 3:9
   2. God saves and destroys, James 4:12
   3. Jesus does not lose any, John 6:39; 18:9
   4. Shall not perish, John 3:16; 10:28
   5. Those who are perishing, 1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Cor. 2:15; 2 Cor. 4:3; 2 Thess. 2:10
   6. Then those fallen asleep have perished, 1 Cor. 15:18
4. Destroy demons, 2 occurrences
   1. Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34
5. Destroy Jesus, but Jesus would still exist after death (hypostatic union), 6 occurrences
   1. Herod’s attempt to destroy Jesus as a child, Matt. 2:13
   2. Jews trying to destroy Jesus, Matt. 12:14; Mark 3:6; 11:18; Luke 19:47
   3. To put Jesus to death, Matt. 27:20
6. Destroyed object but still there, 3 occurrences
   1. Wineskins burst open, Matt. 9:17; Luke 5:37
   2. World destroyed by flooding, 2 Peter 3:6
7. Destroyed spiritually, yet still exist, 6 occurrences
   1. Jesus came to save the lost, Matt. 18:11; Luke 19:10
   2. Lost sheep of Israel, Matt. 10:6; 15:24
   3. Prodigal Son, Luke 15:24, 32
8. Hinder a person, 1 occurrence
   1. Hinder with food, Rom. 14:15
9. Loss of reward, 2 occurrences
   1. Give drink, will not lose the reward, Matt. 10:42; Mark 9:41
10. Nonexistence, 4 occurrences
    1. Flower, James 1:11
    2. Gold, 1 Pet. 1:7
    3. Luxurious things, Rev. 18:14
    4. Wine, Mark 2:22
11. Not remain, 1 occurrence
    1. Heavens and earth, Heb. 1:11
12. Physical death or Spiritual death is possible, 10 occurrences
    1. Not one has perished, except the son of perdition, John 17:12
    2. Ruining of the weaker brother, 1 Cor. 8:11
    3. Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, Matt. 10:39; 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24, 25; Luke 17:33; John 12:25
    4. Will of God that not one little one would perish, Matt. 18:14
13. Physical death is either strongly implied or clearly stated 23 occurrences
    1. Matt. 8:25; Matt. 21:41; 22:7; 26:52; Mark 4:38; Mark 9:22; 12:9; Luke 8:24; 11:51; 13:3, 5, 55; 15:17; 17:27; 29; 20:16; Acts 5:37; Rom. 2:12; 1 Cor. 10:9, 10; 2 Cor. 4:9; Jude 5, 11
14. Possible Nonexistence, 1 occurrence
    1. That the whole nation not perish, John 11:50
15. Render Invalid 1 occurrence
    1. Wisdom of the world, 1 Cor. 1:19
16. Remove a body part,  2 occurrences
    1. Better to lose a hand, than go to hell whole, Matt. 5:30
    2. Better to lose an eye than going to hell whole, Matt. 5:29
17. Unaccounted for, loss of an object, 8 occurrences
    1. Loss of food, John 6:12, 27
    2. Loss of a hair, Luke 21:18, Acts 27:34
    3. Lost coin, Luke 15:8, 9
    4. Lost sheep, Luke 15:4, 6

 

TABLE OF ALL NEW TESTAMENT USAGES OF APOLLUMI, ἀπόλλυμι
Address	Verse	Object	Meaning
Matt. 2:13	Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.”	Person	Destroy Jesus, but he still exists: Hypostatic Union
Matt. 5:29	“If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.	Body Part	Remove a body part
Matt. 5:30	“If your right-hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.	Body Part	Remove a body part
Matt. 8:25	And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!”	Person	Physical death
Matt. 9:17	“Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out and the wineskins are ruined, but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”	Wineskin	Destroyed but still there
Matt. 10:6	“but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.	Person	Destroyed spiritually yet still exist.
Matt. 10:28	“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul, but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.	Person	Continued existence or Non-existence
Matt. 10:39	“He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.	Person	Physical death or Spiritual death
Matt. 10:42	“And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”	Reward	Loss of reward
Matt. 12:14	But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.	Person	Destroy Jesus, but he still exists: Hypostatic Union
Matt. 15:24	But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”	Person	Destroyed spiritually yet still exist.
Matt. 16:25	“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.	Person	Physical death or Spiritual death
Matt. 18:11	[“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.]1early mss. do not contain this verse	Person	Destroyed spiritually yet still exist.
Matt. 18:14	“So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.	Person	Physical death or Spiritual death
Matt. 21:41	“They said to Him, ‘he will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.’”	Person	Physical death
Matt. 22:7	“But the king was enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire.	Person	Physical death
Matt. 26:52	Then Jesus said to him, “put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.	Person	Physical death
Matt. 27:20	But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.	Person	Destroy Jesus, but he still exists: Hypostatic Union
Mark 1:24	saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are – the Holy One of God!”	Demon	Destroy demons
Mark 2:22	“No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”	Wineskin	Non-existence
Mark 3:6	The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.	Person	Destroy Jesus, but he still exists: Hypostatic Union
Mark 4:38	Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”	Person	Physical death
Mark 8:35	“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses hi his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.	Person	Physical death or Spiritual death
Mark 9:22	“It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”	Person	Physical death
Mark 9:41	“For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.	Reward	Losing reward
Mark 11:18	The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.	Person	Destroy Jesus, but he still exists: Hypostatic Union
Mark 12:9	“What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give the vineyard to others.	Person	Physical death
Luke 4:34	“Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”	Demon	Destroy demons
Luke 5:37	“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined.	Wineskin	Destroyed but still there
Luke 8:24	They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm.	Person	Physical death
Luke 9:24	“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.	Person	Physical death or Spiritual death
Luke 9:25	“For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?”	Person	Physical death or Spiritual death
Luke 11:51	“from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed; between the altar and the house of God; yes, I tell you, it shall be charged against this generation.’	Person	Physical death
Luke 13:3	“I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.	Person	Physical death
Luke 13:5	“I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”	Person	Physical death
Luke 13:33	“Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.	Person	Physical death
Luke 15:4	“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?	Sheep	Unaccounted for
Luke 15:6	“And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’	Sheep	Unaccounted for
Luke 15:8	“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?	Coin	Unaccounted for
Luke 15:9	“When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’	Coin	Unaccounted for
Luke 15:17	“But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!	Person	Physical death
Luke 15:24	for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.	Person	Destroyed spiritually yet still exist.
Luke 15:32	‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’ ”	Person	Destroyed spiritually yet still exist.
Luke 17:27	they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.	Person	Physical death
Luke 17:29	but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.	Person	Physical death
Luke 17:33	“Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.	Person	Physical death or Spiritual death
Luke 19:10	“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”	Person	Destroyed spiritually yet still exist.
Luke 19:47	And He was teaching daily in the temple, but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people were trying to destroy Him,	Person	Destroy Jesus, but he still exists: Hypostatic Union
Luke 20:16	“He will come and destroy these vine-growers and will give the vineyard to others.” When they heard it, they said, “May it never be!”	Person	Physical death
Luke 21:18	“Yet not a hair of your head will perish.	Hair	Loss of object
John 3:16	“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.	Person	Damnation
John 6:12	When they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.”	Food	Loss of object
John 6:27	“Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”	Food	Loss of object
John 6:39	“This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.	Person	Damnation
John 10:10	“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.	Damage	Continued existence or Non-existence
John 10:28	“and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.	Person	Damnation
John 11:50	“nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.”	Person	Possible non-existence
John 12:25	“He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.	Person	Physical death or Spiritual death
John 17:12	“While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.	Person	Physical death or Spiritual death
John 18:9	“to fulfill the word which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.”	Person	Jesus not lose any people for salvation
Acts 5:37	“After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered.	Person	Physical death
Acts 27:34	“Therefore I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your preservation, for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.”	Hair	Loss of object
Rom. 2:12	For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;	Person	Physical death
Rom. 14:15	For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.	Person	Hinder, distress a person
1 Cor. 1:18	“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”	Person	Damnation
1 Cor. 1:19	“For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.’”	Wisdom	Render invalid
1 Cor. 8:11	“For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.”	Person	Physical death or Spiritual death
1 Cor. 10:9	“Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.”	Person	Physical death
1 Cor. 10:10	“Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed  by the destroyer.”	Person	Physical death
1 Cor. 15:18	“Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.”	Person	Damnation
2 Cor. 2:15	“For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”	Person	Damnation
2 Cor. 4:3	“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.“	Person	Damnation
2 Cor. 4:9	“persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.“	Person	Physical death
2 Thess. 2:10	“and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.”	Person	Damnation
Heb. 1:11	“They will perish, but You remain; And they all will become old like a garment.”	Heavens and Earth	Not remain
James 1:11	For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass, and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.	Grass	Nonexistence
James 4:12	There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?	Person	Damnation
1 Pet. 1:7	so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;	Gold	Nonexistence
2 Pet. 3:6	through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.	World	Destroyed but still there
2 Pet. 3:9	The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.	Person	Damnation
2 John 8	Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.	Accomplishment	Loss vs. gain
Jude 5	Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.	Person	Physical death
Jude 11	Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.	Person	Physical death
Rev. 18:14	“The fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them.	Luxurious things	Nonexistence

 

 

Dictionaries and Lexicons consulted

• “ἀπόλλυμι apóllumi; or apolúō; fut. apolésō, 2d aor. apōlómēn, perf. apolṓleka, 2d perf. apólōla, mid. fut. apoloúmai, from apó (575) an intens., the mid. óllumi (n.f.), to destroy. The force of apó here is away or wholly; therefore, the verb is stronger than the simple óllumi. To destroy, mid. be destroyed, perish. Also from óllumi (n.f.): ólethros (3639), rain, destruction.
  “To destroy, cause to perish, trans.: (1) Spoken of things figuratively (1 Cor. 1:19, meaning to bring to naught, render void the wisdom of the wise, quoted from Is. 29:14). (2) Of persons, to destroy, put to death, cause to perish. (a) Spoken of physical death (Matt. 2:13; 12:14; 21:41; 22:7; Mark 3:6; 9:22; 11:18; 12:9; Luke 6:9 [TR]; Luke 17:27, 29; 19:47; 20:16; John 10:10; Jude 1:5; Sept.: Gen. 20:4; Deut. 11:4; Esth. 4:9; 9:16); in a judicial sense to sentence to death (Matt. 27:20; James 4:12). (b) Spoken of eternal death, i.e., future punishment, exclusion from the Messiah’s kingdom. In this sense it has the same meaning as apothnḗskō (599), to die (Matt. 10:28; Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34; 9:56). This eternal death is called the second death (Rev. 20:14).
  • Zodhiates, Spiros. The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000.
• “ἀπόλλυμι: to lose something which one already possesses—‘to lose.’ τίς γυνὴ δραχμὰς ἔχουσα δέκα, ἐὰν ἀπολέσῃ δραχμὴν μίαν ‘suppose a woman who has ten silver coins loses one of them’ Luke 15:8. ἀπόλλυμι in the sense of losing what one already possesses may be analyzed basically as ‘not to have that which one has previously had.’ There is, however, no suggestion in ἀπόλλυμιc as to the particular type of circumstances involved in the loss, whether, for example, from neglect, by accident, or as the result of some external force. It is also possible to interpret ἀπόλλυμι in Luke 15:8 as ‘to not know where something is’ (see 27.29).”
  • Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
• “ἀπόλλυμι [apollumi /ap·ol·loo·mee/] v. From 575 and the base of 3639; TDNT 1:394; TDNTA 67; GK 660; 92 occurrences; AV translates as “perish” 33 times, “destroy” 26 times, “lose” 22 times, “be lost” five times, “lost” four times, and translated miscellaneously twice. 1 to destroy. 1A to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin. 1B render useless. 1C to kill. 1D to declare that one must be put to death. 1E metaph. to devote or give over to eternal misery in hell. 1F to perish, to be lost, ruined, destroyed. 2 to destroy. 2A to lose.”
  • Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995.

 

 

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