Wrested Scriptures (Part 3 of 0)

Wrested Scriptures – Part three

Publication time for Bro. Ron Able’s book seems to be drawing closer. On his way to Australia Bro. Able stopped off in California long enough to give us the final sections and these are now being worked on. The response for copies of the book have been overwhelming. Just as soon as costs and delivery date are known these will be punished so that you can begin to place your orders. It costs a great deal to print such a book so advance paid orders may be required. We hope that we can furnish more details in our next issue of The Tidings.

Matt. 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Problem: This passage is cited by Pentecostals and Evangelicals as the foundation proof that man is really an indestructible soul clothed with an earthly body.

Solution:

  1. “Rather fear him which is able to destroy1 both body and soul in hell”2 is proof that the soul is destructible and therefore not immortal.
  2. Since both soul and body can be destroyed in hell (“Gehenna”—the garbage dump outside the walls of Jerusalem), this indicates that the soul is as destructible as the body since both can be destroyed in the same place. Is this what the immortal soulist wants from this passage?
  3. What is meant by “not able to kill the soul”? Simply, “Fear not (for an instant) them which kill the body, but are not able to destroy you utterly and finally.” For the disciple, his life is “hid with Christ in God”, and although men may kill the body, in the resurrection the life will be given back to the body. (See Col. 3:4.)
  4. The Greek word, “psuche” translated “soul” in this verse has the meaning of “life”. In Matt. 16:25,26 “psuche” is translated “life”: “For whosoever shall save his life {“psuche”] shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life {“psuche”) for my sake shall find it.”3 The similarity of context suggests that “life” in Matt. 10:28 should be read for “psuche”, “soul”.
  1. ‘It is sometimes argued that “destroy” means to “afflict” or “torment” but not to annihilate. The Greek word, “apollumi” translated “destroy” means to “destroy utterly”. Ethel­bert W. Bullinger, A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek Testament, (London: Samuel Bagster and Sons, Ltd., 1957), p. 220. There is not the slightest suggestion of torment in any of the places where “appolumi” is translated “destroy” in the A.V. (e.g. Matt. 2:13; 12:14; 21:41; 22:7; 27:20.)
  2. This point is also proof that immortal souls (assuming their existence) are not destroyed in the hell-fire of Pentecostal and Evangelical teaching since bodies are also destroyed in this hell.
  3. Obviously if the words “immortal soul” were substituted for “life” in this reference, the result would be absurd.