SPECIAL TOPIC: DESTROY, RUIN, CORRUPT (PHTHEIRŌ)

SPECIAL TOPIC: DESTROY, RUIN, CORRUPT (phtheirō)

The basic meaning of this term phtheirō is destroy, ruin, corrupt, or spoil. It can be used for

1. financial ruin (possibly 2 Cor. 7:2)

2. physical destruction (cf. 1 Cor. 3:17a)

3. moral corruption (cf. Rom. 1:23; 8:21; 1 Cor. 15:33,42,50; Gal. 6:8; Rev. 19:2)

4. sexual seduction (cf. 2 Cor. 11:3)

5. eternal destruction (cf. 2 Pet. 2:12,19)

6. perishing traditions of men (cf. Col. 2:22)

Often this term is used in the same context as its negated opposite (cf. Rom. 1:23; 1 Cor. 9:25; 15:50,53). Notice the parallel contrasts between our earthly physical bodies and our heavenly eternal bodies.

1. corruptible vs. incorruptible, 1 Cor. 15:42,50

2. dishonor vs. glory, 1 Cor. 15:43

3. weakness vs. power, 1 Cor. 15:43

4. natural body vs. spiritual body, 1 Cor. 15:44

5. first Adam vs. last Adam, 1 Cor. 15:45

6. image of the earthly vs. image of the heavenly, 1 Cor. 15:49