Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy (echthros–Strong’s G2190), but I (Jesus) say unto you, Love your enemies (echthros), bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;…  Matthew 5:43-44 King James’ Version (KJV)

For if, when we were enemies (echthros), we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  Romans 5:10 KJV

(For many walk, of whom I [Paul] have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies (echthros) of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)  Philippians 3:18-19 KJV

          The word translated “enemy” and “enemies” in the New Testament in most Bibles is echthros (Strong’s Concordance G2190).  It is a very common word in the New Testament and the above verses are only a small selection of its uses.  The word derives from the root verb echtho–to hate.  Literally, echthros  means those who hate, or who are hostile.

          Jesus said we are to love those who are hostile to us and do good to them.  God has set the example by conciliating us to Himself through the death of Jesus while we were haters of Him and hostile to Him.  And if those hostile to God are conciliated to Him through the death of Jesus, why is the “end” of some of them “destruction” and why is Paul weeping?

          The word “destruction” is apoleia (Strong’s Concordance G684), and in the active sense, means precisely that:  destruction.  However, in the passive sense, the word merely means waste, ruin, destructive thing or opinion.  In other words, NOT literal destruction.  Indeed, much of the Church does not think “destruction” in this case is literal.  Note this definition from Thayer’s Lexicon: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G684&t=KJV

b. in particular, the destruction which consists in the loss of eternal life, eternal misery, perdition, the lot of those excluded from the kingdom of God.

           Dear reader, do you see the irreconcilable conflict in the second and third verses we have quoted?  Either you are an enemy/hater of God and you are reconciled to God by the death of Christ upon the cross, or you are an enemy/hater of God and your eternal destination is destruction (if the Church is correct, eternal damnation).  But it cannot be both!  Set aside, if you can, the obvious hypocrisy of God for commanding us through Jesus to LOVE our enemies, while He DESTROYS His enemies. 

          Some apologists have come to God’s rescue and stated the opinion that the “destruction” must be literal; so according to this point of view, if you die a hater of God, you are simply annihilated, without the eternal damnation part.  Somehow, we are not very comforted by this “rescue.”

          Part of the problem is the very word “end”.  In the Greek language, there are seven or eight Greek words for “end”.  The first word is telos (Strong’s Concordance G5056), which simply means a termination point, always referring to the end of an act or state but not of the end of a period of time.  See for yourself in Thayer’s Lexicon:  http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G5056&t=KJV.  Another word for end is synteleia (Strong’s Concordance G4930).  Synteleia means completion or consummation.  In other words, when the “end” in question is the “end” of life, the word to be used would be synteleia, because the sense of a completion or consummation is intended; when the “end” is of an act or state, the word to be used would properly be telos, meaning not the final end or complete end.   Here is the point:  In the phrase “whose end is destruction”, the Greek word for “end” is telos, NOT synteleia!

          What does that all mean, you ask?  It means that the Church got it wrong both times–the “end” referred to is not the consummation or completion of one’s life, and that one isn’t “destroyed” when the termination point of his or her hostility to the cross or to God finally arrives.  Sadly, most translations and paraphrases of the Bible don’t convey the true meaning of Paul’s words, except for The Message, which clearly shows the sense of ruin when life is wasted upon “earthly things.”  See if you agree:

There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.  Philippians 3:18-20, The Message Bible

          Here is the waste:  The death of Jesus upon the cross conciliated God to all men, including those who hate Him, who oppose Him, and who are hostile to Him.  But as far as God is concerned, the hostilities are over–He is no longer angry with men and now intends to love them and do good to them, even as He has instructed us.  That some men hate the very means by which this was accomplished is sad, wasteful, unnecessary and ruinous beyond words.  This is why Paul wept. 

Blessed are You, O Lord.  Our wonderful God, there is no one like you, whose lovingkindness and mercy endureth forever.  Let all who hate you and who hate the cross be overwhelmed by Your love and be ashamed.

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