Thoughts On The Eternity Of Hell

[Guest]

Benzoic:

Using the English word “correction” is not an accurate representation of what that Greek word means. That Greek word means to dock and curtail - to cut short, to lessen, to tie up, and it does not mean restore as implied with the English word correction. Being eternally docked (tied up) and curtailed (cut short) makes perfect sense.

How do you know "correction" is not an accurate translation? Are you a Greek expert? Do you know better than the authors of the Greek lexicons?

Online Bible Greek Lexicon:

2851 kolasis kol’-as-is

from 2849; TDNT-3:816,451; n f

AV-punishment 1, torment 1; 2

1) correction, punishment, penalty

Abbott-Smith Lexicon of the New Testament

kolasis
correction, penalty, punishment

You have indicated that the Greek verbal form means "dock, curtail, cut short". That is true. That is the primary meaning of the verb.

When a plant, vine, or tree, grows according to its own nature, it can grow wildly in many undesirable directions. But when you dock or prune the branches, you correct the way it is growing. You get the tree to grow in a beautiful shape. One can see why the word came to mean "correction".

[Guest]

How do you know "correction" is not an accurate translation? Are you a Greek expert? Do you know better than the authors of the Greek lexicons?

You question my ability to translate kolasin, I don't blame you, but yet at the same time your interpretations of aiwnion are in direct contrast to some of the best Greek lexicons.

Now how can one have "eternal" correction? If correction is accomplished, then it is not eternal.

Either way it still stands that the word’s root means to dock and curtail as does its verb. It’s also interesting to note that the root of its verb and the verb itself has nothing to do with restoration. The word kolos was used of an ox that was dehorned and thus permanently curtailed and degraded. Yes, the ox was ‘corrected’ in the sense that it could no longer poke anything, but it will never be restored.

My point being, it does make sense to be eternally kolasin and therefore if zwhn aiwnion means eternal, kolasin aiwnion means eternal and the word kolasin or “punishment” does not disrupt that interpretation. Perhaps they are corrected in that they will never sin again. Just like an ox that is dehorned, it can’t hurt anything anymore and it has been corrected, but not restored. They will always be degraded just like a stump-horned ox.