Death is Defeated Act II
99% of Christians still await Christ to "defeat" Satan.
How sad.
Hebrews 2:14 Inasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy HIM that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
It's not just this "power" that was defeated/destroyed, as many confuse Hebrew 2:14 with the following verse:
1st John 3:8 He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy THE WORKS of the devil.
Had the writer intended to show a complete destruction/eradication of this Devil/Satan, they could have easily chosen to use a more fitting word.
Every other example of "Destroy him" in the New Testament comes from a ( ἀπόλλυμι apollumi ap-ol’-loo-mee" Greek word that simply means 1a) to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin.
Yet this was not the word chosen for use in Hebrews 2:14, and with good reason.
A better way to understand this is to consider the following verse:
Mt 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.
The "to destroy" in this verse is also from the ( ἀπόλλυμι apollumi ap-ol’-loo-mee" Greek word that simply means 1a) to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin.
Had the writer of Hebrews wanted to send a message of this Devil's complete obliteration, they could have just as easily used "apollumi " but the writer of
Hebrews 2:14 did not want to send the wrong message.
Different words are used for different reasons, and have different meanings.
The "he might destroy" in Hebrews 2:14 is from a (Katargeo) Greek word which means to neutralize, render idle, stripped of power, etc...
Your Satan was bound at the Cross.
Matthew 12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
Which was the point of this parable/allegory.
Unless you think he was giving good burglary advice?
During his own earthly life and ministry, Christ demonstrated clearly that death has no ageless/eternal power over the child of God, by raising the Damsel, the Widow's only son, and Lazarus.
His own resurrection shows us it is he who has power over death.
He showed death to be a defeated foe.
Wasn't that the last enemy defeated?
1st Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy destroyed is death.
Didn't Paul tell Timothy this was already true?
2nd Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who HAS abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
The "Destroyed" in 1st Corinthians 15:26, and the "has abolished" are also from the "he might destroy" same (Katargeo) Greek word in Hebrews 2:14 that means to neutralize, render idle, be stripped of power, etc...
Romans 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees why doth he yet hope for?
Why do you believe death still retains any power over you?
Because you do not yet understand the power of these words, the power these scriptures show, and the absolute power of Christ.
Stop waiting for a victory you already possess, provided you are his.
© 2019 J.W. Bowers Jr.
How sad.