Word Study on “Perdition” examination of the Calvinist doctrine of Perdition according to Scripture. Note that this study is to see what actual words the Scriptures uses in reference to this concept, and their meaning and context.
G684 (Mickelson’s Enhanced Strong’s Dictionaries of the Greek and Hebrew Testaments)
G684 ἀπώλεια apoleia (a-pō’-lei-a) n.
total destruction, ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal).
[from a presumed derivative of G622]
KJV: damnable(-nation), destruction, die, perdition, X perish, pernicious ways, waste
Root(s): G622
8 Occurrences of Perdition
Jn 17:12; Phil 1:28; 2 Thess 2:3; 1 Tim 6:9; Hebrews 10:39; 2 Peter 3:7; Rev 17:8, 11
Jn 17:12
John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
The reference here is by Jesus, and he uses the phrase “lost… the son of perdition” speaking of Judas Iscariot. This is probably the early concept from which the Calvinist doctrine of perdition was founded. This passage does not establish their doctrine, it is just the use of the words lost and perdition. But Jesus saw Judas as one who was to be his friend, yet betray the Savior in the end. The perdition that Judas lost was not his salvation, but the possibility of being saved because he was so close to the Savior in His early ministry. Closeness is not the same as salvation.
Phil 1:28
Philippians 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
The enemies of the Christian are identified by this “token” of perdition, of being unsaved. The token spoken of was that of persecuting those who give testimony of Jesus Christ. This identifies them as agents of Satan, their lord. The phrase “token of perdition” is set in parallel to “(token) of salvation”. One token is persecuting and the other token is being persecuted.
2 Thess 2:3
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
In this reference the word is combined in a phrase “the son of perdition” which would not reference the salvation or lost state or destination of any human, but rather that of one of Satan’s generals in the end times. He may be a human which has sold his soul to the devil, but that does not expand to include every lost human being that ever existed.
1 Tim 6:9
1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
In this occurrence, the term is paired with “destruction”. The concept of perdition would seem to be an ungodly state in which unsaved man is often found. In this particular occurrence the mark of a man in perdition is being drown in riches as his god.
Hebrews 10:39
Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
The author of Hebrews uses the concept here to exhort those believers receiving and reading the epistle to not give up their spiritual fight for their salvation. Some people feign salvation to be revealed with time that they were not sincere. Jesus taught this very same thing in the Parable of the Sower Matthew 13.
2 Peter 3:7
2 Peter 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Peter is referencing the flood, and that future punishment of earth such as was the flood, when God punished ungodly men. That will be a day of judgment and many will be “lost” (are in perdition).
Rev 17:8, 11
Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Revelation 17:11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
These final two times the word occurs in Scripture, it is speaking of the woman and the beast, again figures in the Apocalypse, which will “go into perdition”, which would seem to indicate the execution of God’s judgment on them, perhaps going directly into hell.
Word Study on “Perdition”