Will God Punish?
Part 1
For generations upon generations, including the present, it has been widely taught and believed that God rewards with heaven and punishes with hell. In a previous article I showed from the Scriptures that the word “hell” means “the state of being dead”. Hell is a state of being, not a place, and certainly not a place of punishment. When one dies he is in the state of being dead: hell. All the dead, good and evil, all are in hell.
Jesus Christ was in hell for three days and three nights. God raised him from the dead. Out from the state of being dead, God raised him with a new, eternal life in his body. Just as Jesus Christ was raised that day in victory over death, so also will all men, some future day, be raised from “hell”, from the state of being dead. God proclaimed this victory very powerfully by the prophet Hosea.
I will ransom them from the power of the grave [sheol = hell]; I will redeem them from death. O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave [sheol = hell], I will be thy destruction. Repentance [a change of mind] shall be hid from Mine eyes. HOSEA 13:14
Nevertheless, the question remains, will God punish individuals at a future time for wrongdoing during their natural lifetime? I would like to search the Scriptures with you and allow the Word of God to speak for itself and give us an answer of truth and certainty.
We’ll start by looking at the words punish and punishment in the New Testament. The verb punish is found twice in the New Testament (King James Version). Both occurrences are translated from the Greek word kolazō. The noun punishment is found four times and translated from four different Greek words: kolasis, epitimia, timōria and ekdikesis.
The right understanding of the meaning of these five Greek words is a very crucial part in getting to the answer of truth. The translators gave us the words punish and punishment. These words are misleading and contribute to misunderstanding. Here is the meaning of each one:
kolazō (verb): to prune, to cut off [an action resulting from judgment]
kolasis (noun): to be cut off
epitimia (noun): a judicial determination regarding the enjoyment of
one’s rights and privileges
timōria (noun): a judicial determination that watches out for one’s honor
ekdikēsis (noun): the meting out of justice, doing justice
All five of these words involve judgment or justice. The proper focus and emphasis therefore is on the action of right judgment and justice.
Let’s begin with the verb kolazō (to cut off), which is translated “punish”. The two verses with this word are Acts 4:21 and II Peter 2:9. You can look up the first reference, here is the second:
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of udgment to be punished (kolazō = cut off ) . II PETER 2:9
What is this verse telling the reader? The King James translation says one thing, I would like to look at each word with you and see if it could be saying something different. Here is a word-by-word study:
“The Lord knoweth how”:
The word “how” is not in the text.
“Knoweth” is the word eidō which also means “to see”, or “to see to”.
[Just like you would “see to” getting something done.]
This word is in the perfect tense, the action was done in the past: “has seen”.
“The Lord knoweth how” = The Lord has seen to
“to deliver” = to delivering [infinitive, present tense]
“the godly” = godly ones [no definite article “the”]
“out of temptations” = out of temptation [singular]
“and” = and (He has seen) [supply the ellipsis]
“to reserve” = to keeping [infinitive, present tense; tēreō = to keep]
“the unjust” = unjust ones [no definite article “the”]
“unto the day of judgment” = unto judgment’s day [no definite article “the”]
“to be” = they being [a participle, present tense, passive voice
(the action is done to the subject)]
“punished” = cut off [kolazō = cut off ]
The Lord has seen to delivering godly ones out of temptation and (He has seen) to keeping unjust ones unto judgment’s day, they being cut off. II PETER 2:9
The proper translation and understanding of the last phrase in this verse is that “they” (the unjust ones) were “being” (a present tense participle) “cut off” (the right meaning of kolazō). It is not saying that God is “reserving” them “to be punished” at a future time. It is saying that at the present time of their unjustness they were “being cut off” from God’s blessing and acceptance.
The primary context and subject of this chapter is dealing with people of God who, although they have known and believed God, have erred and done unjustly.
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring {bringing] upon themselves swift destruction. II PETER 2:1
Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. II PETER 2:15-16
These verses, before and after verse 9, are speaking of God’s people who have erred. One example given is Balaam – who was a wonderful prophet of God! Did he and the others err? Yes. Was there a just consequence? Yes. To a certain extent they were “cut off” from God’s blessing. Were they and will they be “punished”? No. Not punishment, but a just consequence based on God’s right justice and right judgment.
I know that there is an established and passionate investment in the conclusion that God will punish. In studying the Scriptures on this subject I have found that God’s Word teaches certain things that are contrary to long-held traditions and beliefs. I would like to study with you and work some of God’s wonderful Word on this vital topic. God bless! TO BE CONTINUED
