Destruction of What?

"Olethros" (G3639) is a Greek word found in four NT verses and is translated as "destruction."

In 1 Corinthians 5:5,scripture describes the destruction as destruction of his flesh. However flesh can refer literally to our physical body, or figuratively to our fleshly desires, or sinful nature. Ten or so English translations go with sinful nature, and the rest go with physical body of flesh.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:3 refers to the "sudden destruction" of non-believers when the "day of the Lord comes" as believers are not destined to wrath. Thus the sudden destruction refers to being consigned to Hades and Gehenna upon physical death.

In 2 Thessalonians 1:9 the lost pay the penalty of "eternal destruction" away from the presence of the Lord. Thus consignment to Hades and Gehenna seems to be in view.

In 1 Timothy 6:9 the lost plunge into "ruin" and "destruction" with the NASB translating our word as ruin.

Physical death results in the destruction of our physical body, at least until the first or second resurrection where the lost face the second death in the Lake of Fire.

Clearly the last three examples fit the idea of physical death followed by spiritual torment in Hades and the second death in the Lake of Fire.

Which brings us back to arriving at an understanding of 1 Corinthians 5:5:

I have decided to turn such a person over to Satan for the destruction of his body, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.​

Here we see that physical death is not in view, but the separation from the comfort of thinking you are saved, such that perhaps the person will "come to their senses" as the Prodigal Son did, and return to the love of God.

 

I am not sure what to make of this post. I am guessing "the most quoted scripture on destruction" refers to Matthew 7:13. Here the Greek word translated "destruction" is "apōleia" (G684).

Clearly that verse is NOT referring to those "already born of God."

2 Thessalonians 1:9 is where "eternal destruction" is in scripture.

To repeat from the OP, 1 Corinthians 5:5 appears to say Paul turned the person out of church fellowship, so he would realize the depravity of the world ruled by Satan's value system, and thereby come to his senses, and repent, such that his human spirit might be saved.

G684 appears about 18 times in scripture and usually refers to someone"s or something's destruction by ruination or consumption such as money wasted on worldly treasure or perfume put to one time use.

 

John 17:12 (NASB)
“While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name, which You have given Me; and I guarded them, and not one of them perished except the "son of destruction" so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.

According to the NASB footnote, "son of destruction" is a Hebrew idiom that refers to someone who is destined to perish, which refers to Judas Iscariot, chosen to fulfill the "betrayer" prophecy.

 

God can destroy both the body and the soul in Gehenna:

Matthew 10:28 NASB
“And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

In order to preserve the doctrine of "eternal torment in the lake of fire" some claim "destroy the soul" means torment it, rather than kill or terminate its existence. However the parallel construction using kill interchangeably with destroy precludes any view other than terminate the soul's existence.​