Olethros

In Ancient Greek mythology, Olethros /ˈɒlɪˌθrɒs/ (Greek: ὄλεθρος) was the Greek concept or personification^[citation needed] of "havoc" or "ruin".

Olethros translates roughly in ancient Greek to "destruction", but often with a positive connotation, as in the destruction required for and preceding renewal.

Biblical use of olethros

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the King James Bible defines the word as meaning "ruin"; i.e., death, punishment, or destruction. Olethros is found in the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 5:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:3, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, and 1 Timothy 6:9, where it is translated "destruction" in most versions of the Bible. Some^[who?] believe a more accurate translation of this word in these verses would be "punishment," referring to the kind of punishment that expiates guilt and restores the sinner to communion with God.^[citation needed] Biblical scholar Douglas J. Moo argues that, in 2 Thessalonians 1:9, the word should be understood to mean "ruin" rather than "extinction" because it is used alongside the Greek word aiōnios, meaning "eternal." Moo therefore believes that people in hell will not be annihilated, but will live eternally away from the presence of God.[1]

In popular culture

The name "Olethros" is used to refer to Destruction in The Sandman series written by Neil Gaiman.

See also

• Alala
• Alke
• Agon
• Coalemus
• Homados
• Ioke
• Palioxis
• Polemus
• Proioxis

References

1. Ezigbo, Victor I. Introducing Christian Theologies II: Voices from Global Christian Communities - Volume 2. 1st ed., The Lutterworth Press, 2015. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1ffjnnr. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.