The Greek word κόλασις, kolasis occurs two times in the New Testament.  It has a generic meaning of punishment or “to punish.” However, the exact nature of that punishment whether it be nonexistence or continued existence is not explicitly stated in the two verses in which it appears.  Of course, in the context of annihilationism, Matthew 25:46 is one of the key verses under dispute.  Is the eternal punishment nonexistence or is it conscious punishment?  That is the question.  We have to look elsewhere to support or refute annihilationism.  The question is what is the nature of that punishment and how does God use the term in reference to people.

• Greek word: κόλασις, kolasis
• Meaning:  to punish
• Strong’s #: G2851
• Frequency:  2 occurrences

Summary of the meaning of the Greek word kolasis, punish, in all verses where it occurs in the New Testament.

• Punish, 2 occurrences
  • Matt. 25:46; 1 John 4:18

 

TABLE OF ALL NEW TESTAMENT USAGES OF KOLASIS, κόλασις
Address	Verse	Meaning
Matt. 25:46	“These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”	Punishment
1 John 4:18	“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”	Punishment

 

Dictionaries and Lexicons consulted

• “κόλασις kólasis; gen. koláseōs, fem. noun from kolázō (2849), to punish. Punishment (Matt. 25:46), torment (1 John 4:18), distinguished from timōría (5098), punishment, which in Class. Gr. has the predominating thought of the vindictive character of the punishment which satisfies the inflicter’s sense of outraged justice in defending his own honor or that of the violated law. Kólasis, on the other hand, conveys the notion of punishment for the correction and bettering of the offender. It does not always, however, have this strict meaning in the NT. In Matt. 25:46, kólasis aiṓnios (166), eternal, does not refer to temporary corrective punishment and discipline, but has rather the meaning of timōría, punishment because of the violation of the eternal law of God.”
  • Zodhiates, Spiros. The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000
• “κολάζω; κόλασις, εως f: to punish, with the implication of resulting severe suffering—‘to punish, punishment.’
  κολάζω: ἀδίκους δὲ εἰς ἡμέραν κρίσεως κολαζομένους τηρεῖν ‘to keep the wicked under punishment until the day of judgment comes’ or ‘… under guard, awaiting punishment on the day of judgment’ 2 Pe 2:9.”
  • Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
• “κόλασις [kolasis /kol·as·is/] n f. From 2849; TDNT 3:816; TDNTA 451; GK 3136; Two occurrences; AV translates as “punishment” once, and “torment” once. 1 correction, punishment, penalty. Additional Information: For synonyms see entry 5098, timoria.See entry 5859 for comparison of synonyms.”
  • Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995.