Heidi,
Below is an excerpt from Ray's letter to John Hagee regarding the Greek word Apollumi which means "Destroy,Lose, Lost. This Greek Word is used in the passage You refer to at Matthew, 10:28. Read Below !
Look carefully at what Jesus really said in Matt. 10:28:
"And do not fear those who are killing the body, yet are not able to kill the soul. Yet be fearing him, rather, Who is able to destroy the soul as well as the body in Gehenna."
Jesus said not to fear those who can "kill," but rather fear Him [Jesus Christ] who is able to destroy the soul as well as the body in Gehenna. The first part of the verse is man's operation, but the second part of the verse is God's. Men have no jurisdiction over the soul. All they can do is kill the body. But God can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
Man consists of a body which, when God imparts His spirit to it, becomes a living soul. The soul is the result of the combination of body and spirit. There is "soul" only as long as God's spirit unites with the body. At death, God takes back His spirit and the "soul" goes to the unseen (or imperceptible). Hades in Greek or Sheol in Hebrew are not geographical locations, but rather a condition.
Those who teach annihilation rather than eternal punishment use this verse to show that when God destroys, the soul is irretrievable. This, however, is not true. "Destroy" comes from the Greek word Apollumi = FROM-WHOLE-LOOSE, that is, to "lose." The disciples were afraid that they would perish [apollumi] by drowning (Mk. 4:38). The sheep was lost [apollumi] by straying (Lk 15:4). We may destroy [apollumi] a weak saint by our knowledge (I Cor. 8:11). And Christ destroys [apollumi] both body and soul in Gehenna. Never does the Greek word apollumi mean annihilation! Besides destruction is the prelude to SALVATION! All we like sheep have gone astray. To be "lost" is the same Greek word used for "destroy." So it is axiomatic that if an apollumi [LOST] sheep can be SAVED, then certainly an apollumi [DESTROYED] soul can be saved also. Believe God's Word, not man's doctrines.
Also, from the Topic, Greek Words defined and Usage regarding the Greek Apollumi and being in a Lost or Destroyed condition. Read Below !
5) Apollumi: Lose, Lost, Destroy, Ruin.
Matt. 10:28 ( Fear Him who is able to DESTROY)
Matt. 18:11 ( Came to Save that which was LOST)Not even one, zero, not some, not any, not at all any ) should perish (Gk. apollumi - perish, destroy, lose) but that all (Gk. Pas - all, as many as. We can take that out, forget the word all, you don‘t need it. Put ‘that they,’ who? Anybody who doesn’t come under the category of none) should come to repentance.”
Are you following this? This is all based on the negative. How many that don’t come under the category of none, not any, not any man, not any woman, not any thing, none whatsoever, nothing. Now if you are not in that category, you are going to come to repentance and not have a destiny of perishing or perished - apollumi. How many is that? Everyone does not come under the mē, the none, so it includes everyone. Therefore the “all” in that verse is everyone who is not included in the “any,” and that’s EVERYONE!
Now we understand that all humanity is in a state of ‘apollumi,’ sometimes. Because apollumi meaning destroy, perish or lose. All mankind are lost, so it’s not talking about in this lifetime that no one will ever be destroyed or die or be perished or not be spiritually lost, as their destiny, because this life time they do. But ultimately our destiny for everyone, is to be unperished or lost. None, because the negative here proves it. If there is even one that comes under that category, it can’t come under that category, because that category doesn’t include anyone, it’s a negative, no one. He’s not willing that anyone, no one be perishing or lost forever. There again the apollumi, Christ said I’ve come to save those that are apollumi. When the scripture say, “the Lord is not slack,” is there any room for slackness? No. A little slackness? No. No slackness at all. When He says, “…is not willing that any should perish,” it proves the positive side. The negative proves the positive.
Hope this Helps Heidi, Samson.