What Does “Destroy Soul and Body in Hell” Mean (Matthew 10:28)?

The text reads literally:

And do not fear those who are killing the body, yet are not able to kill the soul (Gr. psyche). Yet be fearing Him, rather, Who is able to destroy the soul as well as the body in Gehenna.

The Sanhedrin could stone someone like Stephen, but as far as his “soul” (= his conscious perceptions) was concerned, the stoning brought him directly into the coming kingdom of peace. He fell asleep, and the very next conscious moment he will awaken in the glory of the resurrection.

Compare this with the wicked who will be executed in the kingdom of peace. They are not only killed, but the blessing of the kingdom of peace is also taken away from them, to rise after the thousand years for judgment. The One who is able to do that is the One people should fear.

This text is not about “hell,” but about Gehenna, that is, the valley of Hinnom in the coming Kingdom on earth.

See also:
what is hell?

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