Well, look at how its used here.
John 11:50–53 “It is expedient for us, that one should die for the people,
and that the whole nation perish not…Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.”
Greek Word for “perish”: ἀπόλλυμι (
apollymi)
- To destroy, ruin, lose, perish, or kill.
- Can refer to physical destruction, spiritual loss, or total ruin.
- Context determines whether it is temporal or eternal, literal or metaphorical.
The Word perish whether it relates to food, clothing, people or nations always means "cease to exist".
John 6:27 “Do not labor for the
food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.
Because the majority of Christians believe in the immortal soul, they fail to grasp the meaning of “perish” or how the apostles consistently used it. A single false teaching can distort the text entirely. When the apostles speak of God not wanting people to utterly cease to exist, or whether in the context of leaders plotting to kill Christ for fear of Roman reprisal, or of food decaying to nothing, the word carries a consistent meaning. Introduce even one incorrect belief, and the word’s true significance is lost.
Examples:
- Matthew 10:28 – “…fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell (grave).” (destroy = perish)
- John 6:27 – “…do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life…”
- 2 Peter 3:9 – “…not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
If both soul (life) and body can perish then where does that leave what is immortal? But it's very meaning something immortal cannot die - impossible!
Now if you were to study every occurrence of the word perish you would immediately see the conundrum!
Ultimately you would be forced to acknowledge that Christians do not have the original Gospel.