Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the term "demolish" often refers to the act of tearing down or destroying structures, idols, or strongholds that stand in opposition to God's will and purposes. This concept is both literal and metaphorical, appearing throughout Scripture as a call to remove obstacles to true worship and obedience to God.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the Israelites were frequently commanded to demolish the altars and idols of pagan nations. This was a crucial part of maintaining the purity of worship and devotion to Yahweh. For instance, in
Deuteronomy 12:3, God instructs the Israelites: "Tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, burn up their Asherah poles, and cut down the idols of their gods, and wipe out their names from those places." This command underscores the importance of eradicating any form of idolatry that could lead the people away from God.
The act of demolishing pagan altars and idols was not merely about physical destruction but also symbolized the rejection of false gods and the reaffirmation of the covenant relationship with the one true God. It was a call to spiritual renewal and a return to faithfulness.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the concept of demolishing takes on a more spiritual dimension. The Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of demolishing strongholds to describe the spiritual battle against false teachings and ideologies that oppose the knowledge of God. In
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 , Paul writes, "The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
Here, the focus is on the power of the gospel and the truth of God's Word to dismantle erroneous beliefs and bring every thought into alignment with Christ's teachings. This spiritual demolition is essential for the believer's growth and sanctification, as it involves rejecting worldly philosophies and embracing the truth of Scripture.
Theological ImplicationsThe act of demolishing, whether physical or spiritual, is deeply connected to the theme of holiness and the call to separate from sin and idolatry. It reflects God's desire for His people to be set apart, devoted to Him alone. The destruction of idols and false ideologies serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance in maintaining the purity of faith and the integrity of worship.
Moreover, the concept of demolishing strongholds highlights the transformative power of the gospel. It emphasizes that through Christ, believers have the authority and power to overcome spiritual barriers and live in the freedom and truth of God's Word.
Practical ApplicationFor contemporary believers, the call to demolish can be understood as an invitation to examine one's life for any idols or strongholds that hinder a relationship with God. This may involve identifying and removing anything that takes precedence over God, whether it be material possessions, relationships, or ideologies contrary to biblical truth.
In a broader sense, the church is called to stand against cultural and societal structures that oppose God's kingdom, using the truth of Scripture to challenge and transform the world. This involves a commitment to living out the gospel in every area of life, ensuring that Christ is honored and glorified above all else.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
v. t.) To pull down; to raze; to destroy the fabric of; to pull to pieces; to ruin; as, to demolish an edifice, or a wall.
Greek
2679. kataskapto -- to dig down... to dig down. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kataskapto Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-as-kap'-to) Short Definition: I dig down under,
demolish Definition: I dig
...2507. kathaireo -- to take down, pull down
... From kata and haireomai (including its alternate); to lower (or with violence)demolish
(literally or figuratively) -- cast (pull, put, take) down, destroy....
2647. kataluo -- to destroy, overthrow
... From kata and luo; to loosen down (disintegrate), ie (by implication) todemolish
(literally or figuratively); specially (compare kataluma) to halt for the...
Strong's Hebrew
7567. rashash -- to beat down, shatter... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to beat down, shatter NASB Word Usage beaten
down (1),
demolish (1).
... A primitive root; to
demolish -- impoverish.
...6168. arah -- to be naked or bare
... A primitive root; to be (causatively, make) bare; hence, to empty, pour out,demolish --
leave destitute, discover, empty, make naked, pour (out), rase, spread...
6209. arar -- to strip oneself
... A primitive root; to bare; figuratively, todemolish -- make bare, break, raise
up (perhaps by clerical error for raze), X utterly. 6208, 6209. arar. 6210...
3615. kalah -- to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished...
... 1), come to an end (5), complete (1), completed (10), completely gone (1), completion
(1), consume (6), consumed (16), decided (3),demolish (1), destroy (10...
5422. nathats -- to pull down, break down
... root Definition to pull down, break down NASB Word Usage break (1), broke down
(15), broken (1), broken down (2),demolish (1), destroy (1), pull down (1...
8045. shamad -- to be exterminated or destroyed
... root Definition to be exterminated or destroyed NASB Word Usage completely (1),
demolish (2), destroy (36), destroyed (41), destruction (2), eradicated (1...
2718. charab -- to be a waste
... destroy. (Aramaic) a root corresponding to charab; todemolish -- destroy. see HEBREW
charab. 2717c, 2718. charab. 2719 . Strong's Numbers.
5642. cthar -- to hide
... destroy, secret thing (Aramaic) corresponding to cathar; to conceal; figuratively,
todemolish -- destroy, secret thing. see HEBREW cathar. 5641, 5642....
Library
How Titus Gave Orders toDemolish the Tower of Antonia and Then...
... CHAPTER 2. How Titus Gave Orders ToDemolish The Tower Of Antonia And Then
Persuaded Josephus To Exhort The Jews Again [To A Surrender]....
The PelagiansDemolish Free Will.
... A Treatise against two letters of the pelagians, Chapter 8 [IV.]"The Pelagians
Demolish Free Will. These proud and haughty people...
The Judges Said: Tell Us, O Manes, who Designated the Boundaries...
... by a strong wall, he uses first of all the ballista [1649] and projectiles; then
he endeavours to cut through the gates with axes, and todemolish the walls by...
The Existence of Moral Evil, or Sin, Reconciled with the Holiness...
... "If it be not an offensive weapon," says he, "with which we may beat down anddemolish
the strongholds of the sceptic, it is, at least, an armour of defence...
Preface.
... fallacy of these last days, that Natural Science, in some unexplained manner, has
already demolished,"or is inevitably destined todemolish [1] ,"the Book...
The Curse Removed
... he might have mercy upon all." It was intended by its thunders to crush every hope
of self-righteousness, by its lightnings to scathe anddemolish every tower...
Introduction
... As well might the birds attempt todemolish the granite rock of Gibraltar by pecking
at it with their beaks""For ever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven...
the Manner of this Oversight
... God, to perfect the creation, to attain the ends of Christ's death, to save ourselves
and others from damnation, to overcome the devil, anddemolish his kingdom...
Book v. Our Reply, in the Previous Books, to the Mad and...
... and impious to deny, the same doctrine, since what it is godly to maintain it must
be godless to dispute; if it serve a good purpose todemolish a statement...
Of Silent Acquiescence in Heathen Formularies.
... according to the precept, [331] not to return a curse in the name of God even, but
dearly to bless in the name of God, that you may bothdemolish idols and...
Thesaurus
Demolish (16 Occurrences)... (vt) To pull down; to raze; to destroy the fabric of; to pull to pieces; to ruin;
as, to
demolish an edifice, or a wall.
...Demolish (16 Occurrences).
...Demolished (15 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofDemolish. Multi-Version Concordance
Demolished (15 Occurrences). Romans 11:3 "Lord, they...
Overthrow (48 Occurrences)
... Exodus 23:24 You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor follow their
practices, but you shall utterly overthrow them anddemolish their pillars....
Figured (4 Occurrences)
... drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their
figured stones, and destroy all their molten images, anddemolish all their...
Rebuild (36 Occurrences)
... You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, (See NAS). John 2:19 "Demolish
this Sanctuary," said Jesus, "and in three days I will rebuild it." (WEY)...
Raze (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To destroy; todemolish; to erase; to efface; to
obliterate; as, to raze a building. Multi-Version Concordance...
Demmesek (1 Occurrence)
Molten (41 Occurrences)
... drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their
figured stones, and destroy all their molten images, anddemolish all their...
Practices (80 Occurrences)
... Exodus 23:24 You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor follow their
practices, but you shall utterly overthrow them anddemolish their pillars....
Pillars (132 Occurrences)
... Exodus 23:24 You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor follow their
practices, but you shall utterly overthrow them anddemolish their pillars....
Resources
Spiritual strongholds - what is the biblical view? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the weapons of righteousness in 2 Corinthians 6:7? | GotQuestions.orgDo Christians have the authority to rebuke the devil? | GotQuestions.orgDemolish: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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