Definition and Usage:
The term "abolish" generally means to formally put an end to a system, practice, or institution. In biblical contexts, it often refers to the cessation or fulfillment of laws, covenants, or practices.

Old Testament Context:
The concept of abolishing is not frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, but the idea can be seen in the context of the old covenant and the laws given to Israel. The prophets often spoke of a future time when the old ways would be replaced by something new. For example, Jeremiah 31:31-34 speaks of a new covenant that God will establish with the house of Israel, indicating a transformation rather than a simple abolition.

New Testament Context:
In the New Testament, the term "abolish" is more directly addressed, particularly in the teachings of Jesus and the writings of Paul. A key passage is found in Matthew 5:17-18, where Jesus states, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished." Here, Jesus clarifies that His mission is not to nullify the Law but to bring it to its intended completion.

Paul also addresses the concept of abolishing in his epistles. In Ephesians 2:14-15, Paul writes, "For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace." This passage highlights the idea that through Christ's sacrifice, the ceremonial laws that separated Jews and Gentiles were abolished, creating unity in the body of Christ.

Theological Implications:
Theologically, the concept of abolishing in the Bible often relates to the transition from the old covenant to the new covenant. The old covenant, with its laws and rituals, served a purpose in guiding and setting apart the people of Israel. However, with the coming of Christ, the new covenant was established, fulfilling the requirements of the old and rendering certain ceremonial aspects obsolete. This does not mean that moral laws are abolished, but rather that the means of relating to God has been transformed through Jesus Christ.

Related Concepts:
· Fulfillment: The idea that Jesus fulfills the Law rather than abolishing it is central to understanding His role in relation to the Old Testament.
· Covenant: The transition from the old covenant to the new covenant is a key theme in understanding what is abolished and what is fulfilled.
· Unity in Christ: The abolishment of the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles emphasizes the inclusive nature of the gospel.

Key Verses:
· Matthew 5:17-18 : "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."
· Ephesians 2:14-15 : "For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees."

The concept of abolishing in the Bible is intricately linked to the fulfillment and transformation brought about by Jesus Christ, marking a significant shift in the relationship between God and humanity.1. (v. t.) To do away with wholly; to annul; to make void; -- said of laws, customs, institutions, governments, etc.; as, to abolish slavery, to abolish folly.

2. (v. t.) To put an end to, or destroy, as a physical objects; to wipe out.

ABOLISH

a-bol'-ish (chathath, "to be broken down," "made void," "My righteousness shall not be abolished" (Isaiah 51:6), i.e. as shown in God's faithfulness to His promises; machah, "to erase," "blot out," "that your works may be abolished" (Ezekiel 6:6) katargeo, "to render inoperative," "bring to nought," "make of no effect," "when he shall have abolished all rule" (1 Corinthians 15:24), every power opposed to God's kingdom; "having abolished in his flesh the enmity" (Ephesians 2:15)): By His death, Christ did away with the race separation due to historic ordinances and ceremonial laws (as of circumcision and uncircumcision); through the cross He wrought the reconciliation, and secured that common access to the Father by which the union is maintained.

"Our Saviour Christ Jesus. abolished death" (2 Timothy 1:10). Men still die, "it is appointed unto men" (Hebrews 9:27), but the fear of death as having power to terminate or affect our personal existence and our union with God, as a dreadful stepping out into the unknown and unknowable (into Sheol of the impenetrable gloom), and as introducing us to a final and irreversible judgment, has been removed. Christ has taken out of it its sting (1 Corinthians 15:55) and all its hurtful power (Hebrews 2:14); has shown it to be under His control (Revelation 1:18), brought to light the incorruptible life beyond, and declared the ultimate destruction of death (1 Corinthians 15:26; compare Revelation 20:14). The Greek (katargeitai) indicates that the process of destruction was then going on.

M. O. Evans

2673. katargeo -- to render inoperative, abolish
... to render inoperative, abolish. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: katargeo Phonetic
Spelling: (kat-arg-eh'-o) Short Definition: I bring to naught, sever ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2673.htm - 9k

337. anaireo -- to take up, take away, make an end
... take away, make an end. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anaireo Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ahee-reh'-o) Short Definition: I take up, abolish, murder Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/337.htm - 7k

615. apokteino -- to kill
... apokteino or apoktenno Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ok-ti'-no) Short Definition: I put
to death, kill Definition: I put to death, kill; fig: I abolish. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/615.htm - 8k

2647. kataluo -- to destroy, overthrow
... Word Origin from kata and luo Definition to destroy, overthrow NASB Word Usage abolish
(2), destroy (5), destroyed (1), find lodging (1), guest (1), overthrow ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2647.htm - 7k

4229. machah -- to wipe, wipe out
... 4228, 4229. machah. 4229a . to wipe, wipe out. Transliteration: machah
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-khaw') Short Definition: abolish. ...
/hebrew/4229.htm - 5k

2865. chathath -- to be shattered or dismayed
... abolish, affright, be make afraid, amaze, beat down, discourage. A primitive
root; properly, to prostrate; hence, to break down, either ...
/hebrew/2865.htm - 6k

2498. chalaph -- to pass on or away, pass through
... abolish, alter, change, cut off, go on forward, grow up, be over, pass away,.
A primitive root; properly, to slide by, ie (by implication ...
/hebrew/2498.htm - 6k

7665. shabar -- to break, break in pieces
... root Definition to break, break in pieces NASB Word Usage abolish (1), break (25),
break down (1), breaking in pieces (1), breaks (5), breaks in pieces (1 ...
/hebrew/7665.htm - 6k

Efforts of Julian to Establish Paganism and to Abolish Our Usages. ...
... Book V. Chapter XVI."Efforts of Julian to establish Paganism and to abolish our
Usages. The Epistle which he sent to the Pagan High-Priests. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter xvi efforts of julian to.htm

The Partisans of Acacius Again do not Remain Quiet, but Strive to ...
... Chapter XXIX."The Partisans of Acacius again do not remain Quiet, but strive to
abolish the Term "Consubstantial," and to confirm the Heresy of Arius. ...
/.../chapter xxix the partisans of acacius.htm

Nature's Permanence. October 29.
... We abolish many things, good and evil, wisely and foolishly, in these fast-going
times; but, happily for us, we cannot abolish the blue sky, and the green sea ...
/.../kingsley/daily thoughts /natures permanence october 29.htm

Effects Require Causes
... To abolish the mental experience the radical method would be to abolish the physical
experience, and the way of abolishing the physical experience would be to ...
/.../the greatest thing in the world and other addresses/effects require causes.htm

The Law Established through Faith
... which might be made, and which has in fact been made in all ages; namely, that to
say we are justified without the works of the law, is to abolish the law. ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 35 the law established.htm

July 1:
... 1-Jul. July 1st. "Perfect correspondence," according to Mr. Herbert Spencer, would
be "perfect Life." To abolish Death, therefore, all that would be necessary ...
//christianbookshelf.org/drummond/beautiful thoughts/july 1 0.htm

Whether Custom Can Obtain Force of Law?
... Objection 1: It would seem that custom cannot obtain force of law, nor abolish a
law. ... Therefore custom cannot obtain force of law, so as to abolish the law. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether custom can obtain force.htm

The Lord's Prayer
... To hallow the Father's name would abolish all the superstition of the world.
And so the coming of the Father's kingdom would abolish ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xxxviii the lords prayer.htm

One Metaphor and Two Meanings
... Jesus Christ looked at the man, and He did not think about theological cobwebs.
What was suggested to Him was to fight against the evil and abolish it. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/one metaphor and two meanings.htm

Christ's Flesh in Nature, the Same as Ours, Only Sinless the ...
... conspicuous against us; he will have us say that Christ put on flesh of an earthly
origin, [7168] in order that He might in His own person abolish sinful flesh ...
/.../tertullian/ on the flesh of christ/chapter xvi christs flesh in nature.htm

Abolish (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To do away with wholly; to annul; to make void; -- said of laws, customs,
institutions, governments, etc.; as, to abolish slavery, to abolish folly. ...
/a/abolish.htm - 10k

Abrogate (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vt) To abolish or repeal by an authoritative act; as, to abrogate a law; to
abolish by the authority of the maker or his successor; to repeal; -- applied ...
/a/abrogate.htm - 7k

Abolished (12 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Abolish. Multi-Version Concordance
Abolished (12 Occurrences). 1 Corinthians 15:24 Then ...
/a/abolished.htm - 10k

Lysias (3 Occurrences)
... to Josephus (Ant., XII, vii, 2), the instructions of Lysias were' "to conquer Judea,
enslave its inhabitants, utterly destroy Jerusalem and abolish the whole ...
/l/lysias.htm - 12k

Ish
... 2. (n.) A verb ending, originally appearing in certain verbs of French origin;
as, abolish, cherish, finish, furnish, garnish, impoverish. Int. ...
/i/ish.htm - 7k

Footing (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Footing (3 Occurrences). Romans 3:31 Do we then by means
of this faith abolish the Law? No, indeed; we give the Law a firmer footing. ...
/f/footing.htm - 8k

Firmer (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Firmer (1 Occurrence). Romans 3:31 Do we then by means
of this faith abolish the Law? No, indeed; we give the Law a firmer footing. ...
/f/firmer.htm - 6k

Enlighten (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 1:10 and was made manifest now through the manifestation of our Saviour
Jesus Christ, who indeed did abolish death, and did enlighten life and ...
/e/enlighten.htm - 10k

Enmity (23 Occurrences)
... cross to have "slain the enmity," that is, the opposition between Jew and Gentile,
creating in Himself "one new man, (so) making peace." See also ABOLISH; HATE ...
/e/enmity.htm - 15k

Disease (213 Occurrences)
... The number of marshes or pools is fairly small, and the use of active measures to
destroy the larvae of mosquitos might easily diminish or abolish the malarial ...
/d/disease.htm - 39k

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