Will be destroyed (3089) (luo) means to loose, release, dissolve. This word means to set free what is bound and possibly here pictures the world being set free from the corruption that exists because of sin (Ro 8:21-note). The elements shall be loosened and broken up into their component parts, like a building being torn down. The physical structure of the present world will disintegrate. This picture is the very opposite of the consistency claimed by the mockers in (2Pe 3:5-note). Luo is the root of the word lutron, a ransom (payment which sets free). Luo - 42x in 39v in the - Matt. 5:19; 16:19; 18:18; 21:2; Mk. 1:7; 7:35; 11:2, 4f; Lk. 3:16; 13:15f; 19:30f, 33; Jn. 1:27; 2:19; 5:18; 7:23; 10:35; 11:44; Acts 2:24; 7:33; 13:25, 43; 22:30; 27:41; 1 Co. 7:27; Eph. 2:14; 2 Pet. 3:10ff; 1 Jn. 3:8; Rev. 1:5; 5:2; 9:14f; 20:3, 7 The NAS renders luo as annuls(1), break(1), breaking(1), broke down(1), broken(2), broken up(2), destroy(2),destroyed(3), loose(2), loosed(2), putting an end to(1), release(1), released(7), removed(1), take off(1), unbind(1),untie(8), untied(1), untying(4). The basic meaning is to loose that which is fastened or bound and thus to unbind or untie, but the exact meaning depends on the context (see following summary or verses below) determines the shade of meaning. Summary of luo: Literally to untie something (colt = Mt 21:2, Mk 1:7, Lk 3:16, Lk 13:16, Jn 1:27 = sandal thong, man [Lazarus] wrapped in bandages = Jn 11:44), break the seals of a scroll (Re 5:2 - secular use described "broken seals of a will", or "of the opening of a document" or "a letter"), release from prison (Ac 22:30 cp release of angels and/or the devil = Re 9:14,15, 20:3, 7). Figuratively: to destroy (temple [Jesus' body - so referring to death in this case by crucifixion], Jn 2:19), to break a "rule" (Sabbath, Jn 5:18, 7:23), to annul (commandment, Mt 5:19, Scripture, Jn 10:35), set free from a bond (by Satan = Lk 13:16), cause something to cease (put an end to, death Ac 2:24, How? By the resurrection), breaking up a group of people meeting (Ac 13:43), break up some object (ship's stern, Ac 27:41), release from marriage (1Co 7:27), break down a spiritual barrier (Ep 2:14), to destroy (the heavens and earth, 2Pe 3:10, 11, 12), destroy the works of the devil (1Jn 3:8 -Apostolic fathers write "consequently all magic and every kind of spell were dissolved [luo]" and "his destructiveness comes to an end"), release from bondage to our sins (Re 1:5). Luo can describe release by a relatively violent manner - Jn 2:19, Ep 2:14-note, Ac 27:41, 2Pe 3:10, 11, 12-note. Luo is the root word of the important word group which includes the following Lutron - price paid to redeem a captive, loosing them from their bonds and setting them free, Mt 20:28, Mk 10:45, Lxx = Lv 25:24 Lutroo - means to redeem or to free by paying the ransom price, 1Pe 1:18-note, Lk 24:21, Titus 2:14-note Lutrosis - describes the act of redemption, of freeing, of releasing or of delivering, Lk 1:68, 2:38, He 9:12-note, Lxx = Lv 25:48 Lutrotes - describes a redeemer, Ac 7:35 Analuo - Literally to undo again. Loosing the anchor of a ship in order to allow the ship to set sail, used by Paul to mean depart as if by loosing an anchor freeing him to glory (Php 1:23) Analusis - departure euphemistically of death (2Ti 4:6). Epiluo - let loose upon literally and figuratively to clarify, explain or interpret (Mark 4:34) Epilusis - act of explaining, exposition or interpretation (2Pe 1:20, 21) Kataluo - To unloose what was bound. To find lodging. To destroy, dissolve (Mk 14:58, Ac 6:14, et al) Kataluma - Lodging place, inn because when travelers arrived they "loosened" their belts. (Mk 14:14) Akatalutos - Speaks of that which is indissoluble (He 7:16 = indestructible life). Antilutron - A price of redemption (1Ti 2:6) Apolutrosis - Redemption, the gift offered as ransom money. The recalling of captives from captivity through the payment of a ransom (Christ’s death). Halusis - Literally not to loose and thus a chain, for a chain is something that cannot be loosed. Comment: This group of words was used in secular Greek to speak of freeing prisoners, opening closed doors, breaking fetters, and liberating people from habits. In a very elemental sense, then, the ransom is a payment which frees a prisoner. As a ransom is paid the prisoner is redeemed from captivity. In secular Greek literature a ransom was paid to release prisoners of war. It was also the payment given to buy a slave out of the market and free him. Even in paganism a payment was made to free someone from the supposed wrath of pagan gods. The Septuagint Greek Old Testament used the word to describe a payment made to release a hostage. It is always a person who is ransomed in the Old Testament (Ex. 21:30; 30:12; Nu 35:31-32; Prov. 6:35). When a payment is given the hostage is freed, or redeemed. The early church father Polycarp (who was martyred) uses luo writing... because your firmly rooted faith, renowned from the earliest times, still perseveres and bears fruit to our Lord Jesus Christ, who endured for our sins, facing even death, “whom God raised up, having loosed (luo) the pangs of Hades (Polycarp references Acts 2:24). (Holmes, M. W. The Apostolic Fathers : Greek texts and English translations. Page 207. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books) Josephus uses luo writing... (140) But some time afterward there came some persons to him, and brought an accusation against certain of the multitude, and of the priests and Levites, who had transgressed their settlement, and dissolved the laws of their country, by marrying strange wives, and had brought the family of the priests into confusion. (Ant 11.139-140) (cp uses in Mt 5:19, Jn 5:18) A Greek inscription reads "God brought the pangs of death to an end (luo)" Here are the 42 uses of luo in the NT... Matthew 5:19-note "Whoever then annuls (idea of making it void by "loosing" oneself from its requirements and standards - compare Jesus use of the stronger derivative kataluo = to abolish in Mt 5:17-note) one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 16:19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (here luo may mean to declare as not a part of the individual anymore such as his sins, cp this use of luo in Re 1:5-note) Matthew 18:18 "Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 21:2 saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them, and bring them to Me. Mark 1:7 And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. Mark 7:35 And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly. Mark 11:2 and said to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here...4 And they went away and found a colt tied at the door outside in the street; and they untied it. 5 And some of the bystanders were saying to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?" Luke 3:16 John answered and said to them all, "As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Luke 13:15 But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall, and lead him away to water him? 16 "And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?" Luke 19:30 saying, "Go into the village opposite you, in which as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it, and bring it here. 31 "And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' thus shall you speak, 'The Lord has need of it.'"... 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" John 1:27 "It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." John 2:19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." John 5:18 For this cause therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. John 7:23 "If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath that the Law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? John 10:35 "If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), John 11:44 He who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings; and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." Acts 2:24 "And God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. Acts 7:33 "But the Lord said to him, 'Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. Acts 13:25 "And while John was completing his course, he kept saying, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.' Acts 13:43 Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God. Acts 22:30 But on the next day, wishing to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Council to assemble, and brought Paul down and set him before them. Acts 27:41 But striking a reef where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern began to be broken up by the force of the waves. 1Co 7:27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. Eph 2:14-note For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 2Pe 3:10-note But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 11-note Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,12-note looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 1John 3:8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Revelation 1:5-note and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood, Revelation 5:2-note And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?" Revelation 9:14-note one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15 And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they might kill a third of mankind. Revelation 20:3-note and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. Revelation 20:7-note And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, Luo is used 32x in the Septuagint - Ge 42:27; Ex 3:5; Jos. 5:15; Job 5:20; 39:2, 5; 42:9; Ps. 102:20; 105:20; 146:7; Isa. 5:27; 14:17; 40:2; 58:6; Jer. 40:4; Dan. 3:25; 5:12. Here are some uses... Exodus 3:5 Then He said, "Do not come near here; remove (Luo = loose, untie) your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." (cp similar use in Josh 5:15) Job 39:2 "Can you count the months they fulfill, Or do you know the time they give birth (luo = set free, released as from labor pains)? Psalm 105:20 The king sent and released (Heb = natar = undo, release, set free, Luo = release) him, The ruler of peoples, and set him free. Ps 146:7 Who executes justice for the oppressed; Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free. Isaiah 40:2 "Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed (Heb = ratsah = to accept favorably, Luo = released), That she has received of the LORD's hand Double for all her sins." Isaiah 58:6 "Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen (Heb = pathach = to open; luo = loose) the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free, And break every yoke? "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/2_peter_310.htm#l