Abolish

a -bol´ish ( חתת , ḥāthath , "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; מחה , māḥāh , "to erase," "blot out," "that your works may be abolished" ( Ezekiel 6:6 ) καταργέω , katargéō , "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 (, katargeı̄tai ) indicates that the process of destruction was then going on.