"corruption, decay, ruin, corruptibility, mortality, Rom. 8:21; 1 Cor. 15:42; meton. corruptible, perishable substance, 1 Cor. 15:50; killing, slaughter, 2 Pet. 2:12; spiritual ruin, Gal. 6:8; Col. 2:22; met. moral corruption, depravity, 2 Pet. 1:4; 2:19*"
Definition and meaning
corruption, decay, ruin, corruptibility, mortality, Rom. 8:21; 1 Cor. 15:42; meton. corruptible, perishable substance, 1 Cor. 15:50; killing, slaughter, 2 Pet. 2:12; spiritual ruin, Gal. 6:8; Col. 2:22; met. moral corruption, depravity, 2 Pet. 1:4; 2:19*
In the original Greek the word is written: φθορά
Historical context
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, one of the most important commercial cities in the empire. Rome had a Jewish population of around 50,000. The letter addresses real tensions between Jewish believers with centuries of Torah tradition and Gentile believers with no such background. Emperor Nero was on the throne. Within ten years he would execute both Paul and Peter.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of phthora (G5356) across the King James Bible.
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
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Common questions
Strong's G5356 (phthora) is a Greek word that means: corruption, decay, ruin, corruptibility, mortality, Rom. 8:21; 1 Cor. 15:42; meton. corruptible, perishable substance, 1 Cor. 15:50; killing, slaughter, 2 Pet. 2:12; spiritual ruin, Gal. 6:8; Col. 2:2... It appears 8 times in the King James Bible.
The word phthora (G5356) appears 8 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5356 is phthora, a Greek word defined as: corruption, decay, ruin, corruptibility, mortality, Rom. 8:21; 1 Cor. 15:42; meton. corruptible, perishable substance, 1 Cor. 15:50; killing, slaughte. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
phthora is a Greek word found in the New Testament.