This verse is often misinterpreted to suggest that the soul is indestructible or inherently immortal apart from God's judgment, ignoring the warning of divine power to destroy it; others twist it to downplay physical dangers entirely, promoting recklessness rather than courageous faithfulness, or to support annihilationism by equating destruction with non-existence instead of eternal punishment, overlooking the passage's call to reverent fear of God's sovereign justice over human threats.
Matthew 10:28
King James Version (1769)
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Jesus instructs his disciples not to fear persecutors who can only kill the physical body but lack power over the soul, urging them instead to fear God, who holds ultimate authority to destroy both body and soul in hell, emphasizing the priority of eternal spiritual destiny over temporary physical suffering in the context of their mission amid opposition.