"After those worthy of restoration to their original state have been saved..., those entirely lawless and those persevering in sin "shall be broken together" (Isa 1:28)... But perhaps even in those whom God benefits, wishing them "to walk in newness of life" (Rom 6:4), He breaks their "old man" (Rom 6:6). That is why "sacrifice to God is a broken spirit" (Psa 51:17). For "the spirit of the world" (1 Cor 2:12) which effects sin is broken, so that "a straight [spirit] will be renewed in the inward parts" of man (Psa 51:10). "The arm of the sinner" is also "broken", that is the active power of sin, in order that "his sin may be sought for and not found." (Psa 10:15). Such is also the pronouncement: "I will kill and I will make alive; I will smite and I will heal" (Deut 32:39). For God will kill him who lives in an evil way, so that after purification of the evil life He may grant him a new one. Therefore the lawless and sinners shall be broken together, so they may cease to be rebellious and disobedient. ... For Paul also said when prophesying to the Thessalonians about "the son of perdition" (2 Thes 2:3): "The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the spirit of His mouth and annihilate [him] by the manifestation of His advent" (2 Thes 2:8). For if the "destruction" is a complete obliteration, how shall he be "annihilated" who no longer exists? But quite clearly it is the falsehood which is in the lawless that will be obliterated utterly "with the spirit of the mouth of Truth" and thus "he shall be annihilated by the manifestation of Christ’s advent". We have already observed many times that vices are utterly obliterated, not the beings themselves in which they occur, as here: "And He will obliterate the way of sinners" (Psa 146:9), and "The way of the impious shall perish." (Psa 1:6)"