The term Anathema is pretty extreme (and final). Paul, for example uses it of himself in Romans 9:3
For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
Romans 9:3
Same Greek term even if a different English word.
So while I do recognize that that there is room for desiring eternal good for someone, relying on it as a tried means of obtaining a desired end for someone seems to me to be going beyond what is written. In other words, I don't see Peter establishing prayer for the dead - but I do see Paul giving loose reference to it. But certainly not enough to use it as evidence of after death conversion. Just as I see the general universal reconciliation as a decent hope, I don't see it taught in scripture - I see the same thing for prayers for the dead. Not something I would major in - and not enough to build a solid doctrine upon.
Dear Ace: I can give you another word in koine which is one of the strongest for destruction, that word is apollumi. I intend to pursue this a little later. At the moment I am being challenged by a few lunatics that still dwell at the foot of the mountain, so please be patient.
Do you have any idea how many distinct words there are in Hebrew for destruction? That is correct; over 20! That group of nasty words have a number that link destruction with change and transformation in dual aspect of meaning.
The punishment of the Father of all fathers is not merely correction: it is correction that improves, changes, transforms for the better.
Our God punishes with an objective in view, not as an end in itself!
There are dual aspects to our Father’s Realm as shown in the following…
Tamiym/ 'ymt
To be consumed, destroyed, exhausted and spent, but also to be finished and made sound.
Kalal
Links destruction, being spent, exhausted, as well as to be finished and made sound.
Tamam, the root word of Tamiym
To be finished, complete, summed up, made whole: linked with to be consumed, exhausted, spent and destroyed.
Shalam/ ~IX
Destruction, has the scope of being finished and ended, made good or whole, & being made sound, coupled with to be restored.
Shebar, rooted in Shabar
Breakout, and being brought to birth; and underlying new birth and breakout? To be crushed and broken. Again there is dual meaning in our Lord’s words of destruction and re-creation.
Chalowph
Destruction rooted in being altered, renewed, changed, and to sprout again. It should also be noted that this is not just change, but change for the better.
"In the Christian story God descends to reascend. He comes down;… down to the very roots and sea-bed of the Nature He has created. But He goes down to come up again and bring the whole ruined world up with Him." -C.S. Lewis