Before we even think about studying hilasterion and the related words hilaskomai and hilasmos, we must address the three cornerstone words of salvation - propitiation, the means of reconciliation, redemption, the act of spiritual transfer into Christ and reconciliation, the result of redemption. Our word study below enters into the arena of the means of salvation, which is Jesus Christ.
Hilasterion
Our best understanding is that hilasterion referred to the lid of the ark of the covenant, which was sprinkled with blood, and thus referred to as the mercy seat. Articles on its meaning are filled with classic words like expiation, atonement, and propitiation, all of which convey almost nothing to the modern reader. In a nutshell, under the Old Covenant, the blood of animals was sprinkled on the hilasterion on the day of atonement to provide temporary reconciliation with God and avoidance of the wages of sin. Under the New Covenant, Jesus, covered with His precious blood, has become our "hilasterion" (and our blood sin offering) as the means of everlasting reconciliation with God and avoidance of the wages of sin.
Three related Greek words (Hilasterion and Hilasmos-nouns and Hilaskomai -verb) appear 6 times in the New Testament, Romans 3:25, Hebrews 9:5 ; 1 John 2:2, 1 John 4:10, Luke 18:13, and Hebrews 2:17. If we look at several translations we find the words translated as (1) propitiatory sacrifice; (2) propitiation; (3) mercy seat; (4) atonement and (5) atoning sacrifice for the nouns; with the verb being translated as (1) have mercy; (2) be merciful; (3) turn your wrath; and (4) make propitiation.
In short the verb refers to the act of having mercy and the noun to the means of having mercy. Therefore hilasterion should be understood as the means of obtaining mercy , i.e the propitiatory shelter of Christ providing the means of eternal salvation. Anyone not in Christ is not saved, and everyone spiritually placed into Christ is then saved forever.
Luke 18:13 NASB
“But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’
Romans 3:25 NASB
whom God displayed publicly as the means of reconciliation by His blood [sacrifice] through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in God’s merciful restraint He let the sins previously committed go unpunished;
Hebrews 2:17 NASB
Therefore, in all [these] things He had to be made like His brothers so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to provide reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 9:5 NASB
and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but about these things we cannot now speak in detail.
1 John 2:2 NASB
and He Himself is the means of reconciliation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.
1 John 4:10 NASB
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to provide reconciliation for our sins.
Hilasterion
Our best understanding is that hilasterion referred to the lid of the ark of the covenant, which was sprinkled with blood, and thus referred to as the mercy seat. Articles on its meaning are filled with classic words like expiation, atonement, and propitiation, all of which convey almost nothing to the modern reader. In a nutshell, under the Old Covenant, the blood of animals was sprinkled on the hilasterion on the day of atonement to provide temporary reconciliation with God and avoidance of the wages of sin. Under the New Covenant, Jesus, covered with His precious blood, has become our "hilasterion" (and our blood sin offering) as the means of everlasting reconciliation with God and avoidance of the wages of sin.
Three related Greek words (Hilasterion and Hilasmos-nouns and Hilaskomai -verb) appear 6 times in the New Testament, Romans 3:25, Hebrews 9:5 ; 1 John 2:2, 1 John 4:10, Luke 18:13, and Hebrews 2:17. If we look at several translations we find the words translated as (1) propitiatory sacrifice; (2) propitiation; (3) mercy seat; (4) atonement and (5) atoning sacrifice for the nouns; with the verb being translated as (1) have mercy; (2) be merciful; (3) turn your wrath; and (4) make propitiation.
In short the verb refers to the act of having mercy and the noun to the means of having mercy. Therefore hilasterion should be understood as the means of obtaining mercy , i.e the propitiatory shelter of Christ providing the means of eternal salvation. Anyone not in Christ is not saved, and everyone spiritually placed into Christ is then saved forever.
Luke 18:13 NASB
“But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’
Romans 3:25 NASB
whom God displayed publicly as the means of reconciliation by His blood [sacrifice] through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in God’s merciful restraint He let the sins previously committed go unpunished;
Hebrews 2:17 NASB
Therefore, in all [these] things He had to be made like His brothers so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to provide reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 9:5 NASB
and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but about these things we cannot now speak in detail.
1 John 2:2 NASB
and He Himself is the means of reconciliation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.
1 John 4:10 NASB
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to provide reconciliation for our sins.