This morning I listened, on the radio, to the late John Mac Arthur on the meaning of redemption. I hold a differing view.
Like many other confused NT concepts, the confusion arises from the translation, or mistranslation of a Greek word with two related meanings. For example, in Luke 1:68, in the NASB translation we find the Greek word "hytrosis" translated as "redemption." It is a noun, derived from the verb G3084 which in turn is derived from the noun G3083. It has two usages, to refer to ransom, the payment for the release of someone or more than one person, and deliverance, or to accomplish the release. Thus sometimes the word should be translated ransom, referring to the payment for the release, and sometimes as redemption, referring to accomplishing the release. In Luke 1:68 the context makes clear the idea is an accomplished release or redemption. When it is translated as redemption when the contextual meaning is ransom, it is a mistranslation.
In Luke 2:38, the context is clear, the people were looking for the release of Jerusalem, not a payment. Thus "redemption" is the correct translation.
But in Hebrews 9:12 we see from the context, Christ had obtained the ransom or the means of release. Why not "redemption" the accomplished release or deliverance? Because that view constitutes universalism, Jesus obtained the release of "all."
The next Greek word for us to consider is "apohytrosis" G629. As you can see, this is a compound word and always means out of the ransomed confinement, or redemption.
In Luke 21:28, the context is clear, as the second coming of Christ draws near, those alive should look up because their bodily redemption into glorified bodies draws near, releasing them from the presence of sin in their mortal bodies.
In Romans 3:24, the context is clear, the redemption, or release from the penalty of sin is "in Christ Jesus." If you have not been transferred spiritually into Christ, you have not been redeemed!
In Romans 8:23, the context is clear, as born anew, indwelt children of God we look forward to the redemption of our physical bodies at Christ's second coming.
In 1 Corinthians 1:30, the context is clear, those of us who have been placed into Christ have redemption, as we have been released from the wages of sin.
In Ephesians 1:7 again we have redemption in Him!
In Ephesians 1:14 the context is clear, we were sealed within Christ as a pledge of our bodily redemption at Christ's second coming.
In Ephesians 4:30 again we were sealed in Christ as a pledge for our bodily redemption.
In Colossians 1:14 again in Christ we have redemption, the forgiveness, our release from our sin penalty.
In Hebrews 9:15 the context is a little difficult: Christ became the mediator of the New Covenant, because the ransom accomplished by His sacrificial death results in the release (redemption) of those called (transferred) into Christ. Rather than the wages of sin which is death, the release from the penalty of sin results in those in Christ receiving the promise of eternal life.
In Hebrews 11:35 "apohytrosis" is used not for redemption in Christ, but in reference to release from the evil suffering being inflicted upon them. They rejected that "redemption" in favor of the resurrection to life offered through steadfast faith in the promises of God.
Like many other confused NT concepts, the confusion arises from the translation, or mistranslation of a Greek word with two related meanings. For example, in Luke 1:68, in the NASB translation we find the Greek word "hytrosis" translated as "redemption." It is a noun, derived from the verb G3084 which in turn is derived from the noun G3083. It has two usages, to refer to ransom, the payment for the release of someone or more than one person, and deliverance, or to accomplish the release. Thus sometimes the word should be translated ransom, referring to the payment for the release, and sometimes as redemption, referring to accomplishing the release. In Luke 1:68 the context makes clear the idea is an accomplished release or redemption. When it is translated as redemption when the contextual meaning is ransom, it is a mistranslation.
In Luke 2:38, the context is clear, the people were looking for the release of Jerusalem, not a payment. Thus "redemption" is the correct translation.
But in Hebrews 9:12 we see from the context, Christ had obtained the ransom or the means of release. Why not "redemption" the accomplished release or deliverance? Because that view constitutes universalism, Jesus obtained the release of "all."
The next Greek word for us to consider is "apohytrosis" G629. As you can see, this is a compound word and always means out of the ransomed confinement, or redemption.
In Luke 21:28, the context is clear, as the second coming of Christ draws near, those alive should look up because their bodily redemption into glorified bodies draws near, releasing them from the presence of sin in their mortal bodies.
In Romans 3:24, the context is clear, the redemption, or release from the penalty of sin is "in Christ Jesus." If you have not been transferred spiritually into Christ, you have not been redeemed!
In Romans 8:23, the context is clear, as born anew, indwelt children of God we look forward to the redemption of our physical bodies at Christ's second coming.
In 1 Corinthians 1:30, the context is clear, those of us who have been placed into Christ have redemption, as we have been released from the wages of sin.
In Ephesians 1:7 again we have redemption in Him!
In Ephesians 1:14 the context is clear, we were sealed within Christ as a pledge of our bodily redemption at Christ's second coming.
In Ephesians 4:30 again we were sealed in Christ as a pledge for our bodily redemption.
In Colossians 1:14 again in Christ we have redemption, the forgiveness, our release from our sin penalty.
In Hebrews 9:15 the context is a little difficult: Christ became the mediator of the New Covenant, because the ransom accomplished by His sacrificial death results in the release (redemption) of those called (transferred) into Christ. Rather than the wages of sin which is death, the release from the penalty of sin results in those in Christ receiving the promise of eternal life.
In Hebrews 11:35 "apohytrosis" is used not for redemption in Christ, but in reference to release from the evil suffering being inflicted upon them. They rejected that "redemption" in favor of the resurrection to life offered through steadfast faith in the promises of God.
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