The Vocabulary of Salvation: Redemption.

“Christ saves us neither by the mere exercise of power, nor by his doctrine, nor by his example, nor by the moral influence which he exerted, nor by any subjective influence on his people, whether natural or mystical, but as a satisfaction to divine justice, as an expiation for sin, and as a ransom from the curse and authority of the law, thus reconciling us to God by making it consistent with his perfection to exercise mercy toward sinners.” – Dr. Charles Hodge.

“Redemptive History is understood as God’s self-revelation to mankind in the person of Jesus Christ, through whom God purposed to love a people as His own, even to the point of sending His Son in their likeness, being tempted and suffering death on the cross, bearing the full penalty of their sins, that they may live in Him through His resurrection from the dead. The life, death, and resurrection of the Savior, being the means of God’s redemptive purpose, was foreshadowed in all of history, specially revealed in the Bible, that those who follow after Christ by His death to the age of His resurrection might know God as faithful to His promises, and have complete access to fellowship with Him without fear of condemnation.” –Two Age Glossary

Continuing our study in the Vocabulary of Salvation, we turn our attention to the doctrine of Redemption. What is Redemption?

The words, and therefore the definition, of redemption has several meaning. In the Old Testament Hebrew language, there are three primary meanings for redemption.

The first term used for redemption has a legal context. The verb padah is used when an animal substitutes for (or redeems) a person or another animal. The root meaning is the ransom or the price paid.

“When a living being, person or animal, requires redemption, the substitution must be made, or price paid; otherwise, the creature involved is killed (Ex. 13:13; 34:20). However, there is evidence that this rule was not always strictly followed (Ex. 21:8; Job 6:23),” explains the Tyndale Bible Dictionary.

The second term involved is the Hebrew root ga’al, which is used primarily in relation to family rules and obligations, laws governing family property rights and responsibilities. Should a piece of property be lost by a family member, the next of kin had both the right and the obligation to redeem, or buy back, this property. This right of redemption protected the family inheritance. The noun derived from this root is equivalent to the English root “redemption,” and the person who buys back the property is the go’el or redeemer.

If an Israelite was forced to sell himself into slavery to pay his debts, a near relative could redeem them, or even they themselves (Lev. 25:47–49; Ruth 3:12-13). The relative might also redeem the family property in the same fashion (Lev. 25:25–28; Jer. 25:25; 32:6–9).

The third term used in Hebrew is the root verb kaphar, which means “to cover.” From this root, there is the meaning of covering sin, atonement, or expiation. The noun, kopher, means the price paid to cover sin, when the term is used in the religious sense. The word is also used to mean the payment made for any life that should be forfeited.

“A good illustration is the price paid by the owner of an ox that had gored a person to death. Under the law, the owner’s life was forfeited, but he could redeem himself by paying the required ransom (Ex. 21:28–32),” states the Tyndale Bible Dictionary.

There are two primary words for redeem, or redemption, in the New Testament. They are agorazo and exagorazo, which means to redeem or to pay a price. The second word has three derivatives. They are Lutro (Redeem), Lutrosis (Redemption), and Lutrotas (Redeemer).

In both instances, the New Testament teaches that redemption involves (1) To pay a ransom price for something of someone (Heb. 9:12); (2) To remove from a slave marketplace (Galatians 3:13); and (3) To effect a full release (Romans 3:24; 8:22-23; I Corinthians 1;30; Ephesians 1:7, 14; 4:30; Colossians 1:14).

Jesus Christ fulfills all the aspects of a redeemer. He became a Near Kinsmen Redeemer (Hebrews 2:14-16), He was able to Redeem (John 10:11-18), and He was willing to Redeem (Hebrews 10:10-14).

More to come. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!