Is Jesus Our Propitiation or Expiation?

Romans 3:24-25 speaks of “the redemption in Christ Jesus whom God purposed as a hilastērion through faith in his blood …” (author's own translation).

Jesus was “purposed” or “manifested”¹ by God as a hilastērion,² a term that conveys either “expiation” (RSV) in the sense of “atonement” (ISV, NIV, NRSV), or “propitiation” (ASV, ESV, NASB, N/KJV) in the sense of “appeasement” of divine wrath. In the LXX the word was used for the “mercy seat,” from the Heb. kappōreth (“propitiatory”), the lid of the Ark of the Covenant (Ex. 25:17-22; et al.) where Israel’s atonement was appropriated each year (Lev. 16:15-16). On either end of the gold-plated lid were two cherubim, with the presence of God in the form of the Shekinah in between. 

When Jesus had accomplished his mission on earth by way of death, burial, and resurrection, on either end of where his body had been laid were two angels (John 20:12). “Indeed, Christ has become the meeting place of God and man where the mercy of God is available because of the sacrifice of the Son.”³ While appeasing the “wrath of God” (cf. 1:18; 2:5-8) and allowing “peace with God” (1:7; 5:1), Jesus is our metaphorical “mercy seat” (CSB, NET, YLT) in the sense of “atoning sacrifice” (BSB, MSB, WEB). Does he then serve as an “expiation” (atonement) for sin, or a “propitiation” (appeasement) of divine wrath? Yes he does! 

What God has accomplished in Christ is “through faith in his blood,” a metonymy for his “death” (5:6-10).⁴ This is at the heart of the gospel message calling for an obedient faith-response where redemption is actuated  (6:3-7).

--Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

     ¹ The idea of planning or proposing is the more common usage of this verb (cf. Douay-Rheims, JUB), although the idea of displaying may fit the context better (cf. ASV, CEB, CSB, ERV, ESV, NASB, NET, NIV, N/KJV, NLT, N/RSV). Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are the author's own translation. 

     ² The only other occurrence in the NT of this noun is Heb. 9:5. The verbal form [hiláskomai] is found only in Luke 18:13; Heb. 2:17.

     ³ Everett F. Harrison, “Romans,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Vol 10. Eds. Frank E. Gaebelein and J. D. Douglas (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1976) 43.

     ⁴ Cf. Matt. 26:28; Acts 20:28; Eph. 1:7; 2:13; Col. 1:20; Heb. 9:11-15; 10:17-19; 13:12, 20-21; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7; Rev. 1:5; 5:9; 7:14; 12:11.

Related Posts: All Have Sinned and Fall Short of God's Glory

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