PROPITIATION, A BEAUTIFUL WORD
INTRODUCTION
A. (Psa.119:16) In this lesson I want to acquaint you with one of the most beautiful words in the older English Bibles. It is the word “propitiation.” It is not a very common word. When is the last time you ever heard someone use the word “propitiation” apart from a sermon or Bible class? Though uncommon, it is word we should appreciate (Psa.119:162).
B. The beauty of the word “propitiation” is not in its pronunciation, but in its meaning!
a. “the act of propitiating; something that propitiates, especially a conciliatory offering to a god” American Heritage Dictionary
b. propitiating – “to conciliate (to overcome the distrust or animosity of; appease; to regain or try to regain (friendship)”
C. In Greek, the original language of the NT, there are 3 Greek words that will help us appreciate our English word “propitiation.” Each one of these words denotes some aspect of what is involved in “propitiation” (Psa.119:17).
A. (Rom.3:25) The Greek word translated “propitiation” in this passage is hilasterion (hil-as-tay'-ree-on) & means “an expiatory, i.e., an atoning victim.”
B. This Greek word is found in only one other place in the NT – (Heb.9:5). Here it is rendered “mercy seat.” Why “mercy seat?” Moses will explain - (Lev.16:14-16). In the OT the “Mercy Seat” in the Holy of Holies could be made a place of propitiation by sacrifice. It was on the “Mercy Seat” that 2 victim’s blood (bull & goat) was sprinkled. Two animals had become victims in the place of the people of Israel.
C. We learn from Hebrews 10:4 that animals as victims could not remove sin. Therefore, when Paul wrote to the Romans & told them that God, “set forth (Jesus) as a propitiation by His blood…,” he was telling them that Jesus became the victim who suffered the penalty for their sins (Rom.3:25; 2Cor.5:21).
A. (1Jn.2:2; 4:10) The Greek word translated “propitiation” in this passage is hilasmos (hil-as-mos') and means “atonement, i.e., an expiator.”
B. In the OT the word “atonement” occurs 86 times, translating the Hebrew word kaw-far'literally meaning “to cover.” Figuratively, the word meant, “to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel.”
C. When John wrote that Jesus “is the propitiation for our sins” & that God sent Jesus to be “the propitiation for our sins,” he was telling us that Jesus became the covering for our sins. And, that because of Jesus’ we have been made one with God – at-one-ment.”
A. (Heb.2:17) The Greek word translated “propitiation” in this passage is hilaskomai (hil-as'-kom-ahee) & indicates that someone is merciful. Jesus became a human being, experiencing the things we experience, in order that He might be propitious or merciful to us.
B. (Lu.18:13) When the publican pleaded, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” it could have been translated “God, be propitious to me, a sinner!” The Publican understood that God was propitious or merciful & would forgive sins.
C. We should rejoice that God in His nature is merciful & wants to forgive (Mic.7:18,19).
The 3 Greek words dealing with the doctrine of propitiation are hilasmos, signifying what our Lord became for the sinner (1 John 2:2; 4:10); hilasteôrion, denoting the place of propitiation (Romans 3:25; cf. Hebrews 9:5); and hilaskomai, indicating that God has become gracious, or propitious (Luke 18:13; Hebrews 2:17).