Expiation and Propitiation
Does the cross cleanse our sin, turn away God's wrath, or both? The Greek leaves room
These twin terms describe what Christ's death accomplishes: expiation cleanses sin, while propitiation turns away divine wrath. They rest on texts like Romans 3:25 and 1 John 2:2. The traditions and scholars differ over the underlying Greek words: some read them as implying propitiation, the turning aside of wrath, while others render them as expiation, the cleansing or covering of sin. The debate shapes how Christians describe the meaning of the atonement.
How it traveled
- HebrewsRome · 67explains
- RomansCorinth · 67explains
- 1 JohnEphesus · 100explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the HebrewsConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Expositions on the Book of PsalmsHippo Regius · 430explains
- Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. JohnHippo Regius · 430explains
- Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59)Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90)Paris · 1274explains
- Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic ChurchGeneva · 1564explains
- Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the GospelGeneva · 1564explains
- Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from ItGeneva · 1564explains
- XIV Five discourses on the soul's eternal salvationNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- Seventeen Occasional SermonsNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- The Wisdom of God Displayed in the Way of SalvationNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
Key passages(20)
Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the Gospel · John Calvin
Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the Gospel · John Calvin
Expositions on the Book of Psalms · Augustine of Hippo
Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the Gospel · John Calvin
Exposition of the Christian Faith · Ambrose of Milan
Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the Gospel · John Calvin
Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin
Ephraim Syrus: The Nisibene Hymns · Ephrem the Syrian
Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus · Irenaeus of Lyons
Seventeen Occasional Sermons · Jonathan Edwards
Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans · John Chrysostom
The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews · John Chrysostom
Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
XIV Five discourses on the soul's eternal salvation · Jonathan Edwards