Have you ever asked yourself, “How can sinful man be reconciled back to God?” This article will briefly explore the glorious doctrine of redemption. The Bible portrays our God as a missionary God who desires to restore fallen man back to Himself. However, a price had to be paid before reconciliation could be made. Therefore, I want to examine three verbs and one noun that describe the redemption of the believer through the person of Jesus Christ. These four New Testament words seem to be synonymous but describe the different aspects of redemption. Let’s briefly examine these four beautiful words:
1. The first verb translated redeemed is agorazo, (ag-or-ad’-zo)
The word agorazo (redeemed) is found thirty-one times in the New Testament and is translated “buy” twenty-eight times and “redeem” three times.1 This verb was used in the Roman world where traders would purchase a slave at the marketplace. Paul told the Corinthian church, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6:20). The word “bought” is the same word translated “redeemed” and describes how our Lord purchased the believer from the slave market of sin. Concerning the phrase “you were bought,” Harold Mare says this expression “is in the aorist tense, pointing back to Christ’s redemptive work on the cross (Matt. 20:28).”2 Nonetheless, the point is, Christ redeemed, bought or purchased us on the cross, and now we belong to Him.
Peter also used the same word in the same way in Second Peter. He said, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction” (2 Pet. 2:1). Peter explained, in the same way, there were false prophets in the Old Testament, there will also be false teachers in the New Testament. He further claimed these deceptive teachers would propagate destructive opinions (heresy), even to the point of denying the Lord who agorazo (bought) them. Concerning the word bought, Richard J. Bauchman said, “This image of redemption as the transferral of slaves to new ownership was fairly common in early Christianity.”3 Unfortunately, these false teachers secretly rejected the Lord, who actually bought and paid for their sin on the cross.4 Where else do we find the word agorazo (redeemed) in the New Testament?
In the book of Revelation, John presented Christ as the Lamb, the only One worthy to open the seven-sealed scroll. This One who was slain is said to have “redeemed us” to God by His precious blood. John said, “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation’ ” (Rev. 5:8-9). John declared people from every tribe, every tongue and every ethnic group in the world would fall down before the Lamb and sing a new song because they were redeemed by His blood. The phrase “redeemed us to God by Your blood” reminds us, that the price He actually paid to bring us back into proper relationship with God was His blood. Furthermore, John described a heavenly choir of one hundred and forty-four thousand Jewish converts, who actually have the name of God on their foreheads and they sing together with a thunderous voice of glorious praise to the One who agorazo (redeemed) them (Rev. 14:1-4).
The word agorazo (redeemed) is found three times in the book of Revelation, and all three times the word describes how Jesus, the Lamb of God, purchased sinful man from the slave market of sin; and all three passages include a song of praise by those who were redeemed. On the other hand, is there another word translated redeemed?
2. The second verb translated redeemed is exagorazo.
This verb is found four times and is very similar to agorazo. In Swindoll’s and Zuck’s classic work, “Understanding Christian Theology”, Earl Radmacher claims the prefix ex emphasizes separation of what has been purchased from the slave market altogether. This verb is found only four times in the New Testament, stressing the fact that we have been set free from the curse and condemnation of the law by the cross of Christ.5 In fact, Paul said, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”).” (Gal. 3:13). Paul further claimed, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons”
(Gal. 4:4-5). Lest we forget, our redemption has been accomplished by the cross, whereby we are no longer a slave but a son.
3. The third verb translated redeemed is lutroo, (loo-tro’-o)
This expression is found three times in the New Testament and perhaps gives us the fullest meaning of redemption. In his book Basic Theology, Charles Ryrie says, “It comes from the root luo, to loose, this word was used for loosing clothes or animals or prisoners. It was usually connected with a ransom being paid as a condition of release. Thus, it’s meaning is to release on receipt of a ransom.”6
The first time lutroo (redeem) is used is in Luke 24:21, where the eleven disciples used the expression in context to redeeming Israel. In other words, the disciples were thinking only of a national deliverance (the nation of Israel). However, Paul used lutroo (redeemed) in a fuller sense. He argued that the believer is released from the power of sin because Jesus paid the ransom by dying on the cross. Paul said, “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus. 2:13-14). The death of Christ secured the believer’s release from the bondage of sin and loosed us from its power. In regards to the word lutroo (redeemed), Elmer Towns said, normally, when a master purchased a slave, he required the slave to serve him. Occasionally an owner might buy the freedom of a slave. The master would pay the redemption price, but he would give the slave his liberty. Sometimes the slave was made a member of the family. The term lutroo used to describe this practice was also used to describe our redemption.7 Peter further explained the ransom price that was paid was the “precious blood of Christ.” He said, “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:18-19).
The root of sin is a fundamental problem for all mankind. We have a sin nature and we need deliverance. The blood of Christ is the only ransom payment that can satisfy the holiness of God. Therefore, the blood of Christ covered, secured, and purchased my pardon from sin. Therefore, I am redeemed. Furthermore, the noun lutron (ransom) is used by Jesus two times in the New Testament and is translated “ransom” both times, once in Matthew 20:28 and also in Mark 10:45 and is virtually a word for word quote of each other. Both passages point to the death of Christ as the ransom being paid for sin. The Gospel of Mark says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45). The blood of Jesus was the ransom payment for sin when He gave His life on Calvary. However, is there another word that describes my redemption in Christ Jesus?
4. Finally, notice the noun apolutrosis, (ap-ol-oo’-tro-sis).
Apolutrosis (redemption) is found ten times in the New Testament and is translated “deliverance” only one time and “redemption” nine times. It is used in Luke 21:28, Romans 3:24, Romans 8:23, I Corinthians 1:30, Ephesians 1:7, 14 and 4:30, Colossians 1:14, Hebrews 9:15 and 11:35 and is closely associated with the blood of Christ as the only ransom price that could be paid. For instance, Paul said, “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed” (Rom. 3:24-25). The words redemption (apolutrosis) and propitiation (hilasterion) are closely related, and both point to the blood of Christ as the only payment set forth by God to secure the ransom release from the bondage of sin. Radmacher says, “Whereas redemption is God’s work on the cross in reference to sin, propitiation is His work on the cross in relation to Himself. Christ’s death propitiated (satisfied, appeased) the righteous wrath of God.”8 The ransom price (redemption) had to be perfect (propitiation) to satisfy the demands of a holy, righteous God. God purposed or “set forth” the sinless, incorruptible blood of Jesus as the only ransom price that would satisfy His demand for absolute perfection. Both Ephesians 1:7 and Colossians 1:14 teach us that through the blood of Christ our redemption was purchased and secured. Paul said, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7). Still speaking of Christ, Paul further claimed, “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:14).
The doctrine of redemption can be summarized by three basic thoughts: first of all, man must be redeemed from sin. Second, man must be redeemed by someone, meaning the ransom price is the blood of Christ. Third, man is redeemed to something, meaning freedom or a release from the bondage of sin. Christ, our Redeemer, has released us from the slavery and punishment of sin. Nevertheless, the four Greek words that are translated “redeemed” vividly describe the redemptive aspect of our salvation through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. The Englishman’s Greek Concordance of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1970), 9.
2. M. Harold Mare, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, 1 Corinthians Frank E. Gaebelein General Editor, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publications, 1976), 225.
3. Richard J. Bauchman, Word Biblical Commentary Jude, 2 Peter Ralph P. Martin, General Editor, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1983), 240.
4. Many scholars use this text to support the unlimited atonement of Christ (See 2 Peter 2:1).
5. Earl D. Radmacher, Understanding Christian Theology Charles R. Swindoll and Roy B. Zuck General Editors, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 834.
6. Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology (Colorado Springs, CO: ChariotVictor Publishing 1986), 291.
7. Elmer L. Towns, Concise Bible Doctrines, 164.
8. Earl D. Radmacher, Understanding Christian Theology, 835.
1. The first verb translated redeemed is agorazo, (ag-or-ad’-zo)
The word agorazo (redeemed) is found thirty-one times in the New Testament and is translated “buy” twenty-eight times and “redeem” three times.1 This verb was used in the Roman world where traders would purchase a slave at the marketplace. Paul told the Corinthian church, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6:20). The word “bought” is the same word translated “redeemed” and describes how our Lord purchased the believer from the slave market of sin. Concerning the phrase “you were bought,” Harold Mare says this expression “is in the aorist tense, pointing back to Christ’s redemptive work on the cross (Matt. 20:28).”2 Nonetheless, the point is, Christ redeemed, bought or purchased us on the cross, and now we belong to Him.
Peter also used the same word in the same way in Second Peter. He said, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction” (2 Pet. 2:1). Peter explained, in the same way, there were false prophets in the Old Testament, there will also be false teachers in the New Testament. He further claimed these deceptive teachers would propagate destructive opinions (heresy), even to the point of denying the Lord who agorazo (bought) them. Concerning the word bought, Richard J. Bauchman said, “This image of redemption as the transferral of slaves to new ownership was fairly common in early Christianity.”3 Unfortunately, these false teachers secretly rejected the Lord, who actually bought and paid for their sin on the cross.4 Where else do we find the word agorazo (redeemed) in the New Testament?
In the book of Revelation, John presented Christ as the Lamb, the only One worthy to open the seven-sealed scroll. This One who was slain is said to have “redeemed us” to God by His precious blood. John said, “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation’ ” (Rev. 5:8-9). John declared people from every tribe, every tongue and every ethnic group in the world would fall down before the Lamb and sing a new song because they were redeemed by His blood. The phrase “redeemed us to God by Your blood” reminds us, that the price He actually paid to bring us back into proper relationship with God was His blood. Furthermore, John described a heavenly choir of one hundred and forty-four thousand Jewish converts, who actually have the name of God on their foreheads and they sing together with a thunderous voice of glorious praise to the One who agorazo (redeemed) them (Rev. 14:1-4).
The word agorazo (redeemed) is found three times in the book of Revelation, and all three times the word describes how Jesus, the Lamb of God, purchased sinful man from the slave market of sin; and all three passages include a song of praise by those who were redeemed. On the other hand, is there another word translated redeemed?
2. The second verb translated redeemed is exagorazo.
This verb is found four times and is very similar to agorazo. In Swindoll’s and Zuck’s classic work, “Understanding Christian Theology”, Earl Radmacher claims the prefix ex emphasizes separation of what has been purchased from the slave market altogether. This verb is found only four times in the New Testament, stressing the fact that we have been set free from the curse and condemnation of the law by the cross of Christ.5 In fact, Paul said, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”).” (Gal. 3:13). Paul further claimed, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons”
(Gal. 4:4-5). Lest we forget, our redemption has been accomplished by the cross, whereby we are no longer a slave but a son.
3. The third verb translated redeemed is lutroo, (loo-tro’-o)
This expression is found three times in the New Testament and perhaps gives us the fullest meaning of redemption. In his book Basic Theology, Charles Ryrie says, “It comes from the root luo, to loose, this word was used for loosing clothes or animals or prisoners. It was usually connected with a ransom being paid as a condition of release. Thus, it’s meaning is to release on receipt of a ransom.”6
The first time lutroo (redeem) is used is in Luke 24:21, where the eleven disciples used the expression in context to redeeming Israel. In other words, the disciples were thinking only of a national deliverance (the nation of Israel). However, Paul used lutroo (redeemed) in a fuller sense. He argued that the believer is released from the power of sin because Jesus paid the ransom by dying on the cross. Paul said, “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus. 2:13-14). The death of Christ secured the believer’s release from the bondage of sin and loosed us from its power. In regards to the word lutroo (redeemed), Elmer Towns said, normally, when a master purchased a slave, he required the slave to serve him. Occasionally an owner might buy the freedom of a slave. The master would pay the redemption price, but he would give the slave his liberty. Sometimes the slave was made a member of the family. The term lutroo used to describe this practice was also used to describe our redemption.7 Peter further explained the ransom price that was paid was the “precious blood of Christ.” He said, “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:18-19).
The root of sin is a fundamental problem for all mankind. We have a sin nature and we need deliverance. The blood of Christ is the only ransom payment that can satisfy the holiness of God. Therefore, the blood of Christ covered, secured, and purchased my pardon from sin. Therefore, I am redeemed. Furthermore, the noun lutron (ransom) is used by Jesus two times in the New Testament and is translated “ransom” both times, once in Matthew 20:28 and also in Mark 10:45 and is virtually a word for word quote of each other. Both passages point to the death of Christ as the ransom being paid for sin. The Gospel of Mark says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45). The blood of Jesus was the ransom payment for sin when He gave His life on Calvary. However, is there another word that describes my redemption in Christ Jesus?
4. Finally, notice the noun apolutrosis, (ap-ol-oo’-tro-sis).
Apolutrosis (redemption) is found ten times in the New Testament and is translated “deliverance” only one time and “redemption” nine times. It is used in Luke 21:28, Romans 3:24, Romans 8:23, I Corinthians 1:30, Ephesians 1:7, 14 and 4:30, Colossians 1:14, Hebrews 9:15 and 11:35 and is closely associated with the blood of Christ as the only ransom price that could be paid. For instance, Paul said, “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed” (Rom. 3:24-25). The words redemption (apolutrosis) and propitiation (hilasterion) are closely related, and both point to the blood of Christ as the only payment set forth by God to secure the ransom release from the bondage of sin. Radmacher says, “Whereas redemption is God’s work on the cross in reference to sin, propitiation is His work on the cross in relation to Himself. Christ’s death propitiated (satisfied, appeased) the righteous wrath of God.”8 The ransom price (redemption) had to be perfect (propitiation) to satisfy the demands of a holy, righteous God. God purposed or “set forth” the sinless, incorruptible blood of Jesus as the only ransom price that would satisfy His demand for absolute perfection. Both Ephesians 1:7 and Colossians 1:14 teach us that through the blood of Christ our redemption was purchased and secured. Paul said, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7). Still speaking of Christ, Paul further claimed, “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:14).
The doctrine of redemption can be summarized by three basic thoughts: first of all, man must be redeemed from sin. Second, man must be redeemed by someone, meaning the ransom price is the blood of Christ. Third, man is redeemed to something, meaning freedom or a release from the bondage of sin. Christ, our Redeemer, has released us from the slavery and punishment of sin. Nevertheless, the four Greek words that are translated “redeemed” vividly describe the redemptive aspect of our salvation through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. The Englishman’s Greek Concordance of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1970), 9.
2. M. Harold Mare, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, 1 Corinthians Frank E. Gaebelein General Editor, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publications, 1976), 225.
3. Richard J. Bauchman, Word Biblical Commentary Jude, 2 Peter Ralph P. Martin, General Editor, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1983), 240.
4. Many scholars use this text to support the unlimited atonement of Christ (See 2 Peter 2:1).
5. Earl D. Radmacher, Understanding Christian Theology Charles R. Swindoll and Roy B. Zuck General Editors, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 834.
6. Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology (Colorado Springs, CO: ChariotVictor Publishing 1986), 291.
7. Elmer L. Towns, Concise Bible Doctrines, 164.
8. Earl D. Radmacher, Understanding Christian Theology, 835.
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