Redemption
by Rich Deem

Redemption is the purchasing back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, (see Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man's relation to man (Leviticus 19:20; 25:51; Exodus 21:30 ; Numbers 35:31, 32; Isaiah 45:13; Proverbs 6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Numbers 3:49; 18:15).

There are many passages in the New Testament which represent Christ's sufferings under the idea of a ransom or price, and the result thereby secured is a purchase or redemption (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20; Galatians 3:13; 4:4, 5; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; 1 Timothy 2:5, 6; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 9:12; 1 Peter 1:18, 19; Revelation 5:9). The idea running through all these texts, however various their reference, is that of payment made for our redemption. The debt against us is not viewed as simply canceled, but is fully paid. Christ's blood or life, which he surrendered for them, is the "ransom" by which the deliverance of his people from the servitude of sin and from its penal consequences is secured. It is the plain doctrine of Scripture that "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" (Hodge's Systematic Theology).

Redemption Word Study
Strong's # Transliteration Language Definition (# times used)
1347a geulim Hebrew redemption (1)
1350 gaal Hebrew to redeem, act as kinsman (25)
1353 geullah Hebrew redemption, perh. kin (13)
6299 padah Hebrew to ransom (28)
6304 peduth Hebrew ransom (2)
6306b pidyon Hebrew a ransom (2)
7069 qanah Hebrew to get, acquire (1)
1805g exagorazo Greek to buy up, i.e. ransom, fig. to rescue from (1)
3084g lutroo Greek to release by paying a ransom, to redeem (2)
3085g lutrosis Greek a ransoming, a redemption (3)
629g apolutrosis Greek a release effected by payment of ransom (9)

 

Verses on Redemption
Characteristic Verses
Brings peace, joy and rest Jeremiah 50:34
Cannot be done by acts of men Psalm 49:7-8, 1 Peter 1:18-19
Done because of God's love Psalm 44:26, 103:4, 130:7, Isaiah 54:8
Done by God Exodus 6:6, 15:13, Deuteronomy 15:15, 21:8, 24:18, 2 Samuel 4:9, 7:23, 1 Kings 1:29, 1 Chronicles 17:21, Nehemiah 1:10, Job 19:25, 33:28, Psalms 19:14, 25:22, 26:11, 34:22, 44:26, 49:7, 15, 55:18, 69:18, 71:23, 74:2, 77:15, 78:35, 103:4, 111:9, 119:154, 130:7, 8, Proverbs 23:11, Isaiah 41:14, 43:14, 44:6, 23, 24, 47:4, 48:17, 20, 49:26, 52:9, 54:5, 8, 59:20, 63:16, Jeremiah 50:34, Lamentations 3:58, Hosea 7:13, Zechariah 10:8, Luke 1:68, 2:38, Romans 3:24
Done for people who trust in God Nehemiah 1:10, Psalm 34:22, 74:2
Done through God's grace Psalm 26:11, Romans 3:24, Ephesians 1:5-7
God redeems our physical bodies Psalm 25:22, Romans 8:23
God redeems our souls Job 33:28, Psalm 34:22, 49:8, 15, 55:18, 69:18, 71:23, Lamentations 3:58
Includes forgiveness from sin Psalms 130:8, Isaiah 44:22, Colossians 1:13-14, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:15
Is eternal Hebrews 9:12, 15
Not done for rebellious Hosea 7:13
Pledged through the Holy Spirit Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30
Promised by God's word Psalms 119:154
Received through repentance Isaiah 1:27, 59:20
Redeemed are called (predestined) by God Isaiah 43:1, 49:7, Ephesians 1:5-7, Hebrews 9:15
Through the blood of Jesus Christ Romans 3:24, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Galatians 3:13, 4:4-5, Ephesians 1:5-7, Colossians 1:13-14, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, 15, 1 Peter 1:18-19

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  1. just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28)
  2. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)
  3. 'Now if a man lies carnally with a woman who is a slave acquired for another man, but who has in no way been redeemed, nor given her freedom, there shall be punishment; they shall not, however, be put to death, because she was not free. (Leviticus 19:20)
  4. 'If there are still many years, he shall refund part of his purchase price in proportion to them for his own redemption; (Leviticus 25:51)
  5. "If a ransom is demanded of him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is demanded of him. (Exodus 21:30)
  6. 'Moreover, you shall not take ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death. And you shall not take ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to live in the land before the death of the priest. (Numbers 35:31-32)
  7. "I have aroused him in righteousness, And I will make all his ways smooth; He will build My city, and will let My exiles go free, Without any payment or reward," says the LORD of hosts. Isaiah 45:13)
  8. He will not accept any ransom, Nor will he be content though you give many gifts. (Proverbs 6:35)
  9. So Moses took the ransom money from those who were in excess, beyond those ransomed by the Levites... "Every first issue of the womb of all flesh, whether man or animal, which they offer to the LORD, shall be yours; nevertheless the first-born of man you shall surely redeem, and the first-born of unclean animals you shall redeem. (Numbers 3:49; 18:15)
  10. "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28)
  11. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20)
  12. Christ 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"... But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Galatians 3:13; 4:4- 5)
  13. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, (Ephesians 1:7)
  14. in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:14)
  15. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time. (1 Timothy 2:5, 6)
  16. who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2:14)
  17. and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:12)
  18. knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. (1 Peter 1:18, 19)
  19. And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. (Revelation 5:9)

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Last updated June 21, 2008

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