tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11875966.post112861009997850904..comments2023-10-20T07:28:50.948-07:00Comments on Better Bibles Blog: Translating hilasmos (propitiation)Wayne Lemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18024771201561767893noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11875966.post-77115781462744499562007-07-13T13:33:00.000-07:002007-07-13T13:33:00.000-07:00I would like to correction to my earlier post. I ...I would like to correction to my earlier post. I spoke to a friend of mine, who has much more experience in Greek, etc. And when I said:<BR/><BR/><I>"Rather one uses 'expiation', 'propitiation', 'appeaser' to describe Jesus' role as a substitutionary atonement for our personal sins does not seem to have significant theological implications."</I><BR/><BR/>I may have spoke too quickly, apparently there is a subtle difference between "expiation" and "propitiation". My friend says the following:<BR/><BR/><I>"I have to say that there are some significant theological implications regarding the use of 'propitiation' versus 'expiation' as a translation of hilasmos. Expiation is man-ward and carries the idea of our sins being removed, but propitiation is God-ward and carries the idea of His anger toward us being removed.<BR/>Propitiation thus assumes the idea of expiation, but does not mean the<BR/>same thing."</I>450c4925-005f-4b86-b23a-cf9cc58c76d6https://www.blogger.com/profile/07574229768067767290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11875966.post-24426989915244784742007-07-13T11:54:00.000-07:002007-07-13T11:54:00.000-07:00It is one thing to say that the translation of "hi...It is one thing to say that the translation of "hilasmos" as "propitiation" is wrong, and quite a different thing to say that contemporary readers would be better served by a word other than "propitiation" which is not used in common speech.<BR/><BR/>From the sources that I have been reviewing, it looks like the concept of propitiation is consistent with hilasmos, just like propitious is consistent with "hileos". Also consider "hilasterion" use by the LXX translators. Consider the following definition of propitiation:<BR/><BR/><I>"propitiation." Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary. 13 Jul. 2007. Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/propitiation.<BR/><BR/>that by which God is rendered propitious, i.e., by which it becomes consistent with his character and government to pardon and bless the sinner. The propitiation does not procure his love or make him loving; it only renders it consistent for him to execise his love towards sinners. In Rom. 3:25 and Heb. 9:5 (A.V., "mercy-seat") the Greek word _hilasterion_ is used. It is the word employed by the LXX. translators in Ex. 25:17 and elsewhere as the equivalent for the Hebrew _kapporeth_, which means "covering," and is used of the lid of the ark of the covenant (Ex. 25:21; 30:6). This Greek word (hilasterion) came to denote not only the mercy-seat or lid of the ark, but also propitation or reconciliation by blood. On the great day of atonement the high priest carried the blood of the sacrifice he offered for all the people within the veil and sprinkled with it the "mercy-seat," and so made propitiation. In 1 John 2:2; 4:10, Christ is called the "propitiation for our sins." Here a different Greek word is used (hilasmos). Christ is "the propitiation," because by his becoming our substitute and assuming our obligations he expiated our guilt, covered it, by the vicarious punishment which he endured. (Comp. Heb. 2:17, where the expression "make reconciliation" of the A.V. is more correctly in the R.V. "make propitiation.")</I><BR/><BR/>Rather one uses “expiation”, “propitiation”, “appeaser” to describe Jesus' role as a substitutionary atonement for our personal sins does not seem to have significant theological implications. But I have not conducted a thorough word study on each of the alternatives. It is not necessary; however, to dumb down the text, or make it more “readable” by dropping terms that have longstanding usage and convey a significant theological points. Jesus as our substitution is a critical concept, and taking a moment to learn the definition of an English word is not a fruitless exercise.<BR/><BR/>If “propitiation” as defined does not correctly convey the meaning of “hilasmos” then we should look for a better fitting word or word phrase, but I do not believe that is the case. However, there are plenty of “easier” to read translations and paraphrases available to day to allow some editions to use a more traditional word even if it is not in common usage.450c4925-005f-4b86-b23a-cf9cc58c76d6https://www.blogger.com/profile/07574229768067767290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11875966.post-1128714415185693592005-10-07T12:46:00.000-07:002005-10-07T12:46:00.000-07:00I actually wrote the ESV to find out why they sele...<I>I actually wrote the ESV to find out why they selected "propitiation".</I><BR/><BR/>If you got a response, Tim, would you be willing to share it here?<BR/><BR/>About my commenting policy, I have gone back and forth on it, trying to have as much security against blogging spam and yet easy enough access for commenters. Allowing Anonymous comments led to what I consider some inappropriate use of that privilege. I'm glad you still have your Blogger account so you can comment. It is easy for anyone to get a Blogger account to comment. In this case I think I agree with those using Blogger and other blogging services which do not allow Anonymous comments. Requiring a person to post under their own name leads to greater ownership of opinions posted and greater accountability among us.Wayne Lemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18024771201561767893noreply@blogger.com