Biblical Hebrew Forum

["SPAWN OF A JEWISH CARPENTER: CINDY SMITH" <cms AT dragon.com>]

>From:  MX%"rosewalk AT concentric.net"  "Shoshanna Walker" 17-AUG-2001 
>15:08:00.57
>To:    MX%"b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu"
>CC:    MX%"cms AT dragon.com"
>Subj:  Re:  Atonement Vs. Redemption

>>It's my understanding that redemption is an economic term.

>There was at least one case, in the Torah, where "redemption money" 
>was used to cleanse the people from sin.

Redemption is mentioned in Leviticus 25:48, Ruth 4:7, 2 Kings 12:5, 
and Psalm 130:7 as well as 12 times in the New Testament.  
Psalm 130:7 says, "let Israel look for the LORD, For with the LORD is 
kindness, with him is full redemption, And God will redeem Israel from 
all their sins."  The word "redeem(s)" or "redeemer" appears 90 times 
in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament.  Frequently, the 
LORD is said to redeem Israel.

>>When you
>>pay money to a clerk for an item at the store, you are said to redeem
>>its value so that the item becomes yours, i.e., that you own the item.
>>When we sin, we are slaves of sin, but Jesus redeems us so that we
>>become the property of Jesus, i.e., slaves of Christ.  This is why a
>>priest anoints you with oil by drawing a cross on your forehead and
>>says, "You are marked as Christ's own forever."

>But this is not a Biblical concept, it is a later invention.

The practice of anointing is an early Jewish and Christian practice.  
The word "anoint*" appears 24 times in the New Testament and 140 times 
in the Old Testament.  2 Corinthians 1:21 says, "But the one who gives 
us security with you in Christ and who anointed us is God; he has also 
put his seal upon us and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first 
installment."  See also 1 John 2:20 and 2:27.

The idea that we are slaves of Christ is found in several verses in 
the New Testament including Romans 1:1, 1 Corinthians 7:22, 
Galatians 1:10, Ephesians 6:6, Philippians 1:1, and Colossians 4:12, 
as well as Jude 1:1.   The expression "slave* of God*" appears in 
Romans 6:22, Titus 1:1, James 1:1, and 1 Peter 2:16.  The last verse 
indicates that we find true freedom in slavery to God.

>Shoshanna


Cindy Smith             I have further observed under the sun that
cms AT dragon.com          The race is not won by the swift,
cms AT 5sc.net             Nor the battle by the valiant;
cms AT romancatholic.org   Nor is bread won by the wise,
                        Nor wealth by the intelligent,
Me transmitte sursum,   Nor favor by the learned.
        Caledoni!               -- JPS Ecclesiastes 9:11