ὃν προέθετο ὁ θεὸς ἱλαστήριον: "an atoning sacrifice"
Says 3:25 reads ὃν προέθετο ὁ θεὸς ἱλαστήριον (BSB "God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice"). ὅν (Christ) is the object, ἱλαστήριον its predicate.
Uncertain The sense of προέθετο. This note leans to "set forth publicly" (Abbott-Smith, Rom 3:25; BSB "presented"), since 3:25–26 stress a demonstration. The main alternative is "purposed," the sense at Rom 1:13.
Says ἱλαστήριον (hilastērion) is the neuter of ἱλαστήριος, "propitiatory" (Abbott-Smith, "of Christ, Ro 3:25"). In the LXX the noun is used for the lid of the ark (Exod 25:17 ff., LXX 25:16 ff.; Lev 16:2, 13–15; compare Heb 9:5); 4 Maccabees (non-canonical) has the word at 17:22.
Implies ἱλαστήριον here is propitiation: God's wrath (1:18; 2:5; 3:5) is turned away by the death of Christ, whom God himself put forward. Grounds: the word group concerns turning away anger; the wrath theme of 1:18–3:20; and 5:9, "saved from wrath through Him." The named alternative is expiation only, the removal of sin without reference to wrath (Dodd, 1931; answered by Morris; both by reference).
Uncertain A mercy-seat allusion. This note leans to it as probable, not established. Grounds: in the LXX ἱλαστήριον is the kapporet, the lid of the ark (see note.language.Rom.3.25.kapporet); Heb 9:5 uses it so; and "in His blood" fits the Day of Atonement. The main alternative is a means of propitiation in general: the noun has no article, and the mercy-seat reading makes Christ both the place and the victim. Deissmann argues for this. If present, the allusion does not displace propitiation.
Claims
- SaysGod put Christ forward as ἱλαστήριον (3:25).
- UncertainWhether προέθετο means 'set forth publicly' (lean: the stress on demonstration) or 'purposed' (main alternative; cf. 1:13).
- Saysἱλαστήριον is the neuter of ἱλαστήριος, 'propitiatory'; the LXX uses the noun for the lid of the ark (Exod 25; Lev 16), and 4 Macc 17:22 (non-canonical) also has the word.
- Impliesἱλαστήριον is propitiation: God's wrath turned away by Christ's death, provided by God himself (1:18; 2:5; 3:5; 5:9); the named alternative is expiation only (Dodd; answered by Morris).
- UncertainWhether 3:25 alludes to the mercy seat (lean: probable, not established; grounds: LXX ἱλαστήριον for the kapporet, Heb 9:5, and 'in his blood' fitting the Day of Atonement) or denotes a means of propitiation in general (main alternative: no article, and the mercy-seat reading makes Christ both place and victim; Deissmann); if present the allusion does not displace propitiation.
Citations
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. προτίθημι (Ro 3:25) —
to set before, set forth publicly
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. ἱλαστήριος (of Christ, Ro 3:25; LXX Ex 25:16 (17) ff., Le 16:2, 13 ff., IV Mac 17:22) —
propitiatory
- BSB public domain Rom 3:25
- Deissmann, Bible Studies public domain 'ἱλαστήριος and ἱλαστήριον' (from p. 124; essay start not checked); on Rom 3:25 and against the kapporeth (mercy-seat) reading pp. 131–135, read on the page images (archive.org biblestudiescont00deisuoft leaves n150–n154, page = leaf − 19) by Editor QA, 2026-10-29
- 🔒︎ Dodd, 'Ἱλάσκεσθαι' (JTS 1931) Copyrighted JTS 32 (1931), pp. 352–360 (by reference; not checked)
- 🔒︎ Morris, Apostolic Preaching of the Cross Copyrighted 3rd ed. (1965), chs. V–VI, pp. 144–213 (by reference; not checked)
2026-10-29
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