Expiation is a theological term that refers to the act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing, particularly in the context of sin. In the biblical narrative, expiation is closely associated with the concepts of atonement, sacrifice, and forgiveness. The term is derived from the Latin "expiatio," which means to atone for or to make satisfaction for.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the concept of expiation is primarily linked to the sacrificial system established by God for the Israelites. The Law of Moses provided detailed instructions for various offerings and sacrifices, which served as a means for the people to atone for their sins and restore their relationship with God. The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, was the most significant expiatory event in the Jewish calendar. On this day, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifices for the sins of the nation (Leviticus 16).

The sin offering and the guilt offering are two specific types of sacrifices that were intended for expiation. Leviticus 4:20 states, "He shall do with the bull just as he did with the bull of the sin offering; he shall do the same with this. Thus the priest will make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven" . These offerings symbolized the transfer of sin from the individual to the sacrificial animal, which bore the penalty of death on behalf of the sinner.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the concept of expiation reaches its fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The sacrificial system of the Old Testament is seen as a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice made by Christ on the cross. Hebrews 9:26 explains, "But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself" . Jesus is portrayed as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

The Apostle Paul emphasizes the expiatory nature of Christ's sacrifice in Romans 3:25, stating, "God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand" . Here, the term "atoning sacrifice" is often translated as "propitiation," indicating that Christ's death satisfied the demands of God's justice, allowing for the forgiveness of sins.

Theological Implications

Expiation is central to the Christian understanding of salvation. It underscores the seriousness of sin and the necessity of a sacrificial substitute to bear the penalty on behalf of sinners. Through Christ's expiatory work, believers are reconciled to God, their sins are forgiven, and they are granted eternal life. This doctrine highlights the grace and mercy of God, who provided a means of expiation through His Son, ensuring that justice and love are perfectly balanced.

The concept of expiation also calls believers to a life of repentance and faith. As recipients of God's grace, Christians are encouraged to live in a manner worthy of the sacrifice made on their behalf, continually seeking to align their lives with the will of God as revealed in Scripture.1. (v. t.) To make complete satisfaction for; to atone for; to make amends for; to extinguish the guilt of by sufferance of penalty or some equivalent; to make expiation for; as, to expiate a crime, a guilt, or sin.

2. (v. t.) To purify with sacred rites.

3. (a.) Terminated.

2508. kathairo -- to cleanse
... purge. From katharos; to cleanse, ie (specially) to prune; figuratively, to expiate --
purge. see GREEK katharos. (kathairei) -- 1 Occurrence. 2507, 2508. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2508.htm - 6k

4014. periaireo -- to take away (that which surrounds)
... From peri and haireomai (including its alternate); to remove all around, ie Unveil,
cast off (anchor); figuratively, to expiate -- take away (up). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4014.htm - 7k

142. airo -- to raise, take up, lift
... figuratively, to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind), specially, to sail
away (ie Weigh anchor); by Hebraism (compare nasa') to expiate sin -- away ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/142.htm - 9k

3722. kaphar -- to cover over, pacify, make propitiation
... A primitive root; to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively, to expiate
or condone, to placate or cancel -- appease, make (an atonement, cleanse ...
/hebrew/3722.htm - 5k

2398. chata -- to miss, go wrong, sin
... A primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin;
by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray ...
/hebrew/2398.htm - 6k

Of the Quality of Souls who Expiate Actual Sin or Its Punishment ...
... OF THE QUALITY OF SOULS WHO EXPIATE ACTUAL SIN OR ITS PUNISHMENT IN PURGATORY
(SIX ARTICLES). We must next treat of the souls which ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of the quality of souls.htm

Whether the Effect of Christ's Priesthood is the Expiation of Sins ...
... priest, not as God, but as man. Therefore the priesthood of Christ does
not expiate sins. Objection 2: Further, the Apostle says ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the effect of christs.htm

Letter vi. --Rules for General Direction.
... It is very useful to try and prevent faults by acts of penance, but it would be
better still to endeavour to expiate them after having committed them, than to ...
/.../abandonment to divine providence/letter vi rules for general direction.htm

Whether Venial Sin is Expiated by the Pains of Purgatory as ...
... OF THE QUALITY OF SOULS WHO EXPIATE ACTUAL SIN OR ITS PUNISHMENT IN PURGATORY (SIX
ARTICLES) Whether venial sin is expiated by the pains of Purgatory as ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether venial sin is expiated.htm

The Rich Man and Lazarus
... and air, were employed in expiating sin, and purifying the soul; whereas in the
mystic purgatory, fire alone is supposed sufficient both to purge and expiate. ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 112 the rich man.htm

The Day of Atonement
... so-called 'scapegoat' but confine ourselves to the consideration of that part of
it which was observed in the Tabernacle and was intended to expiate the sins ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the day of atonement.htm

Voluntary Suffering
... He knew that no blood but His own could make atonement for sin, that nothing less
than His humiliation could expiate our pride; that if He did not thus suffer ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xviii voluntary suffering.htm

Christian Morals. Part I.
... not to preserve your body in an ability for wanton ends; not to avoid the infamy
of common transgressors that way, and thereby to hope to expiate or palliate ...
//christianbookshelf.org/browne/christian morals/christian morals part i.htm

The Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby
... the Son of God is the only and most perfect sacrifice and satisfaction for sin,
and is of infinite worth and value, abundantly sufficient to expiate the sins ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/synod of dort/the death of christ and.htm

Introduction. Modesty in Apparel Becoming to Women,
... meanness of appearance, walking about as Eve mourning and repentant, in order that
by every garb of penitence [81] she might the more fully expiate that which ...
/.../on the apparel of women/chapter i introduction modesty in apparel.htm

Expiate (1 Occurrence)
... for; to atone for; to make amends for; to extinguish the guilt of by sufferance
of penalty or some equivalent; to make expiation for; as, to expiate a crime, a ...
/e/expiate.htm - 7k

Expiated (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Expiate. Multi-Version Concordance
Expiated (6 Occurrences). Deuteronomy 21:8 Forgive thy ...
/e/expiated.htm - 8k

Experts (10 Occurrences)

/e/experts.htm - 9k

Expiation (9 Occurrences)
... and in Deuteronomy 32:43, kipper. This version also employs "expiate" in
the margin of several passages, eg. Psalm 65:3; Psalm 79 ...
/e/expiation.htm - 11k

Disannul (3 Occurrences)
... For the first idea, the Hebrew employs kaphar = "to cover," "to expiate," "condone,"
"placate," "cancel," "cleanse," "disannul," "purge," "put off" (Isaiah 28 ...
/d/disannul.htm - 9k

Purge (35 Occurrences)
... in Psalm 65:3; Psalm 79:9 Ezekiel 43:20, 26; in the two passages in Psalms, the
Revised Version (British and American) has "forgive" (the "expiate" of the ...
/p/purge.htm - 22k

Purchase (25 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To obtain by any outlay, as of labor, danger, or sacrifice, etc.; as, to
purchase favor with flattery. 4. (vt) To expiate by a fine or forfeit. ...
/p/purchase.htm - 16k

Cleanse (75 Occurrences)
... (2) To expiate (kaphar, "cover," "hide"); sin (in this case blood-guiltiness):
"The land cannot be cleansed of the blood" (the King James Version Numbers 35:33 ...
/c/cleanse.htm - 36k

Atone (8 Occurrences)
... appease. 4. (vt) To unite in making. 5. (vt) To make satisfaction for; to
expiate. Multi-Version Concordance Atone (8 Occurrences). ...
/a/atone.htm - 9k

Annul (10 Occurrences)
... For the first idea, the Hebrew employs kaphar = "to cover," "to expiate," "condone,"
"placate," "cancel," "cleanse," "disannul," "purge," "put off" (Isaiah 28 ...
/a/annul.htm - 11k

What is expiation? | GotQuestions.org

Expiate: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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