William Hemsworth's Blog, page 58

Lawyers say McCarrick is unfit to stand trial

Given his advancing age, this shouldn’t be a surprise:  Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick is in “significant” mental decline and may not be fit to stand trial for allegedly sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy, his attorneys say in a new court filing. The legal team for the 92-year-old ex-prelate said it plans to file a motion […]

Lawyers say McCarrick is unfit to stand trial

The Pool of Siloam will open to the public for the first time in 2,000 years

The Pool of Siloam is the place where, according to the Gospel of John (Jn 9:1-12), Jesus healed a man who had been blind since birth. The text reads: As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was […]

The Pool of Siloam will open to the public for the first time in 2,000 years

Eucharistic Typology In The Old Testament

Propitiation: A Greek Word Study

When looking at a passage of scripture it is helpful to look at words within the passage for clues to meaning.  This is important because, though a word may seem straightforward in English, in the original language it may have a multitude of meanings.  The words that will be studied is contained within Romans which states, “whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins” (Romans 3:25 ESV).  The word to be studied is ἱλαστήριον (hilasterion), which is translated as “propitiation” in the passage.

Propitiation And The Septuigant

The word is very fascinating and there is no shortage of debate as to what the Apostle Paul was trying to convey.  What is clear is that the word occurs only one other time in the New Testament.  In that passage of scripture, the inspired author writes, “Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail” (Hebrews 9:5 ESV).  When looking into the Old Testament, the LXX or Septuagint, was used since it was written in Greek.  The word is utilized thirteen times is eleven verses. Though according to the LALS cite twenty-eight times when the root is taken into consideration. It is fascinating to note that out of these only two occur outside of the Pentateuch with those being seen in Ezekiel 43:14, 20.  The rest occur in Exodus chapter 25, Exodus 37:8, Leviticus 16, and Numbers 7:89.

In apocryphal works the word appears in 4 Maccabees 17:22 to speak of the “devout ones” death as an atoning sacrifice.  The word also occurs in some works outside of the Bible with the works of Josephus and Philo among the most popular.  It also appeared in the orations of the Greek Philosopher Dio Chrysostom according to BDAG.  Among the three non-biblical writers the word is used in the context of atonement.  In the Latin Vulgate Jerome translated the word as propitiatorium from which we get the English word propitiation.

Propitiation And The Old Testament

When used the in the Old Testament, particularly in the decalogue, it is used as “mercy seat”.  The mercy seat was the lid placed on the Ark of the Covenant and it was sprinkled with blood on the day of atonement.  Thus, a majority of uses in the Old Testament are in relation to rituals involving atonement for sin and ritual sacrifices.  In the context of Romans 3:25 Christ is the sacrifice for our sins and Hebrews 9:5 (the occurrence of the word in the New Testament) describes Christ as high priest being the once for all sacrifice of the New Covenant and the angels of the mercy seat.  Therefore, the word in Romans is a good representation of what Paul was conveying.  Christ is the one sacrifice and atones for the sins of those who accept him in faith.

Other Sources For Study

Many sources give several meanings of ἱλαστήριον.  The Lexham Theological Workbook gives the meanings of atone, expiate, and propitiate.  BDAG seems to prefer expiation.  Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament gives the translation of “place of satisfaction”, and Strong’s lists the best meaning as expiation.  Historically, at least in Greek mythology, propitiation was something to appease the gods.  In Romans expiation appears to fit better because it conveys the concept of Christ being the satisfaction for sins. The RSV and NAB are two translations that translate it as such.  The ESV, CSB, and NASB use propitiation.  The NIV and NRSV use atonement. However, expiation and propitiation, though different seem to be synonymous with each other.

Catholic Meme Monday— Issue 64

Hope you had a blessed weekend! Time for another Catholic Meme Monday. Why did you pick the forbidden fruit!!?? A dad joke from the Son. Something to ponder… Too funny!! Wonderful image on the strength of intercessory prayer. So true! “The difficulty explaining why I am Catholic is that […]

Catholic Meme Monday— Issue 64

Syro-Malabar synod fails to resolve violent row over the Mass

Since at least the 1990s, members of the Syro-Malabar Church have been divided over the proper way to celebrate their version of the Mass, known as the “Holy Qurbana.”

Syro-Malabar synod fails to resolve violent row over the Mass

What is the Anglican Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham?

Anglicans continue to follow to this day a tradition of Western Christianity that is rooted in the Church of England. While there are many variations to this tradition, there are some Anglicans who are closer to Catholicism than most Protestants. For this reason, Pope Benedict XVI helped establish the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham […]

What is the Anglican Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham?

Sunday Mass Readings and Reflections

Sunday, January 15 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Roman Ordinary calendar St Paul of Thebes Book of Isaiah 49,3.5-6. The LORD said to me: You are my servant, Israel, through whom I show my glory. For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, That Jacob may be brought back to him and […]

Sunday Mass Readings and Reflections

It’s Possible I Missed Laicization Notice – Eurasia Review

By Shannon Mullen, Jonah McKeown and Joe Bukuras Frank Pavone, the national director of Priests for Life, was notified of his recent laicization, a diocesan official has told CNA, contradicting the ex-priest’s repeated claims that he has not received official notification of the Vatican’s decree dismissing him from the clerical state. An official with the Amarillo Diocese in […]

It’s Possible I Missed Laicization Notice – Eurasia Review

At funeral, Pell hailed for bearing ‘unjust condemnation’ with dignity and peace

The casket of Australian Cardinal George Pell is brought into St. Peter’s Basilica ahead of his funeral Mass on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. (Credit: Elise Ann Allen/Crux.)ROME – At his Vatican funeral Saturday, the late Cardinal George Pell was praised for his “greatness of intellect and heart,” and, in an allusion to his conviction followed…

At funeral, Pell hailed for bearing ‘unjust condemnation’ with dignity and peace