Propitiation and God's Holiness and Justice in Scripture
Propitiation, in a biblical context, refers to the act by which God is made propitious, meaning it becomes consistent with his character and government to pardon and bless sinners [1]. This concept is deeply intertwined with God's holiness and justice, which are fundamental aspects of his character [2, 3, 5].
God's holiness is frequently described in Scripture as glorious and highly exalted [2, 4]. For instance, Exodus 15:11 states, "Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?" [4]. This inherent holiness means that God is utterly separate from sin and cannot tolerate it. His righteousness is an enduring and unchangeable part of his character, described as "very high," "abundant," and "everlasting" [3]. The psalmist declares, "The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does" (Psalm 145:17) [3].
Similarly, God's justice is an essential attribute, declared to be "plenteous," "incomparable," and "impartial" [5]. It is the "habitation of his throne" (Psalm 97:2; 89:14) [3, 5]. This justice demands that sin be punished, as God "will by no means clear the guilty" (Exodus 34:7). The concept of propitiation addresses the tension between God's love for humanity and his righteous demand for justice against sin [1].
The Greek word hilasterion is used in Romans 3:25 and Hebrews 9:5 (KJV, "mercy-seat") to convey the idea of propitiation [1]. This term was used by the Septuagint translators for the Hebrew kapporeth, which refers to the lid of the ark of the covenant, often translated as "mercy seat" [1]. This connection highlights the sacrificial nature of propitiation, where a covering is made for sin.
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is presented as the propitiation for sins [6]. As 1 John 2:2 states, "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." This means that Christ's sacrifice on the cross satisfies God's righteous wrath against sin, making it possible for God to extend his love and pardon to sinners without compromising his holy and just character [1, 6]. The Father's love is not procured by propitiation, but propitiation renders it consistent for him to exercise his love toward sinners [1].
The apostle Paul emphasizes this in Romans 3:21-26, explaining that God's righteousness is manifested through faith in Jesus Christ [7]. God "presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus" (Romans 3:25-26). This passage indicates that Christ's propitiatory death upholds God's justice while simultaneously providing a means for the justification of believers [5, 8].
The concept of propitiation is not merely about appeasing an angry deity, but about God himself providing the means by which his justice can be satisfied and his love extended. It is a demonstration of his own righteousness [8]. The glory of God's name is promoted through this act of salvation, as he is the "God of our salvation" [9]. This divine provision allows for the forgiveness of sins while maintaining the integrity of God's holy and just nature [5].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Propitiation — 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”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Glory of God, The — Exhibited in Christ -- Joh 1:14; 2Co 4:6; Heb 1:3. Exhibited in His name. -- De 28:58; Ne 9:5. His majesty. -- Job 37:22; Ps 93:1; 104:1; 145:5,12; Isa 2:10. His power. -- Ex 15:1,6; Ro 6:4. His works. -- Ps 19:1; 111:3. His holiness. -- Ex 15:11. Described as Great. -- Ps 138:5. Eternal. -- Ps 104:31. Rich. -- Eph 3:16. Highly exalted. -- Ps 8:1; 113:4. Exhibited to Moses. -- Ex 34:5-7; 33:18-23. Stephen. -- Ac 7:55. His Church. -- De 5:24; Ps 102:16. Enlightens the Church -- Isa 60:1,2; Re 21:11,23. Saints desire to behold -- Ps 63:2; 90:16. God”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Righteousness of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ps 7:9; 116:5; 119:137. Described as Very high. -- Ps 71:19. Abundant. -- Ps 48:10. Beyond computation. -- Ps 71:15. Everlasting. -- Ps 119:142. Enduring for ever. -- Ps 111:3. The habitation of his throne. -- Ps 97:2. Christ acknowledged -- Joh 17:25. Christ committed his cause to -- 1Pe 2:23. Angels acknowledge -- Re 16:5. Exhibited in His testimonies. -- Ps 119:138,144. His commandments. -- De 4:8; Ps 119:172. His judgments. -- Ps 19:9; 119:7,62. His word. -- Ps 119:123. His ways. -- Ps 145:17. His acts. -- J”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Praise — God is worthy of -- 2Sa 22:4. Christ is worthy of -- Re 5:12. God is glorified by -- Ps 22:23; 50:23. Offered to Christ -- Joh 12:13. Acceptable through Christ -- Heb 13:15. Is due to God on account of His majesty. -- Ps 96:1,6; Isa 24:14. His glory. -- Ps 138:5; Eze 3:12. His excellency. -- Ex 15:7; Ps 148:13. His greatness. -- 1Ch 16:25; Ps 145:3. His holiness. -- Ex 15:11; Isa 6:3. His wisdom. -- Da 2:20; Jude 1:25. His power. -- Ps 21:13. His goodness. -- Ps 107:8; 118:1; 136:1; Jer 33:11. His mercy. -- 2Ch 20:21; Ps 89:1; 118:1-4; 136:1-26. His loving-k”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Justice of God, The — Is a part of his character -- De 32:4; Isa 45:21. Declared to be Plenteous. -- Job 37:23. Incomparable. -- Job 4:1. Incorruptible. -- De 10:17; 2Ch 19:7. Impartial. -- 2Ch 19:7; Jer 32:19. Unfailing. -- Zep 3:5. Undeviating. -- Job 8:3; 34:12. Without respect of persons. -- Ro 2:11; Col 3:25; 1Pe 1:17. The habitation of his throne. -- Ps 89:14. Not to be sinned against -- Jer 50:7. Denied by the ungodly -- Eze 33:17,20. Exhibited in Forgiving sins. -- 1Jo 1:9. Redemption. -- Ro 3:26. His government. -- Ps 9:4; Jer 9:24. His judgments. -- Ge 18:2”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 2:2: And he--Greek, "And Himself." He is our all-prevailing Advocate, because He is Himself "the propitiation"; abstract, as in Co1 1:30 : He is to us all that is needed for propitiation "in behalf of our sins"; the propitiatory sacrifice, provided by the Father's love, removing the estrangement, and appeasing the righteous wrath, on God's part, against the sinner. "There is no incongruity that a father should be offended with that son whom he loveth, and at that time offended with him when he loveth him" [BISHOP PEARSON]. The only other place in the New Tes”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 3:21: GOD'S JUSTIFYING RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, ALIKE ADAPTED TO OUR NECESSITIES AND WORTHY OF HIMSELF. (Rom 3:21-26) But now the righteousness of God--(See on Rom 1:17). without the law--that is, a righteousness to which our obedience to the law contributes nothing whatever (Rom 3:28; Gal 2:16). is manifested, being witnessed--attested. by the law and the prophets--the Old Testament Scriptures. Thus this justifying righteousness, though new, as only now fully disclosed, is an old righteousness, predicted and foreshadowed in the Ol”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 3:21: Whom God had set forth to be a propitiation,.... Redemption by Christ is here further explained, by his being "a propitiation": which word may design either Christ the propitiator, the author of peace and reconciliation; or the propitiatory sacrifice, by which he is so; and both in allusion to the mercy seat, which was a type of him as such. The apostle here uses the same word, which the Septuagint often render "the mercy seat", by; and Philo the Jew calls it by the same name, and says it was a symbol, "of the propitious power of God" (b). Christ is the propitiation t”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 79:9: Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name,.... Help us out of the troubles in which we are; enable us to bear them with patience, and without murmuring, while it is thy pleasure to continue them; assist us against our powerful enemies, and strengthen us to do our duty; afford us more grace, and fresh supplies of it in our time of need: the arguments enforcing these petitions are, because God is "the God of salvation", to whom it belongs, of whom it is, and of him only to be expected; he is the sole author and giver of it; and because to help and save ”