propitiation and expiation

Greek translation: εξιλασμός και εξαγνισμός

09:04 Apr 14, 2007
English to Greek translations [PRO]
Religion / Christ's Sacrifice
English term or phrase: propitiation and expiation
Greetings,

ιλαστήριον is an older form of Greek – does Modern Greek make the distinction between propitiation and expiation?

I quote:

The Greek word ιλαστήριον is the Greek rendering of the Hebrew kapporeth which refers to the Mercy Seat of the Arc. ιλαστήριον can be translated as either propitiation or expiation which then imply different functions of the Mercy Seat. Propitiation literally means to make favourable and specifically includes the idea of dealing with God’s wrath against sinners. Expiation literally means to make pious and implies either the removal or cleansing of sin.
The idea of propitiation includes that of expiation as its means; but the word "expiation" has no reference to quenching God’s righteous anger. The difference is that the object of expiation is sin, not God. One propitiates a person, and one expiates a problem. Christ's death was therefore both an expiation and a propitiation. By expiating (removing the problem of) sin God was made propitious (favourable) to us.

All the best,

Simon
SeiTT
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:53
Greek translation:εξιλασμός και εξαγνισμός
Explanation:
.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 mins (2007-04-14 09:22:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

εξιλασμός - Wiktionary
εξιλασμός. Από Wiktionary. Jump to: navigation, search ... εξιλασμός αρσενικό. Λείπει ο ορισμός (ή οι ορισμοί) αυτής της λέξης. (Προσθέστε τον/τους!) ...
el.wiktionary.org/wiki/εξιλασμός - 20k - Προσωρινά αποθηκευμένη - Παρόμοιες σελίδες
Αποτελέσματα αναζητήσεως : red
(απο) λύτρωση: redemption of the soul λύτρωση της ψυχής # εξιλασμός: redemption of sins εξιλασμός αμαρτιών # οικον. εξαγορά: equity of redemption δικαίωμα ...
www.in.gr/dictionary/Lookup.asp?Word=red&Page=7 - 16k

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 mins (2007-04-14 09:26:13 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

From "ΜΑΤΖΕΝΤΑ" (in.gr) Dict.

Εξαγνισμός:

expiation [ekspiEishn] ουσ. ιλασμός, εξαγνισμός, εξιλέωση, "ξεπλήρωμα" (αμαρτιών κτλ.): in expiation of the injustice για εξιλέωση της αδικίας

purification [piurifikEishn] ουσ. αφαίρεση ρύπων, καθαρισμός: purification of a gas καθαρισμός αερίου # εξυγίανση: purification of the public finances εξυγίανση της δημόσιας οικονομίας # καθαρμός, εξαγνισμός: purification of the soul εξαγνισμός της ψυχής


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2007-04-14 15:17:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Both words have more or less the same meaning and both have their origins in religion, the ancient Greek and the Christian as well. But in modern language the word “εξαγνισμός» (expiation) is closer to religious matters. The word “εξιλασμός” (propitiation) and its derivatives “εξιλέωση», «εξιλεώνομαι», «εξιλαστήριο θύμα»(Victim of propitiation) etc is more common and is used in the everyday speech in a more general meaning and in situations not necessarily related with religion.
Selected response from:

Costas Zannis
Local time: 07:53
Grading comment
many thanks, excellent
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +5εξιλασμός και εξαγνισμός
Costas Zannis
3(not for grading)
kaydee


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
εξιλασμός και εξαγνισμός


Explanation:
.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 mins (2007-04-14 09:22:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

εξιλασμός - Wiktionary
εξιλασμός. Από Wiktionary. Jump to: navigation, search ... εξιλασμός αρσενικό. Λείπει ο ορισμός (ή οι ορισμοί) αυτής της λέξης. (Προσθέστε τον/τους!) ...
el.wiktionary.org/wiki/εξιλασμός - 20k - Προσωρινά αποθηκευμένη - Παρόμοιες σελίδες
Αποτελέσματα αναζητήσεως : red
(απο) λύτρωση: redemption of the soul λύτρωση της ψυχής # εξιλασμός: redemption of sins εξιλασμός αμαρτιών # οικον. εξαγορά: equity of redemption δικαίωμα ...
www.in.gr/dictionary/Lookup.asp?Word=red&Page=7 - 16k

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 mins (2007-04-14 09:26:13 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

From "ΜΑΤΖΕΝΤΑ" (in.gr) Dict.

Εξαγνισμός:

expiation [ekspiEishn] ουσ. ιλασμός, εξαγνισμός, εξιλέωση, "ξεπλήρωμα" (αμαρτιών κτλ.): in expiation of the injustice για εξιλέωση της αδικίας

purification [piurifikEishn] ουσ. αφαίρεση ρύπων, καθαρισμός: purification of a gas καθαρισμός αερίου # εξυγίανση: purification of the public finances εξυγίανση της δημόσιας οικονομίας # καθαρμός, εξαγνισμός: purification of the soul εξαγνισμός της ψυχής


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2007-04-14 15:17:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Both words have more or less the same meaning and both have their origins in religion, the ancient Greek and the Christian as well. But in modern language the word “εξαγνισμός» (expiation) is closer to religious matters. The word “εξιλασμός” (propitiation) and its derivatives “εξιλέωση», «εξιλεώνομαι», «εξιλαστήριο θύμα»(Victim of propitiation) etc is more common and is used in the everyday speech in a more general meaning and in situations not necessarily related with religion.

Costas Zannis
Local time: 07:53
Native speaker of: Native in GreekGreek
PRO pts in category: 14
Grading comment
many thanks, excellent
Notes to answerer
Asker: To answer your question, my initial idea was to find out if 'propitiation' and 'expiation' corresponded to two different Modern Greek words/concepts in general, but certainly a valid part of that would consist in finding out whether the Old Testament word in particular can mean 'p' or 'e' or both in the Orthodox Church, so please enlighten me!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Assimina Vavoula
5 mins

agree  Nadia-Anastasia Fahmi
23 mins

agree  socratisv
3 hrs

agree  Vicky Papaprodromou
4 hrs

agree  kaydee
10 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
(not for grading)


Explanation:
As the Ask the Asker section is pretty limited, I thought I should write here, hoping that the 'Not for grading' idea has not been abandoned.

Now, the ancient Greek verb from which ιλαστήριον derives is ιλάσκομαι, and according to LSJ it has both meanings, 'propitiate sb' and 'expiate (a sin)'. And although for ιλαστηριον LSJ gives 'propitiatory gift', I guess the ambiguity remained and has been there ever since the text was translated into Gk. I wonder, though, whether the Hebrew original is as ambiguous. And I wonder whether ιλαστήριον keeps both meanings later on. For it would seem to me this could imply a significant difference: does man, according to the Christian belief, need to propitiate God, or is expiation enough? Is God angry at man, or is it simply that man has to be clean and free from the original sin? And do all denominations follow the same idea?

That's my question - which may be irrelevant, for all I know, but I thought I should ask, just in case this is of some interest. It is highly likely that there is no difference at all. I am not an expert, and it will take me some time to find out (if I manage to find out, of course).

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 days (2007-04-19 10:06:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

First of all, I apologise for disappearing like that.

I have to admit that I am rather confused, and, willing though I am to help, I don’t think I can.
From what I read, it seems that ιλαστήριον, as well as ιλασμός, mean expiation of sins, but expiation as the only means man has to win God’s favour; therefore, it is both expiation of sins and propitiation of some sort. However, ‘propitiation’ seems too strong a word for me, for, as your text says, it ‘specifically includes the idea of dealing with God’s wrath against sinners’. I do not mean to refute the idea of God’s wrath, but it would appear to me that this idea is not present in the phrase ιλασμός αμαρτιών, for example, which is most common in the NT and the Fathers. Man may be appeasing God’s wrath by means of sacrifices and prayers (and I did read somewhere that prayer is the only means man has to appease God’s wrath), but the sacrifice denoted by ιλαστήριον, the sacrifice of Jesus, is the only sacrifice man cannot perform, and at the same time it is the prerequisite for his redemption and his reunion with God. As Eusebius says (Demontratio Evangelica, 8.22), mankind, not being able to rid itself of sin by means of animal blood, needed an ιλασμός that would be alive and real (the ιλαστήριον made by Moses being a τύπος of that ιλασμός), and that ιλασμός is Jesus Christ.

It would therefore seem to me that when ιλασμός refers to sacrifice in general, it implies propitiation as well as expiation. But when it refers to Jesus’ sacrifice in particular, it seems to be related only to man’s sins (and not to God’s wrath), and means expiation (hence the phrase ιλασμός αμαρτιών, when referring to Jesus' sacrifice). Jesus’ sacrificial blood aims at expiation firstly and mostly; Jesus’ sacrifice aims at man, not at God. In a sense, the subject of ιλαστήριον and ιλασμός is God himself. God’s propitious attitude is a prerequisite for his sending Jesus for the expiation of man’s sins.

There’s a lot in the Fathers. But as I said, I am not a theologian, and I do admit there is a risk that I am misinterpreting things. I know I may be making no sense, but I thought I should give it a try. Besides, I did promise to look this up. (By the way, I do not see any difference in the Orthodox Church).


kaydee
Local time: 07:53
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GreekGreek
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search