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How many redemptions does the Christian endure? By redemption, I mean the Greek word ἀπολύτρωσις (apolytrōsis). @swascheck, it's not anything about the morphology. It has to do with its actual usage in the scriptures. Some verses seem to indicate the redemption has already occurred. Yet others seem to imply it is yet to come. Hence, my question. I would like to know everyone's thoughts and understand how Christian doctrine accomodates such a notion. |
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Defining redemption in Covenant terms might help here. The word is a two-edged sword, meaning both "redeem" and "avenge." The Lord comes to separate, to redeem the faithful (the first goat) and expel the unfaithful (the second goat). So the redemption in Luke 21:28, for instance, is corporate. The tribulation of the Church in the AD60s and the first resurrection (ascending to heaven, calling down the curses upon Jerusalem, and then being enthroned) fulfilled these words. Those were the days of vengeance. All the blood of the prophets from Abel onwards was avenged, and all the saints under the altar were finally redeemed. But in Romans 3:24 the redemption is personal. In a very real sense, as always, the personal leads to the corporate. The life of Moses prefigures the redemption of Israel and vengeance upon Egypt. Personal regeneration leads to corporate resurrection, and resurrections are always a harvest, that is, plural (even Jesus' resurrection was plural - other saints came out of the graves). So we look forward to the second resurrection, the final act of redemption and vengeance. This will complete the three level "Tabernacle" pattern found in Genesis 1-9: Jesus resurrected in the Garden (vengeance upon the serpent - AD30); Firstfruits Church resurrected in the Land (vengeance upon Cain - AD70); the completed Church resurrected in the World (vengeance upon all nations - future). Each act is a redemption, but on a growing scale. |
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Various biblical scholars have described this dichotomy in terms of "already/not yet". That is, ontologically the believer is forgiven and united with Christ (baptized into his body), and therefore the believer is a "new creature" (2 Cor 5:17). But the same believer still exists in a mortal body, which is descended from Adam and therefore possesses Adam's disobedient nature. So while one is united with Christ, and possesses the free gift of eternal life, that same person still resides in a mortal body, which is comprised of "flesh and blood" that the Apostle Paul says cannot inherent the Kingdom of God (1 Cor 15:50). Therefore this mortality must be swallowed by immortality for the body to be redeemed, which will then at that time be comprised of "flesh and bone" (Luke 24:39). So redemption #1 is ontological (our identity) and redemption #2 is chronological (our body). We are therefore "already" redeemed. . . but "not yet." One redemption is now, and the other one is later. |
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