Brief Overview of ἄφεσις (G859: aphesis)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: aphesis

Root Words: The Greek noun ἄφεσις (aphesis) comes from the root verb ἀφίημι (aphiēmi), meaning “to send away,” “to release,” or “to forgive.” The term aphesis carries the idea of a release or liberation, most commonly in the sense of forgiveness or the remission of sins.

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Primary Meanings:

• Release/Forgiveness: The primary meaning of ἄφεσις is “release” or “forgiveness.” It denotes the act of setting someone free from bondage, debt, or sin, often used in a legal or religious context.
• Remission of Sins: In the New Testament, ἄφεσις frequently refers to the “remission of sins,” indicating the pardoning or absolution granted by God.
• Liberty: The term can also signify a broader sense of liberation or freedom, particularly in contexts involving the release from physical or spiritual captivity.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG: BDAG defines ἄφεσις as “release,” “pardon,” or “forgiveness,” particularly in relation to sins. The lexicon emphasizes its use in a legal and religious context, where it denotes the act of freeing someone from guilt, debt, or obligation. The term is often used in the New Testament to describe God’s forgiveness of sins through Christ.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Lexicon describes ἄφεσις as “release from bondage or imprisonment,” “forgiveness or pardon of sins,” and “letting them go as if they had never been committed.” Thayer’s highlights its usage in conveying both physical liberation and spiritual absolution.

Vines: Vines’ Expository Dictionary focuses on ἄφεσις as “a sending away” or “dismissal,” particularly in the context of forgiveness. Vines associates the term with the removal of sin and guilt, noting its significance in Christian theology as the basis for salvation.

LSJ: The LSJ Lexicon presents ἄφεσις as “letting go,” “dismissal,” or “remission,” emphasizing its broader application in Greek literature, including the release from debt or obligation. LSJ also notes its religious significance in describing forgiveness or pardon.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s defines ἄφεσις as “freedom” or “pardon,” highlighting its use in contexts involving the remission of sins or release from captivity. The concordance stresses its importance in the New Testament, where it is frequently associated with the forgiveness granted through Christ.

Bible Verses:

• Luke 4:18 (KJV): “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance (ἄφεσις) to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.”
• In this verse, ἄφεσις is used to convey the idea of release or deliverance, emphasizing the liberating mission of Christ.
• Ephesians 1:7 (KJV): “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness (ἄφεσις) of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”
• Here, ἄφεσις refers to the forgiveness of sins, highlighting the redemptive work of Christ.

3. Classic Greek Literature:

Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

• Homer: In The Iliad, Homer uses the concept of ἄφεσις in the context of releasing a prisoner or granting freedom, reflecting its application in situations of physical liberation.
• Herodotus: Herodotus, in his Histories, employs the term to describe the release from debt or obligation, often within a legal or political framework.
• Plutarch: Plutarch, in his biographical works, uses ἄφεσις to convey the idea of clemency or pardon granted by a ruler, illustrating its application in contexts of mercy and forgiveness.

4. Summary:

ἄφεσις (aphesis) is a Greek noun primarily signifying “release,” “forgiveness,” or “remission.” It is derived from the verb ἀφίημι (to send away or release), emphasizing the act of setting someone free from bondage, debt, or sin. Lexicons such as BDAG, Thayer’s, Vines, LSJ, and Strong’s concord in interpreting ἄφεσις as a term denoting forgiveness or pardon, particularly in a religious context where it refers to the remission of sins. In classical Greek literature, ἄφεσις is used to describe various forms of release, including physical liberation, release from debt, and acts of clemency. The term holds significant theological importance in the New Testament, where it represents the divine forgiveness granted to humanity through Christ’s sacrifice.