© F.O’Donoghue 2007
In a worldly sense, Expiation is the idea that an offender should undergo punishment in his own interests, to discharge his guilt and to make himself acceptable to society again. In the Biblical context, it refers to the sinless Christ and our punishment. There is no Greek word for Expiation as such, but the doctrine (teaching) is summed up in Colossians 2:14;
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
“Blotting out [exaleipho] the handwriting [cheirographon]of ordinances [Dogma] that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”
“Blotting out” in the Greek is exaleipho meaning ‘to wipe out/wipe off’ (used in the context of an erasure of an indebtedness, or the wiping out of an item on an account).
“Handwriting” in the Greek is cheirographon meaning ‘a handwritten document’
“Ordinances” in the Greek is Dogma meaning decree, or command.
The word cheirographon was used of a certificate of indebtedness (IOU or bond). In this context, it refers to a handwritten document consisting of laws or commands written by the finger of God;
2 Cor 3:7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
Deut 9:10 And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.
The commandments of God became indictments which charge all of mankind to be under sin and guilty before God. Though the Law is good; revealing God’s holy character, and is designed for man’s blessing, it also stands against man because it reveals him as a sinner under the penalty of sin; which is death;
Rom 3:19,20 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 7:7,8 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Because of man’s sinful condition, the Law is viewed as hostile to us, holding man in bondage to sin which ultimately leads to spiritual death;
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Gal 3:10-12 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
2 Cor 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Gal 4:3-5 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Rom 7:10-14 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
In the doctrine of expiation, the penalty of sin is the object, Jesus Christ is the agent, the cross being the point and place.
