Apr 30, 2008

Salvation and Redemption


I have frequently noticed that usage of theological/biblical terminology and concepts is often a bit careless. A case in point is the use of the terms salvation and redemption. So I thought I would include a quote from Ronald Youngblood's book The Heart of the Old Testament
which I have working through. Youngblood writes,

Although intimately related to each other, salvation and redemption are not simply synonymous terms. Cognate to the noun salvation is the verb save, which carries with it the general idea of deliverance or release from danger, slavery, imprisonment, debt, and the like. Cognate to the noun redemption is the verb redeem, which connotes the payment of a price by means of which salvation is effected. Salvation is thus a general concept, whereas redemption is more specific. (p. 102)

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