A Truthscape One-Page Explainer
What Does the Bible Mean by ‘Redemption’?
Redemption is more than rescue. The New Testament word — the Greek apolutrosis — pictures a ransom paid to set a slave free: bought back at the price of Christ’s blood.
The Three Strands the Word Holds Together
Strand 1Bought back by ransom
Apolutrosis pictures paying a price to free a captive; it is built on lutron, “ransom” (Matthew 20:28). “You were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20).
Strand 2The price was His blood
“In Him we have redemption through His blood” (Ephesians 1:7); redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18–19), He “obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12).
Strand 3Freed now and at the last
Redeemed from the curse and from lawlessness now (Galatians 3:13; Titus 2:14), while still awaiting “the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23). Free now, fully free when He raises us.
What the Key Texts Say
| Passage | Emphasis | What it teaches |
|---|---|---|
| Ephesians 1:7 | Through His blood | “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” |
| Colossians 1:14 | In Christ | “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” |
| 1 Peter 1:18–19 | Not with silver | “Redeemed … with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish.” |
| Matthew 20:28 | A ransom | The Son of Man came “to give His life a ransom for many.” |
| 1 Corinthians 6:20 | Bought | “You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” |
| Galatians 3:13 | From the curse | “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.” |
| Titus 2:14 | From lawlessness | “That He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify … a people.” |
| Hebrews 9:12 | Eternal | “With His own blood He … obtained eternal redemption.” |
| Romans 8:23 | Not yet | “Eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” |
Two Common Misunderstandings
Redemption is not a vague rescue. It is a purchase-word — a ransom paid to set a captive free. “You were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20); the price was “the precious blood of Christ,” not silver or gold (1 Peter 1:18–19).
Redemption is not only past, nor only future. Believers already “have redemption” (Ephesians 1:7), yet still await “the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23). Freed now, fully free when Christ raises us.
So, What Is Redemption?
Redemption is release by ransom — captives set free because a price was paid. That price was the blood of Christ, and through it we have forgiveness and freedom from sin’s guilt and power. Bought back now, and made fully free when He raises us at the last.
Sources & Notes Greek word study: apolutrosis (Strong’s G629), “a releasing on payment of ransom, redemption, deliverance,” built on lutron (G3083), “ransom” (Matthew 20:28); related verbs lutroo (G3084) and agorazo / exagorazo (G59 / G1805), “to buy, to buy out.” The picture is the slave-market: purchase into freedom. The New Testament uses it both for a redemption already possessed (Ephesians 1:7) and one still awaited (Romans 8:23). See Thayer’s and W. E. Vine’s dictionaries; for depth, BDAG and the TDNT (Kittel) articles. Primary texts: Ephesians 1:7–14; 1 Peter 1:18–19; Hebrews 9:11–15. Scripture: quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. This page explains how Scripture itself uses the word, tested against the apostolic pattern; it is a definition, not a brief for any one tradition’s system of salvation.
