[NRx]

I draw the reader's attention to the very lengthy comment thread at the original post (see link).

[opus1]

Medieval view: “Beauty is God.”
Modern view: “God is beautiful.”
Contemporary view: “man is god.”

[Mrs. Don-o]

I sent the link to my husband don-o. We were just talking about Nominalism vs Natural Law.

This is also why just stating an obvious fact like "a man can't really marry a man" is now seen as Hate Speech. Since there is no reality to advert to --- no actual thing, rooted in 'the way things are' such as male and female, natural marriage --- the statement "a man can't marry a man" can only be based on personal animus.

In fact, the Court said exactly that. "Personal animus" is the only possible basis -- in their view --- for a stance against "gay" "marriage."

A complete de-coupling from reality. Like the man said, disintegration.

[WVNan]

Thank you for posting this. I have struggled with the idea of Propitiation for a long time. Should have studied the Greek/Hebrew connection. Extremely helpful.

[TBP]

And the writers who wrote the Bible in Greek had to make editorial choices about the meaning of some of the Aramaic words Jesus spoke. Many of them have multiple meanings.

[maryz]

Thanks for recommending the comments section! Very interesting.

[boatbums]

Among the more problematic words in the New Testament is the Greek hilasterion. It is translated as “propitiation” in some of the older English Bibles, and “expiation,” in newer ones. It’s actual meaning is neither. The word literally means “the place of mercy,” and is the Greek word used in the Old Testament (LXX) to describe the “Mercy Seat” on the Ark of the Covenant.

The Greek word translated as "propitiation" is ἱλασμός (hilasmos). Its meaning is an appeasing, propitiating or the means of appeasing, a propitiation. (Strong's) I think its actual meaning is "atoning sacrifice". In I John 4:10, God tells us:

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

In that context, I don't think the author of this article takes into consideration that the sacrifice Jesus DID make for our sins was in His precious blood which was sprinkled on that mercy seat to make satisfaction/atonement for the sins of the world.

Other than that, I agree that we should take seriously the literal sense of Scripture where it is required and that with God's laws that He set in place we don't get to decide whether or not we will obey them. They are not relative but absolute.