ἄφεσιςáphesis
freedom; (figuratively) pardon
Greek (New Testament) · G859
Meanings
1. dismissal, release: Luke 4:18.
2. Metaph., of sins (never in LXX), pardon, remission of penalty: ἁμαρτιῶν, Matthew 26:28, Mark 1:4, Luke 1:77, Luke 3:3, Luke 24:47, Acts 2:38, Acts 5:31, Acts 10:43, Acts 13:38, Acts 26:18, Colossians 1:14; παραπτωμάτων, Ephesians 1:7; absolutely, Mark 3:29, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 10:18.
Synonyms
πάρεσις, see that word (and cf. Tr., § xxxiii).
Same root
Where it appears
Appears 17 times in the Bible.
- Matthew 26:28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.
- Mark 1:4 This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.
- Mark 3:29 but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.”
- Luke 1:77 You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.
- Luke 3:3 Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.
- Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,
Source: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), public domain.