# G0859 - aphesis **Strong's:** [G0859](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g859/) · BLB lookup **Pronunciation:** af'-es-is **Part of speech:** feminine noun **Root:** from *aphiēmi* (G863), "to send away, let go, forgive" **NT occurrences:** 17 ## Semantic range 1. **Release, dismissal, sending away**, basic etymology 2. **Forgiveness of sins**, the dominant NT theological sense 3. **Liberation from bondage / debt / penalty** 4. **Remission** (older English translations) The verb *aphiēmi* (G863) covers all forms of "letting go", releasing prisoners, canceling debts, forgiving sins, allowing departure. The noun *aphesis* concentrates the theological meaning: *forgiveness*. ## Theological force ### *Aphesis hamartiōn*, forgiveness of sins The **central NT use** is in the phrase *aphesis hamartiōn* (forgiveness of sins). It is the gospel's promise: - **[Matthew 26:28](/codex/matthew-26-28/)**, Christ's blood "poured out for many for *aphesin hamartiōn*" - **[Mark 1:4](/codex/mark-1-4/) / [Luke 3:3](/codex/luke-3-3/)**, John's "baptism of repentance for *aphesin hamartiōn*" - **[Luke 1:77](/codex/luke-1-77/)**, Zechariah's prophecy: "the knowledge of salvation by the *aphesei* of their sins" - **[Luke 24:47](/codex/luke-24-47/)**, "*metanoian eis aphesin hamartiōn*" preached to all nations - **[Acts 2:38](/codex/acts-2-38/)**, "repent and be baptized… for the *aphesin* of your sins" - **[Acts 5:31](/codex/acts-5-31/); 10:43; 13:38; 26:18**, apostolic preaching of *aphesis* - **[Ephesians 1:7](/codex/ephesians-1-7/); [Colossians 1:14](/codex/colossians-1-14/)**, "we have redemption through His blood, the *aphesin* of our trespasses" - **[Hebrews 9:22](/codex/hebrews-9-22/); 10:18**, "without the shedding of blood there is no *aphesis*" The pattern: *aphesis hamartiōn* is the gospel's central blessing, the cancellation of guilt, the cleansing of conscience, the restoration of relationship with God. ### Year of jubilee / liberation from captivity Two distinctive uses connect *aphesis* to OT-jubilee imagery: - **[Luke 4:18-19](/codex/luke-4-18-19/)**, Christ at Nazareth citing [Isaiah 61:1-2](/codex/isaiah-61-1-2/): "to proclaim release (*aphesin*) to the captives… to set free those who are oppressed (*aphesei*), to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord" This connects *aphesis* to the OT *yôvēl* / Jubilee ([Leviticus 25](/codex/leviticus-25/)), when debts were forgiven, slaves released, land returned. Christ's ministry inaugurates the *eschatological* Jubilee, release from sin, debt of guilt, bondage to evil. ## *Aphesis* and atonement *Aphesis* is intimately connected with Christ's atoning blood: - [Hebrews 9:22](/codex/hebrews-9-22/), "*chōris haimatekchysias ou ginetai aphesis*", "without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" - [Ephesians 1:7](/codex/ephesians-1-7/), "in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of trespasses" - [Matthew 26:28](/codex/matthew-26-28/), "this is My blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for *aphesin hamartiōn*" The OT sacrificial system anticipates and the NT-cross-event accomplishes the *aphesis*. The full atonement-vocabulary cluster: - *Lytron* / *antilytron*, ransom - *Hilasmos* / *hilastērion*, propitiation - *Apolytrōsis*, redemption - *Aphesis*, forgiveness / release - *Katallagē*, reconciliation Each captures a different angle of the cross-event's accomplishment. ## *Aphesis* and church practice ### Forgiveness as mission - [Luke 24:47](/codex/luke-24-47/), "*metanoian eis aphesin hamartiōn*" preached to all nations *en tō onomati* of Christ - [John 20:23](/codex/john-20-23/), "if you forgive (*aphēte*) the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven" The church's mission is to proclaim *aphesis*; the church's life involves practicing forgiveness inter-personally. ### Forgiveness as the believer's experience - [Luke 11:4](/codex/luke-11-4/) / [Mt 6:12](/codex/matthew-6-12/), Lord's Prayer: "forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive" - [Mt 18:21-35](/codex/matthew-18-21-35/), the unforgiving servant; receive forgiveness, extend forgiveness - [Eph 4:32](/codex/ephesians-4-32/), "be kind… *charizomenoi heautois*, just as God in Christ also has *echarisato* you" The pattern: those who have received *aphesis* are called to extend forgiveness to others. ## Notable verses - **[Matthew 26:28](/codex/matthew-26-28/)**, atonement covenant - **[Mark 1:4](/codex/mark-1-4/) / [Luke 3:3](/codex/luke-3-3/)**, John's baptism - **[Luke 1:77](/codex/luke-1-77/); 24:47**, gospel theme - **[Luke 4:18](/codex/luke-4-18/)**, Jubilee fulfillment - **[Acts 2:38](/codex/acts-2-38/); 5:31; 10:43; 13:38; 26:18**, apostolic preaching - **[Ephesians 1:7](/codex/ephesians-1-7/); [Colossians 1:14](/codex/colossians-1-14/)**, Pauline soteriology - **[Hebrews 9:22](/codex/hebrews-9-22/); 10:18**, sacrificial-blood necessity ## Patristic / scholarly note Patristic engagement: forgiveness of sins is foundational to baptismal theology (Tertullian *De Baptismo*; Augustine on the sacraments). The Apostles' Creed: "I believe in the forgiveness of sins." Reformation: justification by faith *includes* the *aphesis*, God forgives sins on the basis of Christ's atoning work, received by faith. Modern conservative: D. A. Carson; Wayne Grudem; Tim Keller (*Forgive*, 2022), pastoral-theological treatment. ## See also - G863 - aphiemi, verb to forgive - [G0266 - hamartia](/codex/g0266-hamartia/), sin - [G2434 - hilasmos](/codex/g2434-hilasmos/), propitiation - [G0629 - apolytrosis](/codex/g0629-apolytrosis/), redemption - [G3083 - lytron](/codex/g3083-lytron/), ransom - [G5485 - charis](/codex/g5485-charis/), grace - [Romans 5.8](/codex/romans-5-8/), atonement context ## Notes _Lexical workspace for aphesis._