Propitiation and Expiation

You must be thinking, “Where are we going with the title of today’s blog post?”

The answer, “Not far.”

Propitiation and expiation are two words used in different translations of the bible for the same Greek word in the same bible verse. Though related, they're not quite the same and so, need to be distinguished.

The verb propitiate means to gain or regain someone’s favour, to appease. Propitiation is the noun and refers either to the act of pacifying a person or deity, or to something that brings about conciliation, such as a sacrifice.

We see the word used in Romans 3:25 NASB translation (also KJV and ESV) where Paul is speaking of the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation to be received through faith.

“whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in God’s merciful restraint He let the sins previously committed go unpunished”

However, in the Revised Standard Version and some other translations expiation is used instead of propitiation, in the same verse.

“whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins”

Expiation is defined as the act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing, atonement.

While propitiation is done with reference to a person, expiation is done in reference to crimes or evil deeds.

For example, Jesus, by enduring God’s wrath on the cross on behalf of guilty sinners, He propitiated God; He appeased God and turned His wrath away from us and unto Himself.

And by His sacrifice at Calvary, Jesus expatiated sin, that is, He removed or wiped sin away; His death expatiated the sin of the world.

This is clearly affirmed by John the Baptist who, upon seeing Jesus approaching declared,

“Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NRSVUE)

Perhaps it can be said that it was necessary for Jesus to provide propitiation in order to provide expatiation? After all, didn’t Jesus avert God’s wrath against sinners so that we may be cleansed, forgiven and pardoned?

“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” (Romans 5:9 NASB)

“the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7 ESV)

In Him we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood, [which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin, in accordance with the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7 AMP)

Just some food for thought beloved, as we prepare to commemorate and celebrate what Jesus has done for us. Keep chewing.

Amen †

 Shelley Johnson “Propitiation and Expiation” ©2026 February 23, 2026