SALVATION

SALVATION Examines the biblical concept of salvation as it develops from the sense of physical rescue in the present life (e.g., deliverance from danger or crisis) to the idea of spiritual rescue often associated with the afterlife (e.g., forgiveness from sins, eternal life). This development in the concept of salvation corresponds with changes in beliefs regarding life after death: As views about the afterlife became more optimistic, the understanding of salvation expanded beyond the present world to include hopes for divine deliverance and even resurrection in the world to come.

In the Bible, salvation usually comes from God, Jesus, or an agent of God. Terms for salvation include:

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Salvation

• יָשַׁע (yasha') and יְשׁוּעָה (yeshu'ah)—Hebrew words most often translated as “save” and “salvation”;

• נָצַל (natsal)—also Hebrew, usually translated as “rescue”; and

• σῴζω (sōzō) and σωτηρία (sōtēria)—Greek words meaning “save” and “salvation.”

Lexham Theological Wordbook Salvation

Salvation

Salvation is the rescue from a state of danger and restoration to wholeness and prosperity. In the Bible people are “saved” from foreign nations, from enemies, and from the penalty of sin. Salvation also entails health, wholeness, and victory.

Concept Summary

Salvation is related to the idea of deliverance, victory, and safety. The nouns expressing this concept, including the Hebrew יְשׁוּעָה (yĕšûʿâ, “salvation”) and Greek σωτηρία (sōtēria, “salvation”), generally signify deliverance, safety, and wholeness, and, in the Hebrew Bible, victory. The relevant verbs—including the Hebrew יָשַׁע (yāšaʿ, “to save”) and Greek σῴζω (sōzō, “to save”)—generally mean “to deliver,” “to rescue,” or “to make safe.” They describe bringing people from a state of danger to a state of wholeness and safety.

The Meaning of Salvation

1) The Hebrew root word yesha (basis for the name of Joshua and Jesus) signifies freedom from what binds or restricts and thus effects deliverance.

2) The Greek word is soteria, meaning "to cure, to provide recovery, to rescue, to effect one's welfare." {Willmington's Complete Guide to Bible Knowledge - Introduction to Theology.}

3) Its first mention comes from a father in Egypt—"And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. . . . I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord" (Gen. 49:1, 18).

4) Its final mention comes from the faithful in heaven—"And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, belong unto the Lord our God" (Rev. 19:1). {Willmington's Complete Guide to Bible Knowledge - Introduction to Theology.}

Salvation Belongs to the Lord

Psa 3:8  Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessing be on your people! Selah

Psa 37:39  The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. Psa 37:40  The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. 

Psa 38:22  Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! 

Psa 68:20  Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death. 

Exo 14:13  And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.....Exo 14:30  Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 

Isa 43:11  I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior. 

Isa 45:21  Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. Isa 45:22  “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. 

Jer 3:23  Truly the hills are a delusion, the orgies on the mountains. Truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel. 

Jon 2:9  But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD!”

Act 4:12  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 

Rev 7:10  and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 

Rev 19:1  After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 

Salvation in OT

See also: Salvation, p. 384

Hebrew expression: yeshuʿah

Pronunciation: yeh SHOO ´ah

Strong’s Number: 3444

Key Verses

Exodus 15:2; Psalm 35:3; Isaiah 12:2; 49:6; 52:7

In 1999, the refugees of Kosovo understood what is meant to need someone to deliver them from their oppressive war with the Serbians. They needed salvation.

The Hebrew word for salvation, yeshuʿah, is a powerful word with connotations of deliverance. The Hebrew verbal root yashaʿ means basically “to deliver.” The noun yeshuʿah comes from this root and is usually translated as “salvation or deliverance” depending upon its context. The noun can be translated also as “help,” “victory,” “prosperity.” Its basic denotation is “to rescue from danger or distress.”

The word can also refer to help or deliverance given by persons (1 Sam. 14:45; 2 Sam. 10:11). It can indicate the safety or security (yeshuʿah) provided by fortified walls that protect people from danger. But primarily the word highlights the marvelous salvation provided by the Lord in the Old Testament and brought to light in the prophets.

God provided salvation through deliverance from the Egyptians and from physical danger (Exod. 14:13; 2 Chr. 20:17). God provided salvation for Israel from punishment because of their sin (Ps. 70:4; Isa. 33:6; 49:6; 52:7). Whether singular or plural, it could signify God’s deliverance and salvation (2 Sam. 22:51; Ps. 42:5).

In the divinely guided viewpoint of the prophet Isaiah, the concept of salvation for all humanity broke through the clouds. The Servant of Isaiah’s songs would not only restore the tribe of Jacob (Israel), but would take salvation to the ends of the earth (Isa. 49:6). This deliverance and salvation, yeshuʿah, given by the Lord would be eternal with the Lord’s righteousness (Isa. 51:6). The Lord would send forth His messengers to dispense the news of His salvation (Isa. 52:7). The Lord’s own “arm” would bring about His salvation and in the end even the “walls of protection” around God’s redeemed universal city, Jerusalem, would be called “salvation.” Ultimately, God would provide a salvation that would be effective beyond the boundaries of this life.

In the New Testament, the name of Jesus is based upon the Old Testament word for salvation. His name is Iesous, “Savior.” He was the servant who was to bring the Lord’s salvation to mankind (Acts 8:26–40). He is Himself that salvation (Luke 3:6; Rom. 11:11) which the apostle Paul proclaims in Romans 10:13.{Holman treasury of key Bible words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew words defined and explained p. 159}

Salvation in NT

See also: Salvation, p. 159

Greek expression: sōteria, sōzō

Pronunciation: soh tay REE uh; SOH dzoh

Strong’s Numbers: 4991, 4982

Key Verses

Luke 1:69, 71; Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 2:10; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 5:9

In classical Greek the verb sōzō, “to save,” and the noun sōteria, “salvation,” are used for the concept of “rescue,” “deliverance” or “salvation,” and even “well-being” or “health.” The Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) most frequently uses sōzō to render the Hebrew word yashaʿ (“to save”) and the New Testament primarily employs sōzō and its derivatives for the idea of “salvation.”

In the Gospels, “salvation” is clearly connected with the Old Testament concept of “bringing deliverance.” It is applied to the coming of Christ in Zechariah’s prophecy (Luke 1:69, 71; Ps. 106:10; 132:17) and in Simeon’s hymn of praise (Luke 2:30). While sōteria does not occur frequently in the Gospels, the concept of salvation is implied in Jesus’ statement about entrance into the kingdom of God (Matt. 19:24–26) and His miracles of healing (Luke 17:19; 18:42). Luke sees salvation as that which delivers people from disease and from sin.

The New Testament teaches that salvation has its source in Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 2:10; Heb. 5:9) who is the author and mediator of salvation (Heb. 2:10; 7:25). Salvation is God’s work (1 Thess. 5:9) and is offered by His grace (Eph. 2:8–9). The message of salvation is contained in the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:15) and is carried by those who proclaim the word of truth (Eph. 1:13). The appropriate response to salvation is repentance and faith (2 Tim. 3:15; 1 Pet. 1:9). This was the preaching of the early church as it proclaimed the Savior Jesus (Acts 4:12; 13:23–26). Paul especially proclaimed the universality of God’s offer of salvation (Rom. 1:16).{Holman treasury of key Bible words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew words defined and explained,p. 384}

Jesus Is the Salvation

Zechariah’s Prophecy - Luk 1:68  “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people Luk 1:69  and has raised up a horn of salvation(σωτηρία sōtēria noun Salvation, deliverance, preservation) for us in the house of his servant David.Luk 1:70  as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, Luk 1:71  that we should be saved(σωτηρία sōtēria noun Salvation, deliverance, preservation) from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 

An Angel to the Shepherds - Luk 2:11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior (σωτήρ sōtēr noun Savior, redeemer, deliverer, preserver), who is Christ the Lord. 

An Angel to Joseph in a dream - Mat 1:21  She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus (that is, Saviour. Heb. Joshua, i.e. Jehovah-Saviour), for he will save (σῴζω sōzō verb Save, keep safe, preserve, rescue, make well) his people from their sins.” 

Angel Gaberial to Mary - Luk 1:31  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus (that is, Saviour. Heb. Joshua, i.e. Jehovah-Saviour). 

Simeon - Luk 2:30  for my eyes have seen your salvation(σωτήριος sōtērios adj Delivering, saving, salvation).