What Did Paul Mean By "SALVATION"?

Many MEANINGS for the Word σῴζω sozo....

The Greek word σῴζω sozo is normally translated to save. But there are many ways in which this word is used in the New Testament. For example,W.E.Vine gives 9 different senses of this verb. Its noun form is the word σωτηρία soteria = salvation which also has many senses.

Note, for example, the various ways in which Jesus Christ uses σῴζω sozo.....

22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour. (Matthew 9:22, NKJV)

22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:22, NKJV)

35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. (Mark 8:35, NKJV)

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:17)

This last verse illustrates the meaning SAVED FROM THE LAKE OF FIRE [= eternal separation from God]. This is the meaning most believers think of when they hear the word saved. But - as one can see from the above verses - this is not the only.... or even most common meaning of σῴζω sozo.

Note, especially, Mark 8:35 quoted above. This is also found in Matthew and Luke [and in a slightly modified form in John 12:24-26]. And - in these cases - it is spoken to BELIEVERS [Cf Matt 16:24]. Jesus Christ is very concerned that His DISCIPLES are BEING SAVED FROM THE POWER OF SIN in their lives. And this will ultimately bring ETERNAL REWARD. Note the context in Matthew 16:24ff....This is the kind of SALVATION that Jesus Christ speaks MOSTLY to BELIEVERS about.

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find [save] it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. (Matthew 16:24–27, NKJV)

Note that this SALVATION is dependent on my OBEYING THE COMMANDS to DENY MYSELF [the flesh], TAKE UP MY CROSS [allow the Holy Spirit to “kill” the works of the flesh] and FOLLOW CHRIST [live by faith in Christ].

It is a SALVATION in which both I and CHRIST and the HOLY SPIRIT are involved.

This is a PRESENT TENSE salvation [since - in the Greek text - desires, follow, and profit are all in the PRESENT TENSE].

Thus we can summarize....

For DISCIPLES, Jesus most often used σῴζω to refer to CONTINUING SALVATION over the POWER OF SIN.

How Does Paul Use σῴζω?

The Apostle Paul also uses σῴζω sozo in a variety of ways. For example....

31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31, NKJV)

11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. (Romans 13:11, NKJV)

16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. (1 Timothy 4:16, NKJV)

Note that - only in the first instance - is Paul speaking of DELIVERANCE FROM THE LAKE OF FIRE.

We will see that - just like Jesus Christ - most of the time Paul is speaking to BELIEVERS of heir CONTINUING IN SALVATION = BEING SAVED FROM THE POWER OF SIN. This realization will help us in understanding his writings.

It is clear - from the beginning - that Paul σῴζω uses in a great variety of ways.

Paul - many times - speaks of CONTINUING SALVATION for the DISCIPLE.

Note the following uses of σῴζω sozo in the epistles of Paul...

Romans 5:9–10 (NKJV)

9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV)

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 15:1–2 (NKJV)

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are being saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

2 Corinthians 2:15 (NKJV)

15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

1 Timothy 4:16 (NKJV)

16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

2 Timothy 2:10 (NKJV)

10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

In these cases it is very clear that Paul is referring to PRESENT TENSE SALVATION which believers can experience by LIVING BY FAITH IN CHRIST.

Note - in 1 Cor 15:2 and 1 Tim 4:16 - the CONDITION of OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST and His WORD is necessary to achieve this SALVATION.

Note - in 2 Tim 2:10 - that REWARD is attached to this SALVATION.

This, again, is a SALVATION in which both CHRIST and the HOLY SPIRIT and the BELIEVER are involved.

This is a SALVATION in which CHRIST and the HOLY SPIRIT and the BELIEVER are involved.

PHILIPPIANS - A Case in Point...

It is, of course, always crucial to look at the context of a passage in determining the meaning of σῴζω sozo = to save or σωτηρία soteria = salvation. But we have seen that both Jesus and Paul often use these words to indicate CONTINUING SALVATION from the POWER OF SIN.

With that in mind, let us look at the book of Philippians where Paul uses σωτηρία soteria 3 times. We will now list these verses in order...

Philippians 1:19 (NKJV)

19 For I know that this will turn out for my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

Philippians 1:28 (NKJV)

28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.

Philippians 2:12–13 (NKJV)

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Note - in Phil 1:19 - that PRAYER and the HOLY SPIRIT are involved in this SALVATION. Also, note that Paul was already saved from the penalty of sin [the Lake of Fire] so that this has to apply to his SALVATION FROM THE POWER OF SIN.

Note - in Phil 1:28 - that 7 times in Phil 1:27-28 Paul uses a PRESENT TENSE Greek verb [and never an aorist (point) tense] in speaking of the Philippians’ CONDUCT. This clearly indicates that he is speaking of a PRESENT TENSE SALVATION.Also the words “and that from God” indicate God’s CONTINUING WORK in that SALVATION.

In Phil 2:12 these same considerations apply. κατεργάζεσθε = work out is a PRESENT TENSE IMPERATIVE and [in the next verse] work, will, and do are all in the PRESENT TENSE. This is clearly a PRESENT TENSE SALVATION in which WE ARE INVOLVED.

What Can We Conclude?

I think that one can clearly conclude that Paul very often uses both σῴζω sozo = to save and σωτηρία soteria = salvation in the sense of CONTINUING SALVATION OVER THE POWER OF SIN that I can experience when I am LIVING BY FAITH IN CHRIST and THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Paul very, very often uses SALVATION in the sense of CONTINUING DELIVERANCE FROM THE POWER OF SIN in the believer’s life.

I also believe - after looking over all of the occurrences of σῴζω sozo = to save and σωτηρία soteria = salvation in Paul’s writings - that this is the most frequent sense in which in uses these words.

This appears to be the most frequent sense in which Paul uses SALVATION in his writings.

Believer, are you - today - experiencing SALVATION FROM THE POWER OF SIN in your life?