Lexical Summary sótéria: Salvation Original Word: σωτηρία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance deliver, saveFeminine of a derivative of soter as (properly, abstract) noun; rescue or safety (physically or morally) -- deliver, health, salvation, save, saving. see GREEK soter HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 4991 sōtēría (from 4982 /sṓzō, "to save, rescue") – salvation, i.e. God's rescue which delivers believers out of destruction and into His safety. See 4982 (sōzō). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sótér Definition deliverance, salvation NASB Translation deliverance (2), preservation (1), salvation (42). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4991: σωτηρίασωτηρία, σωτηρίας, ἡ (σωτήρ), deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation: deliverance from the molestation of enemies, Acts 7:25; with ἐξ ἐχθρῶν added, Luke 1:71; preservation (of physical life), safety, Acts 27:34; Hebrews 11:7. in an ethical sense, that which conduces to the soul's safety or salvation: σωτηρία τίνι ἐγένετο, Luke 19:9; ἡγεῖσθαι τί σωτηρίαν, 2 Peter 3:15; in the technical biblical sense, the Messianic salvation (see σῴζω, b.), a. universally, John 4:22; Acts 4:12; Acts 13:47; Romans 11:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 2:3; Hebrews 6:9; Jude 1:3; opposed to ἀπώλεια, Philippians 1:28; αἰώνιος σωτηρία, Hebrews 5:9 (for עולָמִים תְּשׁוּעַת, Isaiah 45:17); (add, Mark 16 WH in the (rejected) 'Shorter Conclusion'); ὁ λόγος τῆς σωτηρίας ταύτης, instruction concerning that salvation which John the Baptist foretold (cf. Winer's Grammar, 237 (223)), Acts 13:26; τό εὐαγγέλιον τῆς σωτηρίας ὑμῶν, Ephesians 1:13; ὁδός σωτερριας, Acts 16:17; κέρας σωτηρίας (see κέρας, b.), Luke 1:69; ἡμέρα σωτηρίας, the time in which the offer of salvation is made, 2 Corinthians 6:2 (from Isaiah 49:8); κατεργάζεσθαι τήν ἑαυτοῦ σωτηρίαν, Philippians 2:12; κληρονομεῖν σωτηρίαν, Hebrews 1:14; (ὁ ἀρχηγός τῆς σωτηρίας, Hebrews 2:10); εἴα σωτηρίαν, unto (the attainment of) salvation, Rom. ( b. salvation as the present possession of all true Christians (see σῴζω, b.): 2 Corinthians 1:6; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Philippians 1:19; σωτηρία ἐν ἀφέσει ἁμαρτιῶν, Luke 1:77; σωτηρίας τυχεῖν μετά δόξης αἰωνίου, 2 Timothy 2:10. c. future salvation, the sum of benefits and blessings which Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal kingdom of God: Romans 13:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 1:5, 10; Revelation 12:10; ἐλπίς σωτηρίας, 1 Thessalonians 5:8; κομίζεσθαι σωτηρίαν ψυχῶν, 1 Peter 1:9; ἡ σωτηρία τῷ Θεῷ ἐμῶν (dative of the possessor, namely, ἐστιν (cf. Buttmann, § 129, 22); cf. הַיִשׁוּעָה לַיְהוָה, Psalm 3:9), the salvation which is bestowed on us belongs to God, Revelation 7:10; ἡ σωτηρία ... τοῦ Θεοῦ (genitive of the possessor (cf. Buttmann, § 132, 11, 1:a.), for Rec. τῷ Θεῷ) ἡμῶν namely, ἐστιν, Revelation 19:1. (Tragg. (Herodotus), Thucydides, Xenophon, Plato, others. The Sept. for יֶשַׁע , יְשׁוּעָה, תְּשׁוּעָה, פְּלֵיטָה, escape.) The Greek noun σωτηρία occurs forty-six times in the New Testament and gathers up the whole biblical account of God’s deliverance. Whether the context is physical rescue, covenantal preservation, or eternal redemption, the word announces that God alone saves and that His salvation reaches its climax in Jesus Christ. Old Testament Roots and First-Century Expectation When the Septuagint translated Hebrew terms such as יְשׁוּעָה (yeshuah) and תֵּשׁוּעָה (teshuah) with σωτηρία, it tied the New Testament idea to historic acts like the Exodus (Exodus 15:2) and the new-exodus hope of Isaiah (Isaiah 52:7). By the first century, faithful Jews longed for national liberation and personal forgiveness. Simeon held the newborn Jesus and spoke of God’s “salvation which You have prepared in the sight of all people” (Luke 2:30-31). The Gospel writers draw straight lines from those prophecies to Christ. Salvation Accomplished in Christ 1. Exclusive foundation Peter declares, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The cross and resurrection are not one option among many; they are God’s definitive act. 2. Objective historic act Hebrews 9:28 locates salvation in a once-for-all offering: “so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are eagerly waiting for Him.” 3. Present application Paul writes, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). The saving event becomes saving experience through Spirit-wrought faith. Three Tenses of Salvation • Past—Justification: “By grace you have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). These aspects are inseparable; the believer who has been justified is being sanctified and will be glorified. Personal Reception and the Role of Faith Romans 10:10 joins heart belief with mouth confession “resulting in salvation.” 2 Timothy 3:15 calls Scripture “able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” Faith is never mere assent; it is reliance on the Person and work of the Savior. Corporate and Missional Dimensions God’s purpose is global: “I have made you a light for the nations to bring salvation to the ends of the earth” (Acts 13:47). The church, therefore, proclaims and embodies this message. Paul endured hardship “for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:10). Assurance and Security Believers are “shielded by God’s power through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5). While warnings such as Hebrews 2:3 (“how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?”) call for vigilance, the overall thrust is confidence grounded in God’s faithfulness (Hebrews 6:9). Ethical Fruit Salvation is never licensed for sin. Titus 2:11-14 (using the cognate adjective) shows that the grace that saves also trains. 2 Corinthians 7:10 contrasts godly sorrow “leading to salvation” with worldly remorse. Worship and Eschatological Triumph Heaven’s liturgy centers on the word: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:10). The same shout resounds at the fall of Babylon (Revelation 19:1). What is inaugurated at the cross will be publicly vindicated when “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God” (Revelation 12:10). Common Distortions Addressed • Works-based religion annuls grace (Romans 11:6). Ministerial Implications 1. Evangelism: The message is centered, urgent, and certain (2 Corinthians 6:2). Summary σωτηρία gathers up God’s redemptive work from promise to fulfilment, from personal justification to cosmic renewal. Rooted in the Father’s purpose, achieved by the Son’s sacrifice, and applied by the Spirit’s power, salvation is the central melody of Scripture and the heartbeat of Christian life and ministry. Englishman's Concordance Mark 16:20 N-GFSGRK: τῆς αἰωνίου σωτηρίας ἀμήν INT: of eternal salvation Amen Luke 1:69 N-GFS Luke 1:71 N-AFS Luke 1:77 N-GFS Luke 19:9 N-NFS John 4:22 N-NFS Acts 4:12 N-NFS Acts 7:25 N-AFS Acts 13:26 N-GFS Acts 13:47 N-AFS Acts 16:17 N-GFS Acts 27:34 N-GFS Romans 1:16 N-AFS Romans 10:1 N-AFS Romans 10:10 N-AFS Romans 11:11 N-NFS Romans 13:11 N-NFS 2 Corinthians 1:6 N-GFS 2 Corinthians 6:2 N-GFS 2 Corinthians 6:2 N-GFS 2 Corinthians 7:10 N-AFS Ephesians 1:13 N-GFS Philippians 1:19 N-AFS Philippians 1:28 N-GFS Philippians 2:12 N-AFS Strong's Greek 4991 |
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