1.
The word
"reconcile",
which our translators
adopted from the Vulgate,
is simply the
transliteration
of the Latin
reconcilio,
to bring together again,
to re-unite or re-connect.
The verb
to reconcile,
and its noun
reconciliation,
have,
however,
come to possess now merely
the idea of friendship
after estrangement.
2.
The Greek words in
the New Testament
are as follow:
(a)
allasso,
to change,
to make other
(allos)
than it is.
Occurs
Acts
6:14.
Romans
1:23.
1Corinthians
15:51,
52.
Galatians
4:20.
Hebrews
1:12.
Always rendered
"change".
(b)
diallassomai
(passive),
dia
(Appendix 104. v)
and allasso,
to be changed or altered
mutually
(the force of dia)
from one condition to another.
Occurs
Matthew
5:24.
(c)
katallasso,
kata
(Appendix 104. x)
and allasso,
to change or
exchange something
(anything)
arbitrarily;
not as (b)
by mutual consent,
but as proceeding
from one
(the kata
implying
from above).
Occurs
Romans
5:10,
10.
1Corinthians
7:11.
2Corinthians
5:18,
19,
20:
and its noun
katallage,
a change or exchange
for something else.
Occurs
Romans
5:11
(atonement);
11:15.
2Corinthians
5:18,
19.
(d)
apokatallasso;
intensive form of
katallasso,
the apo
(Appendix 104. iv)
indicating that whatever
is intended by
(c) is done
completely and inviolably.
Occurs only in the
Prison Epistles,
Ephesians
2:16.
Colossians
1:20, 21.
(e)
hilaskomai.
Occurs
Luke
18:13.
Hebrews
2:17
(see notes in location)
As this word means to expiate,
or make atonement for sins,
and is confined to mediatorial
aspects and offerings,
it need not here
be discussed.
3.
We now refer to the
occurrence in
the connection:
(b) diallassomai,
Matthew
5:24,
where is found the basic
explanation of the meaning
usually understood by
"be reconciled",
etc.;
that is to say,
the change
of feelings and
relationships of
estranged relatives;
a mutual
change of feelings
between equals
(a man and his
"brother").
(c)
katallasso.
Romans
5:10,
10,
etc.
Here is the
proper meaning
of the Greek word,
as clothed in its
correspondent
Latin dress,
namely,
re-united
or
re-connected
to God.
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Emphasized by the last clause,
"having been reconciled"
(re-connected).
Vital union restored by
re-connection.
Romans
11:15,
"the reconciling".
The meaning is unmistakable;
the re-connection of
"a world"
is the antithesis to the
"casting away"
of Israel.
1Corinthians
7:10,
11,
"be reconciled";
that is to say,
connected again
with her husband.
Here also the
antithesis is plain.
2Corinthians
5:18,
19,
20.
These verses paraphrased
read,—" . . .
God,
Who re-connected
(or re-united)
us again to Himself,
by means of Christ,
and having given to
us the ministry of the
re-connection
(re-uniting),
to wit,
that God was
IN
Christ
re-connecting
(re-uniting)
a world to Himself,
not reckoning
(imputing)
their transgressions to them;
and having laid upon us
(the responsibility or burden of)
the message of the
re-connection.
On Christ's behalf
therefore we are ambassadors
. . . be ye
re-connected
(united again)
to God."
We see here,
revealed in simple majesty,
the sovereign grace of God
in providing by virtue of
"the precious
blood of Christ"
a means whereby the
rebellious creature
can be restored to
the favor of the
justly alienated Creator.
It is not an entreaty to
"forgive"
and
"forget"
everything on man's side,
but a command
to return to God
by means of the
new connection,
and by that means alone,
namely,
the new and living Way
which God Himself
provided through
the death and
resurrection of His Son
(Acts
17:30,
31.
Hebrews
10:19,
20).
(d)
apokatallasso.
Occurs
Ephesians
2:16.
Colossians
1:20,
21.
In each case the force of
apo prefixed
to katallasso
suggests and emphasizes
the perfection of the
re-connection.
So that on God's side
all is complete.
Here again the
graciousness
of God is manifest.
Who MADE PEACE
by virtue of the
blood of Christ,
and thus gave access
by means of Him
"by one Spirit
unto the Father",
to those who were
far off and to those
who were nigh.
4.
The conclusion may be summed up thus:
Christ's death upon the cross linked
up again the connection with God
(i) for all who are the
chosen
subjects of His grace
(Ephesians
1:4),
and
(ii) for all who will
believe and consequently
become
subjects of His grace
(Romans
10:11‑13).
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