Propitiation

Today I came across 1 John 2:2.  Boy, there’s a passage that is chock full of theology!  Speaking of Jesus, John 2:2:

“He is the the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world.”  (NIV)

“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (King James)  [Okay, I had to go look up “propitiate” –  it means “win or regain the favor of (a god, spirit, or person) by doing something that pleases them.”  Well, to the NIV translator it means “atoning sacrifice.”]

I really like the Tyndale translation, which notes that Jesus died to “obtaineth grace for our sins; not for our sins only, but also for the sins of all the world.”  [So, I guess to Tyndale “propitiate” means “obtaining grace.”]

There it is.  No matter all the efforts to claim some type of exclusivity as to Jesus and His atonement, Jesus died “for the sins of the whole world.”  He did for my sins, yes, but also for the sins of others – yes, even that guy!