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God to the likeness of animals was a terrible departure; while the changing of the body at
the resurrection is beyond our understanding.
KATALLASSO.--
"Enemies reconciled . . . . . being reconciled" (Rom. 5: 10).
"Reconciled to her husband" (I Cor. 7: 11).
"God hath reconciled us" (II Cor. 5: 18).
"God was in Christ reconciling" (II Cor. 5: 19).
"Be ye reconciled to God" (II Cor. 5: 20).
KATALLAGE.--
"The atonement" (Rom. 5: 11).
"The reconciling of the world" (Rom. 11: 15).
"The word of reconciliation" (II Cor. 5: 18, 19).
APOKATALLASSO.--
"Reconcile the both" (Eph. 2: 16).
"Reconcile all things" (Col. 1: 20).
"You . . . . . hath He reconciled" (Col. 1: 21).
The translation of katallage by "atonement" in the A.V. is confusing, for the number
of occurrences of the word in the O.T. has already fixed its meaning. There its
corresponds to the word translated "propitiation" in Rom. 3: 25. It is safe to say that no
one can receive the "atonement" in the O.T. sense of the word, for that propitiation was
offered to God, not man. The reconciliation flows out of the atonement or propitiation,
and this is the meaning of Rom. 5: 11. The R.V. has corrected the error, reading:
"through Whom we now received the reconciliation."
This matter is so close to the heart of the gospel that we would be at pains not to be
misunderstood. Because for the truth's sake we prefer the translation "reconciliation" to
"atonement", let no one miscontrue our motives into a denial of the atonement of the
Lord Jesus Christ. That atonement so fully and carefully set forth in O.T. type is assured
in its N.T. reality by the word translated "propitiation", which comes to us from the
Greek version of the O.T. The blood of bulls and goats never took away sin or touched
the conscience. The blood of Christ has "covered by canceling", and has made the one
and only true atonement for our sins. The reader is directed to the series entitled
Redemption in previous volumes for fuller teaching upon this wondrous theme.
Cremer's note on the two words katallasso and apokatallasso is suggestive:--
"Apo, referring to the state to be left, and kata to the state to be sought after . . . . .
katallasso is the setting up of a relationship of peace not before existing; apokatallasso is
the restoration of a relationship of peace which has been disturbed; c.f. apokathistemi,
apokatorthoo."
Exclusive to Paul.
Of all the N.T. writers, it will be observed that the words katallasso, katallage and
apokatallasso are used only by Paul, for to him was committed the fulness of grace that