1 Coríntios 6

1 Coríntios 6:20

Boice writes that "The words agorazo (which means “to buy in the marketplace”—it is based on the Greek word agora, which means “marketplace”) and exagorazo (which means “to buy out of the marketplace” so that the one purchased might never have to return there again) speak of redemption also. Together these words describe how Jesus entered into the marketplace of sin and at the cost of his own life purchased us to himself so that we might be brought into the glorious liberty that is ours as children of God. (Boice, J. M. Genesis : An Expositional Commentary. Baker Books) Vine comments that agorazo means "to purchase" and is a verb that the NT writers use to direct one's "mind to the fact that a price has been paid… In 1Cor 6:20; 7:23; 2Pe 2:1; Re 5:9; 14:3, 4, it refers to the death of Christ as the price paid by God, or Christ, for the possession of men, whether Jews or Gentiles. (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson) (Bolding added) Vine adds that "In the New Testament there are two distinct words each translated “redeem.” Our English word therefore represents two different ideas. The first is agorazo, which, with its longer form exagorazo [word study], signifies “to buy,” the latter being especially used of the purchase of a slave with the object of securing his freedom; the shorter form points particularly to the payment of the price; the longer also points to the purpose in view. The other word is lutroo, which signifies “to set free,” “to deliver,” corresponding to this are the nouns lutrosis, and its strengthened form apolutrosis, which denote “freeing,” “deliverance.” (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson) The Theological Lexicon of the NT - “You are no longer your own, because you have been bought and paid for” (1Cor 6:20). This mention of payment is significant; for, in the Hellenistic era, the contract of sale is not completed by the mere exchange of agreements; the seller must have received the timē (price), at least the partial down payment that guarantees good faith and excludes the possibility of retraction. Only the payment of the price accomplishes the purchase of the property; so much so that the seller maintains his right to the item until he has received payment for it. This is why so many contracts mention that the payment has in fact been made. In accord with these usages, Re 5:9 specifies that the purchase has been accomplished by the blood of Christ; 1Pe1:19 that the price of the ransom was the precious blood, and this according to Ep 1:7 was the means of redemption (apolutrosis). (Spicq, C., & Ernest, J. D. Theological lexicon of the New Testament 1:26-27). Peabody, MA.: Hendrickson) Vocabulary of the Greek Testament - The verb (agorazo - “buy”) is common in deeds of sale… It is used of the purchase of slaves in OGIS 33823 (the will of Attalus III.—b.c. 133): “to buy from Tasarapion her slave Sarapion,” (Moulton, J. H., & Milligan, G. 1930) The NT background for the use of agorazo relates to the fact that slavery was commonplace in Paul's day (there may have been many as 6 million slaves in the Roman empire). If someone wanted to free a loved one or friend who was a slave, they would pay the purchase price to the slave's master and would then grant them freedom, this transaction being attested to by a written certificate. Gene Pensiero offers some interesting insights on purchased slaves in his discussion of the name of God, Adonai (Master, Lord) writing that… there is something even more that is suggested by the name Adonai. God is never an unreasonable Master and therefore does not ask what cannot be performed. He never requires a task for which He does not equip His servants. In other words, everything God asks us to do is good and just and can be accomplished as we trust Him to enable us to do all that He has asked us to do. In Bible times the relationship of a master and a servant or slave was not necessarily something bad. In fact, a purchased slave had some privileges a hired servant did not. The hired servant who was not an Israelite could not eat the Passover, but the purchased slave could because he was considered a member of the master’s family (Exodus 12:43, 44; Leviticus 22:10, 11, cp Ge 17:13). The purchased slave had the right of the master’s full protection and care. In the absence of an heir a slave could be the one to inherit. Earlier when Abraham talked to his Adonai he spoke of Eliezer, a slave, as his heir (Ge 15:3). (Adonai) Below are the uses of agorazo which are not in the Gospels (where it is used primarily with its commercial or business meaning) and it is notable that 5 NT uses refer to the "buying" of believers (1Co 6:20, 7:23, 2Pe 2:1, Re 5:9, 14:3) where the main point is not the freedom of the redeemed but their new status as slaves of God. In fact, true freedom is not he right to do as you please, but the power to do as you should, and in so doing please the Master. 1Corinthians 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. 1Corinthians 7:23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 1Corinthians 7:30 and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; 2Peter 2:1-note But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Comment: When one understands the meaning of agorazo (bought from slavery to sin unto slavery to Savior - now we are bondslaves of Christ and are to do His will) it makes their denial of Christ's purchase an even more bold-faced affront of the mercy and grace of God in salvation! Revelation 3:18-note I advise you to buy (figuratively speaking) from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Revelation 5:9-note And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Revelation 13:17-note and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Revelation 14:3-note And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. 4-note These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men (Price = Blood of the Lamb = Rev 5:9-note) as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. Revelation 18:11-note "And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more-- Agorazo - 14x in the non-apocryphal Septuagint (LXX) - Ge 41:57; 42:5, 7; 43:4, 22; 44:25; 47:14; Deut 2:6; 1Chr 21:24; 2Chr 1:16; 34:11; Neh 10:31; Isa 24:2; 55:1; Jer 37:12 NIDNTT has this note on the use of agorazo in the Septuagint (LXX)… Where the verb agorazo is used, the reference is normally to commercial purchase (e.g. Ge 41:57; Neh 10:31). Just once, in Lv 27:19, it translates Heb. ga'al, “redeem”, but the object here is a field, not a person. The idea of sacral manumission was not a Jewish one. Da 2:8 preserves an interesting use of exagorazo, where the Chaldeans attempt to evade their fate by “buying time”. (Brown, Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan) PAID IN FULL! — (Click note) You were bought - You were redeemed from the curse of the law, Gal 3:13; from the wrath of God, Eph 2:3; from the bond of the guilt of sin, Ro 3:19, 20, 21; and acquired as God's property (Ep 2:19, Ep 1:14), for a price which was paid to God for your reconciliation with Him, namely, the blood of Christ (Mt 26:28; Ro 3:24, 25, 2Co 5:18, 19, 20, 21, Eph 1:7; 1Pe 1:18, 19, Rev 5:9) We have the same concept in Acts 20:28, although there, as also in 1Cor 7:23 and Titus 2:14, the church is represented as the property of Christ; but see John 17:9… This is the moral obligation arising out of the two things grasped by faith as certainties, 1Co 6:19. (Heinrich A W