offering

The Letter to the Hebrews 9:28 (NABRE) contains a description of what Jesus Christ achieved in his first coming and a promise of what he will bring when he comes again: “So also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.” In the Greek text, there’s an interesting connection between the idea of being offered and taking away sin. Both words are built on the same root, φέρω (fero), a word that means “carry.”

The word translated as offering, προσφέρω (prosfero), starts with a preposition that means “to” or “toward” and so means “bring to.” An offering is something we bring and the act of offering is the act of bringing something. The word translated as “take away,” ἀναφέρω (anafero), comes from the same root with the addition of a prefix meaning “up.” This word means “pick up” or “bear.”

The sense in which Jesus “takes away” our sins is that he himself picks them up and carries them. The connection of these words through their root implies that our sins become a part of the offering Jesus makes to God. He has picked them up and carried them to God. By his own sacrifice, Jesus is able to make our sins and transgressions an acceptable and pleasing offering to God.

related topic: guilt offering

you also may like our study of the Letter to the Hebrews (digital only)
Many Christians struggle to understand one of the central mysteries of our faith: how Jesus can be both human and divine at the same time. The Letter to the Hebrews: An Explanation of the Mechanism of Our Salvation, an 18-lesson Catholic Bible study with an imprimatur, offers an in-depth look at the way in which Jesus’ dual nature allows for the salvation of humanity. The Letter to the Hebrews is designed to provide information that will encourage Christians to remain faithful. Click on the book’s cover to view a sample lesson.

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