Salvation [N] [T] [E]
Of the many Hebrew words used to signify salvation,
yasa[
[;v"y] (to save, help in distress, rescue, deliver, set free) appears most frequently in the Old Testament. Commonly, the deliverance of which the Old Testament speaks is material in nature, though there are important exceptions. In contrast, the employment of
soteria in the New Testament, though it may include material preservation, usually signifies a deliverance with special spiritual significance. In addition to the notion of deliverance the Bible also uses salvation to denote health, well-being, and healing.
Broadly speaking, one might say that salvation is the overriding theme of the entire Bible. But since it is a multidimensional theme with a wide range of meaning, simple definitions are impossible. The biblical writers speak of salvation as a reality with at once spiritual and physical, individual and communal, objective and subjective, eternal and historical dimensions. Since the biblical writers view salvation as a historical reality, the temporal dimensions of past, present, and future further intensify and deepen the concept. Salvation is a process with a beginning and an end. Further, salvation involves the paradox of human freedom and divine election. Despite the complexity of these dimensions, the Bible constantly speaks about salvation in the context of some very simple and concrete relationships — between humans and God, between human beings, and between human beings and nature. God is the main actor throughout, from the deliverance of Noah's family to the great multitude who shout "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (
Rev 7:10 ).
The Old Testament. In general the Old Testament writers see salvation as a reality more physical than spiritual, more social than individual. Where individuals are singled out it seems to be for the good of the community. For example, the Genesis narrative develops the theme of God's blessing, which though resting on certain individuals, renders them agents for some greater work of God. Joseph's rise to fame in Egypt preserves the lives of his entire family (
Gen 45:4-7 ). Through Noah's faithfulness God brings salvation to his family as well as animal life (Gen. 7-9). And the blessing of the promise of nationhood and land for Abraham was not only for his descendants but for all families on the earth (
Gen 12:1-3). After 430 years in Egypt, an entire people is delivered through Moses (Exod. 1-12). Through Esther's rise to power the Jewish people are spared annihilation (
Esther 7 ).
Despite the importance of human agency, salvation is attributed above all to God. None but God can save (
Isa 43:14 ;
Hosea 1:7 ). He is the keeper of his flock (
Eze 34 ) and on him alone one waits for a saving word to penetrate the silence (
Psalm 62 ). Idolatry is an illusion, for the salvation of Israel is in the Lord (
Jer 3:23 ). God is the warrior not Moses who triumphs gloriously over Pharaoh's armies at the sea (
Exod 15 ). Salvation is something to stand and watch, for "The Lord will fight for you; and you need only be still" (
Exod 14:13 ). "In repentance and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength" summons Isaiah (
30:15 ). The content of God's salvation includes personal and national deliverance from one's enemies, deliverance from slavery (
Deut 24:18 ), ongoing protection and preservation from evil (Ps. 121), escape from death (
Psalm 68:19 ), healing (
Psalm 69:29 ;
Jer 17:14 ), inheritance of land, descendants, and long life.
Salvation from sin, though not a dominant concern, is by no means absent, especially in the prophets. As much as he is concerned for Israel's national restoration, Ezekiel stresses the need for salvation from uncleanness, iniquity, and idolatry (
36:22-32 ). Here salvation involves the gift of a new heart of flesh and new spirit, which will finally empower his people to keep the commandments, after which comes habitation in the land. In this passage, too, we encounter a common refrain: such salvation, when it comes, will be neither for the sake of Israel nor her deeds, but for God and his glory, which has been profaned and which now must be vindicated among the nations. Isaiah tells of a salvation still on the way, which will be achieved through the vicarious suffering of the Servant (chap. 53) who bears the sin of many. This salvation will last forever (
51:6 ).
The anticipated salvation of the prophetic writings manifests a tension similar to that which pervades the New Testament. While salvation is a fait accompli God saved Israel from slavery in Egypt unto a covenant relationship with himself Israel still awaits God's salvation. God had saved Israel in the past, and therefore God can be expected to deliver in the future. Whatever else salvation may be from a biblical perspective, its dimensions of "settled past" and "anticipated future" show it in its widest scope to be an elongated reality covering the entire trajectory of history. This recognition has helped recent biblical scholarship to avoid the earlier pitfall of relegating the role of the Old Testament to that of mere preparation or precursor for the gospel. One cannot escape the fact that for the Jews of the Old Testament salvation was not an abstract concept, but a real and present experience. The psalms are replete with praise for God's salvation, which is experienced as joy (
51:12 ). It is a cup of thanksgiving lifted to God (
116:13 ) and a horn (
18:2 ). Elsewhere salvation is depicted as a torch (
Isa 62:1 ), a well (
Isa 12:3 ), and a shield (
2 Sam 22:36 ).