(3) Lamb of the Free

Rillera provides some helpful foreshadowing of what we will see in the book:

  • But Tyndale then used the noun “ atonement , ” and the verb form ” to atone , ” to translate the Hebrew root word k – p – r in the Torah ( Genesis – Deuteronomy ) . But this already makes theological assumptions about the function of Israel’s sacrificial system that Hebrew Bible scholars almost unanimously have demonstrated to be misunderstandings , as will be developed in the next chapter . For a quick teaser : In the piel form , kipper means ” remove ” most broadly , but when used in the sacrificial system it more specifically conveys the idea of “ decontaminate ” or “ purify ” or “ purge ” ( i.e. , removing a contamination clinging to something ) . Hence , kipper does not mean “ reconcile , ” nor “ save , ” nor ” forgive . ” Equally importantly , only holy objects within the sacred dwelling place , or later the temple , receive the ritual action of kipper . In other words , when kipper happens , what is decontaminated or purified is a holy object in the sanctuary , not people . (25)