The word of conciliation

26-05-2025 - Posted by Geert-Jan
Originally posted on May 05, 2022 - by Andre Piet

The concept of ‘conciliation’ is rather complex in our Dutch Bible translations. That is because it is the translation of two completely different Greek words. First, there is the Greek verb KATALLASSŌ which refers to the restoration of a relationship in which enmity and estrangement change into peace. For example, in 1 Cor. 7:11 where Paul writes about a separated wife: “let her remain unmarried or be conciliated to the man…”. This is also the primary meaning of ‘to conciliate’ in our common usage.

conciliate or cover?

In addition, we know the word ‘to conciliate’ in the more religious meaning of the word, which is then the translation of the Greek verb HILASKOMAI, which means ‘to propitiate’. In the LXX (= the Septuagint, i.e. the Greek translation of the Old Testament) this word is the translation of the Hebrew verb KAPHAR (> YOM KIPPUR), which means to cover or to shelter. The first time this word appears in the Bible is in Genesis 6:14, where Noah is told to smear the ark with pitch. KAPHAR is above all the word that is standardly used in connection with the sacrificial service. Objects, materials, people but also sins are covered with blood (Lev. 17:11).
Incidentally, the link between ‘to propitiate’ and ‘to cover’ is less far-fetched than we might think. For do we not also intend ‘to propitiate’ when we dress things up (cover) or paint (also think of make-up)?

not to be mixed together

By now it should be clear that the two aforementioned concepts differ greatly from one another. If we label these distinct concepts with a single translation word, that is a guarantee for confusion. I therefore advocate rendering HILASKOMAI/KAPHAR with ‘to cover’ or ‘to shelter’, and reserving the word KATALLASSŌ for ‘to conciliate’. For what God separates in His Word, we should not merge together…

In this blog I want to further limit myself to the actual word for ‘to conciliate’. We find this concept exclusively with the apostle Paul, namely in the following Scripture passages:

KATALLAGĒ (noun > conciliation): Rom. 5:11
KATALLASSŌ (verb > to conciliate): 1 Cor. 7:11; Rom. 5:10; 2 Cor. 5:18,19,20
APO-KATALLASSŌ (a strengthened form of KATALLASSŌ, in other words, ‘adequate conciliation’, both vertical and horizontal, in other words, toward God but also mutually): Eph. 2:16; Col. 1:20,22

Below, five vital Biblical facts about conciliation listed in a row.

#1. Not God is conciliated to the world, but He conciliates the world to Himself.

Yet all is of God, Who conciliates us to Himself through Christ, and is giving us the dispensation of the conciliation, how that God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them…
–2 Cor. 5:18,19–

Nowhere in Scripture do we find any basis for the idea that God would be hostile so that He first needs to be conciliated to us. It is not the Creator but His creatures who are hostile and estranged. God loves His creation, and it is His glory to conciliate His own creatures to Himself.

#2. Conciliation did not take place at the cross but takes place through the cross.

For if, being enemies, we were conciliated to God through the death of His Son…
–Romans 5:10–

… to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him…
–Colossians 1–

From the traditional thought that God had to be conciliated and satisfied, arose the idea that God would have punished Jesus at the cross as a substitute. In that way God’s indignation would have been appeased at the cross. But no matter how widespread this idea is (‘conciliation through satisfaction’), nowhere in Scripture do we read that God punished His Son at the cross or was indignant over Him.

God was not conciliated at the cross, but He conciliates us through the cross and through the death of His Son. For the cross proves His boundless love: even when the world crucifies His Son, still His love for the world remains undiminished. He is not reckoning these offenses to them either (2 Cor. 5:19). And thus, through the cross, God causes our enmity to ‘melt away’ and makes peace.

#3. To be conciliated does not mean: your sins are forgiven, but: you are no longer an enemy.

For if, being enemies, we were conciliated to God through the death of His Son…
–Romans 5:10–

You, also, being once estranged and enemies in comprehension, by wicked acts, yet now He conciliates you…
–Col. 1:21–

Someone who is conciliated is no longer estranged or hostile. Conciliation is not an administrative action in which God crosses out our debt. That is forgiveness. Conciliation means that I myself am changed: I am no longer an enemy!

#4. Conciliation is not complete until every enemy has become a lover.

… and through Him to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens. You, also, being once estranged and enemies in comprehension, by wicked acts, yet now He conciliates you…
–Col. 1:20,21–

Conciliation takes place (as we saw already) where enmity changes into peace. Believers are those who already now gratefully undergo that. But this conciliation continues until “the all” (Greek. ta panta) is conciliated. Only when all enemies (“whether on the earth or those in the heavens”) have been made lovers of God, is the conciliation complete and total.

#5. “The word of the conciliation” is the proclamation that GOD conciliates the world to Himself. HE makes enemies into lovers.

For if, being enemies, we were conciliated to God through the death of His Son…
–Romans 5:10–

Yet all is of GOD, Who conciliates us to Himself through Christ, and is giving us the dispensation of the conciliation…
–2 Cor. 5:18–

It is GOD Who conciliates enemies to Himself by making them lovers of Himself. That is the heart of “the dispensation of the conciliation”: “all is of GOD” – He transforms enemies into lovers. Enmity is not a hindrance to being conciliated, but rather a prerequisite! For whoever is not estranged or hostile cannot possibly be conciliated. Enmity and estrangement are our part. Conciliation – that is what God does. He alone!

NOT “be reconciled,” but “be conciliated!”

But is Paul’s proclamation in 2 Cor. 5:20 then not that man must let himself be conciliated? And does that formulation not suggest the possibility that man can refuse conciliation?

Indeed, the rendering “be ye reconciled” implies that being conciliated is a choice made by man. But we already established that it is God Who conciliates us. We are being conciliated. We do not do that—it is something we undergo. And also in 2 Corinthians 5:20 the form of the verb ‘to conciliate’ is passive. That is why the translation “be reconciled” is decidedly incorrect, as it requires an activity on man’s part.

But is it not the case that the Greek word is in the imperative mood? And does this not mean that something is indeed expected from man? The answer to that is: no, and to illustrate this verbal form (imperative and passive), I will give a few examples from the Gospels.

• In Matthew 8:3 Jesus says to a man with leprosy: “be cleansed!” And immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.
• In Mark 7:34 Jesus says to a deaf man: “Ephphatha, that is, be opened!” And his ears were opened.
• In Luke 7:14 Jesus says to the deceased young man of Nain: “be roused!” And the young man sat up.

In all these cases, Jesus commands His word without expecting anything from the one being addressed. In fact, nothing could have been expected from them. How could one expect a deaf person to hear? Or a dead man to respond to what is said to him? That Jesus commanded them did not mean He was requesting their cooperation—on the contrary! He commanded because His word would in any case be realized. For He spoke the words of God. And when God speaks, it is there, and when He commands, it stands (Ps. 33:9).

Now then, in the same way, the call “be conciliated!” in 2 Corinthians 5:20 is not an instruction, and not even a request or invitation. It is a declaration! The entire world and every creature that is estranged or hostile is being conciliated. That is absolutely certain, and the outcome is completely independent of man’s opinion or contribution. It is a Divine command! Just as God once commanded, “Let there be light,” so Christ now commands to everyone: you are being conciliated! Behold “the word of the conciliation”!

Delen: