Observations on Placatory vs. Expiatory

 “Forgiveness” (ἱλαστήριον).  According to C. H. Dodd, ἱλαστήριον means “not propitiation, but ‘a means by which guilt is annulled,’” that is, “a means by which sin is forgiven” (The Epistle of Paul to the Romans, Fontana Books).  The placatory theory is, he observes, a purely pagan one, whereas the expiatory theory “is found in scores of passages” in the Septuagint.  We might suppose that the ἱλαστήριον might have been understood by our hymnographer as referring to the effect of the sacrifice of Christ—the forgiveness of sins.  In the same way, we find that ἱλασμός advances from meaning a means of appeasing, propitiation to meaning forgiveness (Abbott-Smith).   Akathist to the Protection of the Mother of God.