θυσία

a sacrifice

Definition

θυσία primarily means 'sacrifice' or 'offering' in the New Testament, referring both to the concrete act of presenting something to God and the abstract concept of sacrificial worship. In its literal sense, it denotes the animal sacrifices prescribed in the Old Testament law, such as the purification offering mentioned in Luke 2:24. More significantly, it is used metaphorically for spiritual sacrifices, most notably in Romans 12:1, where believers are called to present their bodies as a 'living sacrifice' to God. The word also appears in Jesus's quotation from Hosea, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice' (Matthew 9:13, 12:7), highlighting a priority of heart attitude over ritual observance.

Biblical Usage

θυσία is used 28 times across the Gospels, Acts, and Epistles, often contrasting old covenant rituals with new covenant realities. In the Gospels, it frequently references the Jewish sacrificial system (e.g., Luke 13:1). In Acts, it describes idolatrous offerings (Acts 7:41-42). The most theologically significant usage is in the epistles, where it describes non-literal, spiritual offerings made to God, such as the sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15) or the offering of the Gentiles (Romans 15:16). Paul's use in Romans 12:1 transforms the concept entirely into a metaphor for Christian dedication.

Etymology

Derived from the verb θύω (thyō, G2380), meaning 'to kill, sacrifice, or offer.' The noun θυσία fundamentally denotes the act or result of sacrificing. It is a common Greek term for religious offerings, adopted into the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) to translate Hebrew words for sacrifice like 'zevach' and 'minchah,' thereby carrying that rich sacrificial context into the New Testament.

Semantic Range

θυσία is central to understanding the shift from the old covenant's physical sacrificial system to the new covenant's spiritual reality. It connects Christ's ultimate sacrifice (though the specific word is not used for the cross) to the believer's response of total self-offering. Grasping its dual literal and metaphorical uses enriches reading by showing how the New Testament reinterprets temple worship into the personal, lived-out worship of the Christian life (Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15-16).

In the 1st-century Greco-Roman and Jewish world, sacrifices (θυσίαι) were universal acts of worship, meant to honor, thank, or appease a deity. For Jews, it was the God-ordained system for atonement and communion with Yahweh, centered on the Jerusalem temple. The Greek cultural understanding included offerings to various gods. The New Testament's metaphorical use would have been striking, redefining true 'sacrifice' not as the death of an animal but as the surrendered life of a believer.

δῶρον (dōron, G1435) — A gift or offering, often used alongside θυσία for general offerings. προσφορά (prosphora, G4376) — An offering or presentation, used for both Christ's sacrifice and believers' offerings. σπένδω (spendō, G4689) — To pour out as a drink offering, a specific type of liquid sacrifice.

Word Details

Scripture References