### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term πάρεσις (páresis, `{{G3929}}`) derives from the verb παρίημι (pariēmi), meaning "to let go," "to relax," "to omit," or "to disregard." Its core semantic range encompasses the ideas of "passing over," "overlooking," or "toleration." It signifies a temporary suspension or a non-punishment of an offense, rather than a complete cancellation or wiping away. This nuance is critical, as πάρεσις does not denote the full, definitive forgiveness or remission commonly associated with the Greek term ἄφεσις (aphesis, `{{G859}}`). Instead, it implies a forbearance, a temporary allowance for something to stand without immediate punitive action. The Strong's definition of "praetermission" precisely captures this sense of omitting or passing by.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term πάρεσις (páresis, `{{G3929}}`) appears only once in the New Testament, in the pivotal theological discourse of Paul's Epistle to the Romans:
* **[[Romans 3:25]]**: "whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins."
In this singular occurrence, πάρεσις is directly linked to God's action concerning "former sins" (τῶν προγεγονότων ἁμαρτημάτων). The context is the demonstration of God's righteousness (δικαιοσύνη, dikaiosynē) through the propitiatory (ἱλαστήριον, hilastērion, `{{G2435}}`) work of Christ. Paul explains that God's righteousness was manifested in two ways: first, by providing Christ as the means of atonement; and second, by validating His past actions. Prior to Christ's atoning death, God, in His divine forbearance (ἀνοχή, anochē, `{{G426}}`), "passed over" or "tolerated" the sins of humanity. This was not an act of ignoring sin or deeming it unimportant, but rather a temporary suspension of immediate judgment. The cross of Christ then served as the ultimate demonstration that this past "passing over" was not an injustice, but a righteous act predicated upon the future, definitive payment for sin. The πάρεσις of former sins thus finds its ultimate justification and meaning in the cross.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding πάρεσις (páresis, `{{G3929}}`) is enhanced by examining its relationship to other key theological terms:
* **ἀνοχή (anoche, `{{G426}}`):** Forbearance, patience, or tolerance. This word appears alongside πάρεσις in [[Romans 3:25]], highlighting God's patient endurance and His willingness to delay judgment. God's ἀνοχή is the disposition that enables the πάρεσις of sins.
* **ἄφεσις (aphesis, `{{G859}}`):** Forgiveness, remission, release, or cancellation. This term signifies a complete and definitive act of forgiveness, a full release from the guilt and penalty of sin. It is the more common word used for the forgiveness offered through Christ's atoning work (e.g., [[Ephesians 1:7]], [[Colossians 1:14]]). The distinction between πάρεσις (a temporary passing over) and ἄφεσις (a complete cancellation) is crucial for appreciating the unique role of Christ's cross.
* **ἱλαστήριον (hilastērion, `{{G2435}}`):** Propitiation, atonement, or expiation. Also found in [[Romans 3:25]], this term refers to the means by which God's wrath against sin is appeased. The propitiatory work of Christ is the ultimate basis that legitimizes God's past πάρεσις of sins.
* **ἀπολύτρωσις (apolytrōsis, `{{G629}}`):** Redemption, liberation through payment of a ransom. While not directly synonymous, the concept of redemption speaks to the ultimate freedom from sin's bondage that Christ secures, building upon the foundation of His atoning work that addressed both past and present sin.
### Theological Significance
The singular occurrence of πάρεσις (páresis, `{{G3929}}`) in [[Romans 3:25]] carries profound theological weight, illuminating critical aspects of God's character and the nature of salvation history:
1. **God's Righteousness Vindicated:** The primary theological function of πάρεσις in this context is to demonstrate God's righteousness. Before Christ, God did not immediately punish every sin with its full due. This "passing over" might, to a casual observer, appear to compromise God's justice. However, Paul asserts that the cross of Christ retrospectively validates God's actions. The propitiation by Christ's blood shows that God was indeed righteous in His forbearance, as the ultimate penalty for those sins would be paid.
2. **The Severity of Sin:** The fact that God's "passing over" of sins required such a monumental event as the death of His Son underscores the gravity and offense of sin. It was not a casual overlook, but a temporary suspension of judgment that demanded a future, definitive resolution.
3. **Retrospective Efficacy of the Atonement:** πάρεσις highlights that Christ's atoning work has a retrospective effect. It not only deals with the sins of those who believe *after* His crucifixion but also provides the righteous basis for God's dealings with humanity *before* it. The cross is the focal point of salvation history, looking both forward to new creation and backward to justify God's past forbearance.
4. **Distinction from Forgiveness:** The careful choice of πάρεσις over ἄφεσις (forgiveness) is deliberate. It teaches that while God did not immediately punish past sins, He also did not definitively forgive them in the same way He does *after* the cross. True, complete, and final forgiveness (ἄφεσις) is available only through faith in Christ's shed blood, which fully cancels the debt of sin. πάρεσις was a temporary measure, a divine holding pattern, until the full revelation of God's righteousness in Christ.
### Summary
πάρεσις (páresis, `{{G3929}}`) signifies a "passing over" or "toleration" of sins, distinct from a complete cancellation or forgiveness. Its sole New Testament appearance in [[Romans 3:25]] is crucial for understanding God's righteous character. There, it refers to God's divine forbearance in not immediately punishing "former sins" committed before Christ's atoning work. This "passing over" was not an act of ignoring sin, but a temporary suspension of judgment, retrospectively validated and justified by the propitiatory death of Christ. The cross demonstrated God's unwavering righteousness, proving that His past patience was not a compromise of justice but a righteous act predicated upon the ultimate payment for sin. Thus, πάρεσις highlights the severity of sin, the retrospective efficacy of the atonement, and the profound distinction between God's temporary forbearance and the definitive forgiveness offered through faith in Christ.
TRV