Sacrifice (2378) (thusia/thysia from thuo/thyo = to slay, sacrifice or kill a sacrificial victim; to bring a religious offering to a deity) refers literally to animal sacrifices that were slain and offered on the altar.
Homer (about nine centuries before Christ) used thusia to describe the "smoke or burnt offering." Later the sense of thusia was broadened to mean the actual slaying of a sacrifice. According to Pindar, thusia was the very ritual of sacrifice, the religious service in which a sacrifice was brought.
NIDNTT notes that in classic Greek usage the verb form thuo (which has been in use since Homer some 9 centuries prior to Christ)...
has in secular Gk. the basic meaning of to sacrifice, though originally in connexion with the smoke-offering it meant to smoke, and in particular, in the active form, to offer a smoking or a burnt sacrifice (Homer, Il. 9, 219; Xen., Cyr. 8, 7, 3). Because sacrificial animals or portions of animals-and human beings also-were burnt, thyo also assumed the meaning to slaughter for cultic ends (Hdt., 1, 216; Eur., Iph. Taur. 621). The noun thysia (since Pindar) signifies the ritual of sacrifice as well as the sacrificial animal or any other similar sacrificial gift (Hdt., 4, 60; Thuc., 8, 70). (Brown, Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan - excellent resource for in depth word studies)
Thusia is used figuratively in the NT. Thusia refers to the death of Christ as an offering of Himself to God (Ep 5:2-note). Thusia is used to refer to the volitional choice of a believer to make a consecration or surrender of one's whole life unto God (Ro 12:1-note). thusia refers to the believer's offering of praise and good deeds (He 13:16-note) to God, an offering that is acceptable to God only through Jesus, only on the basis of His shed blood (He 13:15-note). Peter concurs saying we are "to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1Pe 2:5-note)
Someone once said that "Sacrifice is the ecstasy of giving the best we have to the one we love the most."
Detzler notes that...
In the Septuagint Greek Old Testament, this word (thusia) was used to describe the Jewish sacrificial system. It also characterized the action of bringing a sacrifice. In fact, most of the major characters in the Old Testament brought sacrifices. Among them were: Noah (Ge 8:20), Abraham (Ge 12:6), Isaac (Ge 26:25), Jacob (Ge 33:20), Moses (Ex. 17:15), Elijah (1Ki 18:31), and David (2Sa 24:18)....
The words (thusia/thuo - Thuo = 14x in 13v - Mt 22:4; Mk 14:12; Lk 15:23, 27, 30; 22:7; Jn 10:10; Ac 10:13; 11:7; 14:13, 18; 1Co 5:7; 10:20) pertaining to sacrifice occur about 40 times in the Greek New Testament. Jesus gave basic teaching about the priority of sacrifice. In the Sermon on the Mount He warned against bringing a sacrifice when there is sin in one's life (Mt 5:23, 24). Later on He chided some Pharisees, because they substituted sacrifices for mercy (He 9:13; 12:7). When sacrifices were turned into commerce and exploited for personal gain, Jesus struck out literally and expelled the animal salesmen from the temple (Jn 21:12-17). Nevertheless, the earthly parents of Jesus, Joseph and Mary, brought a sacrifice at the time of Jesus' temple dedication (Lk 2:24). Their sacrifice was sincere.
In the Book of Acts, the church moved away from the Jewish sacrificial system. The early Christians realized that Jesus Christ had brought the only perfect Sacrifice, Himself.
It was the perversion of the old sacrifices, the offering to a golden calf, that Stephen condemned in his last sermon (Ac 7:41). The Apostle Paul fulfilled his vow and brought a sacrifice when he returned to Jerusalem at the end of his missionary journeys (Ac 21:26).
The Epistles emphasize the perfection of Christ's sacrifice, and the effectiveness of His death on our behalf. The theme is sounded in Romans, where Paul proclaimed that the sacrificed Saviour made us right with God (Ro 3:23-note, Ro 3:24-note, Ro 3:25-note).
It is in Hebrews, however, that this theme is fully developed. The priesthood of Christ is built on the idea of His atoning sacrifice (He 2:17-note). Part of the priestly task was sacrifice, which was exemplified perfectly in Christ (He 5:1-9). Not only did Christ present Himself as a sacrifice, but His sacrifice was once for all (He 7:27-note). Animal sacrifices could never cleanse one's conscience, but Christ's sacrifice could (He 9:9-14). On the basis of His sacrifice, Christ now exercises an intercessory ministry on our behalf (He 10:11, 12-note).
Because Christ sacrificed Himself on our behalf, Christians are also told to make sacrifices. They should present their bodies as living sacrifices to God (Ro 12:1-2). Their daily lives of separation from sin are an imitation, though a pale one, of the sacrifice of Christ (Ep 5:2-note). When Christians financially support the ministry, they also bring sacrifices to the Lord (Php 4:18-note). In fact, all Christians are priests designated to bring spiritual sacrifices to the Lord (1Pe 2:5-note, 1Pe 2:9-note).
Because of the deep significance attached to the sacrifice of Christ, the New Testament is strong in condemning sacrifices to idols. At the Jerusalem Council all of the apostolic leaders agreed to denounce sacrifices to idols (Acts 15:29). Paul insisted that idols were no gods at all; in fact they were nothing but bits of wood or stone (1Co 8:1, 4, 7).
Since Christ has been sacrificed, all other religious sacrifices are out of date. The only acceptable sacrifice is the sacrifice of worship and service which dedicated believers bring to their Lord. (Detzler, Wayne E: New Testament Words in Today's Language. Victor. 1986 [out of print] - If you enjoy word studies, this 407 page volume offers some excellent insights and illustrations on a number of Greek words - I would give it 5/5 stars.)
Thusia - 28x in the NT -
Matthew 9:13 "But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Comment: This verse is an excellent "commentary" on Hebrews 10:8 - God took no delight in sacrifices as such if they were not the product of a proper attitude. The same comment would apply to the next two uses of thusia below.
Matthew 12:7 "But if you had known what this means, 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,' you would not have condemned the innocent.
Mark 12:33 AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE'S NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
Luke 2:24 (Context Jesus' parents offering sacrifice - Lk 2:22, 23) and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, "A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS."
Luke 13:1 Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
MacArthur comments: Evidently, some worshipers from Galilee were condemned by Rome—perhaps because they were seditious zealots (see Mt 10:4)—and were sought out and killed in the temple by Roman authorities while in the process of offering a sacrifice. Such a killing would have been the grossest sort of blasphemy. Incidents like this inflamed the Jews’ hatred of Rome and finally led to rebellion, and the destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 70. (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word or Logos)
Acts 7:41 "At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 "But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, 'IT WAS NOT TO ME THAT YOU OFFERED VICTIMS AND SACRIFICES FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, WAS IT, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL?
Comment: From the outset when Israel was solemnly given the law, they rebelled against the Giver and only Living God and willfully turned to worthless and lifeless idols.
Romans 12:1-note Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
John Sutherland Bonnell - "Take that gift God has entrusted to you, and use it in the service of Christ and your fellowmen. He will make it glow and shine like the very stars of heaven."
John Benton - Sacrifice is the giving up of something we genuinely value in order to express our devotion to God.
Jim Elliot - He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
C T Studd - If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for him.
Amy Carmichael poetically pictures the living and holy sacrifice of Romans 12:1 in her famous poem...
Give me the love that leads the way,
The faith that nothing can dismay,
The hope no disappointments tire,
The passion that will burn like fire.
Let me not sink to be a clod;
Make me thy fuel, Flame of God.
1 Corinthians 10:18 Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar?
Ephesians 5:2-note and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Philippians 2:17-note But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
Vine comments that thusia: "here stands for the victim, not for the act of sacrificing. While in one aspect the believers were the sacrifice, as being consecrated to God, each being “a living sacrifice,” and that by reason of their faith, yet in Paul’s view here they were the offerers, their faith was the sacrifice, and Paul was the libation." (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson or Logos)
R. G. LeTourneau (read his bio!) (1888-1969) was a man who typifies "the sacrifice" of his faith. Having become a multi-millionaire from the invention and production of earth-moving machinery he used his machinery and money to build roads in Latin America to open the jungle for missionary advance. He founded a Christian university in LeTourneau College in Longview, Texas (one of my disciples opens each morning's class with the sola Scriptura devotional of the day - Daily Light indicating LeTourneau U. has not drifted from its Christian moorings!). LeTourneau's legacy included building large Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches at Lima. Though LeTourneau made millions, he gave nine-tenths of it to the Lord's work (so much for the "tithe"!), setting a high standard for the sacrifice of faith! As F B Meyer once said (and as proven truth in LeTourneau's life and continuing legacy) "God will be our compensation for every sacrifice we have made."
The famous orphanage founder and man of prayer George Mueller said that "Self-denial is not so much an impoverishment as a postponement: we make a sacrifice of present good for the sake of a future and greater good."
Philippians 4:18-note But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.
Hebrews 5:1-note For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;
Hebrews 7:27-note who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
Hebrews 8:3-note For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.
Hebrews 9:9-note which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience,
Hebrews 9:23-note Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Hebrews 9:26-note Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Hebrews 10:1-note For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.
Hebrews 10:5-note Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, "SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME;
Hebrews 10:8-note After saying above, "SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE in them" (which are offered according to the Law),
Hebrews 10:11-note Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;
Hebrews 10:12-note but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,
Hebrews 10:26-note For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Hebrews 11:4-note By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.
Hebrews 13:15-note Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. 16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Comment: Webster defines sacrifice as the act of offering to a deity something precious! Here thusia is used metaphorically to describe their volitional offering of their words.
1 Peter 2:5-note you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Thusia - 229" class="scriptRef">29" class="scriptRef">29.9" class="scriptRef">9" class="scriptRef">95" class="scriptRef">5" class="scriptRef">5x in the non-apocryphal Septuagint (LXX) (Often rendered offering in NAS) - 3" class="scriptRef">Gen 4:3, 5; 14" class="scriptRef">14.8.31" class="scriptRef">31" class="scriptRef">31" class="scriptRef">31" class="scriptRef">31.54" class="scriptRef">31:54; 6" class="scriptRef">6.1" class="scriptRef">46:1; 25" class="scriptRef">25" class="scriptRef">25" class="scriptRef">Ex 10:25; 12.27" class="scriptRef">12:27; 18.12" class="scriptRef">18:12; 13" class="scriptRef">13.23" class="scriptRef">23.15" class="scriptRef">15" class="scriptRef">15.24" class="scriptRef">24" class="scriptRef">24.5" class="scriptRef">24:5; 29" class="scriptRef">29" class="scriptRef">29.34" class="scriptRef">29:34, 41-Exod.29.46" class="scriptRef">41f; 30:9; 32.6" class="scriptRef">32:6; Lev 1:9, 28.13" class="scriptRef">13" class="scriptRef">13, 17" class="scriptRef">17-Lev.2.23.16" class="scriptRef">16" class="scriptRef">17; 2:1ff, 13ff; 3:1, 3, 6, 9; 4:10, 26" class="scriptRef">26, 31, 35" class="scriptRef">35; 5:13; 14-Lev.6.30" class="scriptRef">6:14f, 20-Lev.6.30" class="scriptRef">20f, 23; 7:9ff, 15ff, 20f, 29, 32, 34, 37" class="scriptRef">37" class="scriptRef">37; 9:4, 17f; 10:12, 14; 14:10, 20f, 31; 17:5, 7f; 19" class="scriptRef">19" class="scriptRef">19" class="scriptRef">19.5" class="scriptRef">19:5; 21.21" class="scriptRef">21.6" class="scriptRef">21:6, 21; 22:21, 29; 23:13, 16, 18f, 37; 26:31; Num 4:16; 5:15, 18, 25f; 6:15, 17f; 7:13, 17, 19, 23, 25, 29, 31, 35, 37, 41, 43, 47, 49, 53, 55, 59, 61, 65, 67, 71, 73, 77, 79, 83, 87f; 8:8; 10:10; 15:3ff, 8f, 24; 16:15; 23:3, 15; 25:2; 28:5, 8f, 13, 20, 26, 28, 31; 29:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18f, 21f, 24f, 27f, 30f, 33f, 37ff; Deut 12:27; 27:7; 32:38; 33:19; Josh 8:30; 22:23, 26ff; Judg 6:18; 13:19, 23; 1Sa 1:21, 24; 2:17, 19, 29; 3:14; 6:15; 9:12f; 10:8; 11:15; 15:22; 16:3, 5; 20:6, 29; 26:19; 2Sa 14:17; 1 Kgs 8:62ff; 12:27; 18:29; 2 Kgs 3:20; 10:19, 21; 16:13, 15; 1 Chr 9:31; 21:23; 23:29; 29:21; 2 Chr 7:1, 5, 12; 29:31; 30:22; 31:2; 33:16; Ezra 7:17; 9:4f; Neh 10:33; Job 1:5; 20:6; Ps 4:5; 20:3; 27:6; 40:6; 50:5, 8, 14, 23; 51:16f, 19; 96:8; 106:28; 107:22; 116:17; 141:2; Prov 7:14; 15:8; 16:7; 21:3, 27; Eccl 5:1; Isa 1:11; 19:21; 34:6; 43:23f; 56:7; 57:6f; 65:4; 66:20; Jer 6:20; 7:21f; 14:12; 17:26; 46:10; Ezek 39:17, 19; 42:13; 44:11, 15, 29; 45:15, 17, 24; 46:5; Dan 2:46; 4:1; 8:11ff; 9:21, 25; 11:31; 12:11; Hos 3:4; 6:6; 8:13; 9:4; Joel 1:9, 13; 2:14; Amos 4:4; 5:22, 25; Jonah 1:16; Zeph 1:7f; 3:10; Zech 9:1; Mal 1:8, 10f, 13; 2:12f; 3:3f
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Greek Word Studies ( - )
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