redemption

Deliverance by a ‘redeemer’ from some evil by paying a price. Slaves could be redeemed (released) by that means. If an ox gored someone to death, the irresponsible owner was liable to execution, but a ransom could be paid to rescue him (Exod. 21:30). The kinsman who has the right to redeem by payment is known as the go'e l in Hebrew, and the same word is used of Yahweh as the deliverer of his people (Isa. 41:14). The epistles claim that Christ redeemed people ‘from the present evil age’ (Gal. 1:4) or bondage to the devil (Heb. 2:14–15). This redemption is both already effected (Rom. 8:29) and yet also awaiting final completion with the destruction of death (Rom. 8:23). As in the OT, NT writers also mention that God has redeemed a people for himself (Rev. 5:9), and the death of Christ is proclaimed as redeeming mankind from the consequences or punishment for their sins (Gal. 3:13).

There was a doctrine of a Redeemer in Gnosticism. He was thought to descend in disguise to the earth from a spiritual realm to enlighten mankind with some knowledge (gnosis) of their identity. Gnosticism in a Christian setting did not regard the work of Christ as delivering from sin but rather as leading people to self-realization.