# Expiation ## Catechism of the Catholic Church The act of redemption and atonement for sin which Christ won for us by the pouring out of his Blood on the cross, by his obedient love "even to the end" (_Jn_13:1) ([[1.2.2.2.p1e#^ccc-433|433]], [[1.2.2.4.p1o#^ccc-616|616]], [[2.2.2.4.p4g#^ccc-1475|1475]]). The expiation of sins continues in the mystical body of Christ and the communion of saints by joining our human acts of atonement to the redemptive action of Christ, both in this life and in Purgatory. ## Ignatius Catholic Study Bible *Expiation* ([[1-john-02#^1-john-02-2|1 Jn 2:2]]) - *Hilasmos* (Gk.): a term that can mean "propitiation" with reference to God or "expiation" with reference to sin. The word is used only twice in the NT ([[1-john-02#^1-john-02-2|1 Jn 2:2]]; [[1-john-04#^1-john-04-10|4:10]]) but is related to othe) but is related to othe) but is related to othe) but is related to othe) but is related to othe) but is related to other biblical terms with a similar meaning ([[luke-18#^luke-18-13|Lk 18:13]]; [[romans-03#^romans-03-25|Rom 3:25]]; [[hebrews-02#^hebrews-02-17|Heb 2:17]]). In all of these instances, the notion of removing or wiping away sin is in view. The basis for this understanding comes from the Greek OT, where *hilasmos* is a cultic term that refers to an expiatory sacrifice of atonement ([[numbers-05#^numbers-05-8|Num 5:8]]; [[ezekiel-44#^ezekiel-44-27|Ezek 44:27]]; [[2-maccabees-03#^2-maccabees-03-33|2 Mac 3:33]]). John interprets the death of Jesus along the same lines: the shedding of his blood on the Cross was an act of sacrifice that takes away the sins of the world ([[john-01#^john-01-29|Jn 1:29]]; [[1-john-01#^1-john-01-7|1 Jn 1:7]]) (CCC 457, 614). ### Sources [[23-first-john-commentary#^r2vk2d|Expiation — word study]]