λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν (Lytron anti pollōn)

MEANINGA ransom in exchange for many / in the place of many. Mark 10:45. The atonement's substitutionary nature (anti --- in the place of) and its scope (pollōn --- the many/multitude). The NT's most direct single-verse statement of substitutionary atonement.

GRAMMARLytron: ransom, redemption price (from lyō --- to loose, release). Anti: in the place of, instead of, in exchange for --- the substitutionary preposition. Pollōn: genitive plural of polys (many). In Isaiah 53:11-12 (the Servant who justifies/bears sin of 'many' --- rabbim), 'the many' means the multitude --- not a restriction on scope. 1 Timothy 2:6 expands: antilytron hyper pantōn (ransom for all) --- polys → pas.

SIGNIFICANCEThe lytron anti pollōn establishes substitutionary atonement (anti --- in the place of). The scope expansion from pollōn (many) to pantōn (all) in 1 Timothy 2:6 shows that 'many' means the multitude --- the ransom was paid for all people. Thread 7's open invitation is grounded on a finished work: the ransom has been paid; the water of life is 'without price' (Revelation 22:17) because the price has been permanently, fully paid (tetelestai --- John 19:30).

KEY VERSE / SCRIPTURESMark 10:45; Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:6 (antilytron hyper pantōn --- ransom for all).

CROSS-REFERENCESMark 10:45 · 1 Timothy 2:6 · τετέλεσται tetelestai (the payment's completion) · ἱλασμός hilasmos (1 John 2:2)