4: Salvation — Yeshuah (OT), Soteria (NT), and Intertestamental Usage

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1. Hebrew Term: Yeshuah — יְשׁוּעָה

Pronunciation: yeh-shoo-AH
Meaning: Salvation, deliverance; God’s saving acts on behalf of His people.

Old Testament Usage:

  • Frequently refers to God’s deliverance of Israel from enemies or peril (Psalm 62:1).
  • Emphasizes both physical rescue and spiritual salvation (Isaiah 12:2).
  • Sometimes used as a personal name (Joshua/Yeshua), signifying salvation.

Intertestamental Usage:

  • The Septuagint translates yeshuah as soteria, aligning with Greek notions of deliverance and preservation.
  • Jewish apocalyptic literature expands salvation themes toward eschatological hope.
  • Emphasis on divine intervention and restoration.

New Testament Usage:

  • Soteria is central to the Gospel message, focusing on spiritual and eternal salvation through Jesus Christ.
  • Emphasizes salvation as a gift of grace received by faith (Ephesians 2:8).
  • Salvation involves deliverance from sin, death, and judgment.

Example Verses:

  • Psalm 62:1 (OT): “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation (yeshuah) comes from him.”
  • Wisdom of Solomon 16:1 (ITL): “For by the power of the Lord’s hand they were saved (soteria)…”
  • Ephesians 2:8 (NT): “For by grace you have been saved (soteria) through faith…”

Comparative Summary:

  • Yeshuah in the OT emphasizes God’s historical and ongoing deliverance.
  • Intertestamental literature bridges the Hebrew concept to a more universal and eschatological soteriology.
  • Soteria in the NT fully reveals salvation in Christ as spiritual and eternal.
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