Lamb of God
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Lamb of God (Latin: Agnus Dei) is one of the titles given to Jesus in the New Testament and consequently in the Christian tradition. It is believed to refer to Jesus' role as a sacrificial lamb atoning for the sins of man in Christian theology, harkening back to ancient Jewish Temple sacrifices in which a lamb was slain during the passover, the blood was sprinkled along the door, and the lamb was eaten.
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[edit] Biblical references
The title is first found twice in the Gospel of John:
- The next day he [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)
- The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." (John 1:35f)
The image of Jesus as Lamb is also very prominent in the Book of Revelation, where Jesus is referred to as Lamb twenty-eight times. However, Book of Revelation uses a different Greek word for Lamb: the apocalyptic picture of a ruling and victorious lamb should probably not be read into the title "Lamb of God" in the Gospel of John. However, even if the "Lamb of God" title does not in itself imply victory, Revelation clearly identifies this victorious lamb as having been the sacrificial offering: "you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God" (Rev 5:9).
The title also appears in Acts 8:32, 1 Cor 5:7 (implied), and 1 Peter 1:19.
Also, note that some scholars such as Thomas McElwain consider the belief that Jesus has already paid the whole price for sin as a later belief, one unknown to any of the disciples of the first century. They argue that "the followers of Jesus Christ went on participating in the sacrificial system of the temple in Jerusalem until its destruction in AD 70" and "the apostolic church, for more than a generation after the ascension of Jesus, still offered the Old Testament sacrifices." The Epistle to the Hebrews clearly teaches that Jesus replaces the temple service, its sacrifices and its priests. But they argue that "the historical fact is that such belief came only in connection with the destruction of the temple." The composition of the book of Hebrews has been dated to shortly after the Pauline epistles were collected and began to circulate, circa AD 95 which is after the destruction of the temple.[1]
[edit] Background
The Biblical significance of the title is rendered in the context of earlier lamb symbolism.
The blood of the paschal lamb of the Old Testament protects and saves the Israelites in Exodus 12. This link is made explicit in 1 Corinthians 5:7. For Paul, Christians are saved by Christ as their true paschal lamb.
The Old Testament also testifies to the earlier practice of sin offerings as a possible means of atonement. Lambs could be used in these offerings (e.g. Leviticus 4:32-34 and 5:6), and this link is strongly suggested by John 1:29 and 1 Peter 1:19. Like the sin of a person could be forgiven through the offering and the pouring out of the blood of an "unblemished" lamb (cf. Lev 4:32), so Christians would be freed from sin by the blood of Jesus as the unblemished Lamb of God. See Sin for further discussion about the concept of sin and the means of atonement in Judaism.
Lastly, Christians believe that the suffering servant of Isaiah 53 refers to Jesus. An extreme minority position emerged in the Jewish community (go jews) in the 20th Century following the Holocaust. Some identify the servant as Israel personified arguing that the identity of the servant has already been established by Isaiah in previously stated passages (Isaiah 41 :8-9; 44:1-2, 21; 45:4; 48:20; 49:3). According to a Christian translation of the Isaiah 53, the suffering servant remains silent "like a lamb led to the slaughter" (53:7) and "gives his life as an offering for sin" (53:10). Christians add that this link is explicit in Acts 8:32 and strengthens the idea of Jesus as a sin offering.
Geza Vermes posited that the title Lamb of God does not necessarily refer to the metaphor of a sacrificial animal. He points out that in Galilean Aramaic the word talya, literally "lamb," had the common meaning of "male child". This is akin to "kid" meaning "child" in modern colloquial English. The female equivalent of Talya was Talitha, literally "ewe lamb" and figuratively "girl" (the word is found in the Narrative of the Daughter of Jairus). Thus, "Lamb of God" could have been a slang means of saying "Son of God" or "God's Kid".
[edit] Mass
Lamb of God is also the popular name of a litany beginning with these words used in the Roman Catholic Mass and in the worship services of many other churches. It is said to have been introduced into the Mass by Pope Sergius I (687–701). Based upon John 1: 29, the Latin form (with translation) is:
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
This litany is spoken or sung during the Rite of Fraction and Commingling.
In a Requiem Mass, the words "miserere nobis" are replaced by "dona eis requiem" (give them rest) and "dona nobis pacem" by "dona eis sempiternum requiem" (give them eternal rest).
It is also appended to many of the Church's litanies. In the Church of England, it is acceptable for the "Agnus Dei" to be sung in English by the choir during the administration of Holy Communion, provided that the reception of the elements is not delayed till its conclusion.
In the Roman Catholic Church, this name also refers to a small cake made of the wax of the Paschal candle and impressed with this figure. Since the 9th century, it has been customary for the Pope to bless these cakes, and distribute them on the Sunday after Easter among the faithful. In modern times the distribution has been limited to persons of distinction, and is made by the Pope on his accession and every seven years thereafter.
[edit] Divine Service
In the Lutheran Divine Service the Agnus Dei is sung in English after the Words of Institution and before the distribution of Holy Communion. After it is sung Holy Communion follows.
[edit] Other uses
For other uses of the Latin term Agnus Dei, see Agnus Dei.
Lamb of God is also the name of an American metal band from Richmond, VA.
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
- The Lamb (In Early Christian Symbolism) - Catholic Encyclopedia article
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ 1) Thomas McElwain, Islam In The Bible, Printed In Great Britain for Minerva Press, ISBN 0-7541-0217-3
