Claim 35

Blood that makes atonement

Leviticus assigns blood an atoning role; First John says Jesus's blood cleanses from sin.

The Old Testament text

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

Translation note: Literally the soul; also in verse 14

The claimed New Testament fulfilment

First John says Jesus's blood cleanses from every sin. Christians see this as the fulfilment of the atoning role assigned to blood in Leviticus.

Rom 3:23–24 · BSB

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

1 Jn 1:7 · BSB

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Why Christians see a prophecy

First John makes a strong conceptual connection: Jesus’s blood cleanses from all sin. The wider passage in Romans also links redemption with his blood. Christians reasonably see Jesus as the climax of sacrificial imagery.

Why it is less convincing

Leviticus regulates animal blood used on Israel’s altar and does not mention a future redeemer. First John gives that imagery a Christian meaning later. The supplied Romans citation is also one verse short of its actual reference to blood.

Our assessment

Plausible typology, not prediction

Christian typology, not prediction

The later blood imagery is real and important. The earlier ritual rule does not independently forecast Jesus.

Sources and further reading

Peter Y. Lee, Leviticus. The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary; Leviticus 17:10–16.
NET Bible translators, NET Bible notes: Leviticus 17:11. Biblical Studies Press; translation and study notes.
William K. Gilders, Blood Ritual in the Hebrew Bible. Johns Hopkins University Press; publisher summary and treatment of Leviticus 17:11.
Christian Eberhart, Sacrifice and the New Testament. St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology; sections on early Christian sacrificial interpretation.
Roy Gane, The blood of Christ: Sacrificial death or moral authority?. Scottish Journal of Theology, Cambridge University Press; Blood as life section.
BSB Publishing, Berean Standard Bible v5.9. BSB Publishing; Leviticus 17:10–14; Romans 3:23–25; 1 John 1:7.

Biblical quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain.