(Originally Published as 7 Booklets, Copyright © 1989 by Richard Scott)
Believe it or not, there are many concepts about salvation -- what it supposedly is, how it's obtained, why it is necessary -- but few, if any, of them are based upon actual truth.
Just what is salvation and why do we need it?
More importantly, it we do need it, how can we obtain it?
As was apparent, when we briefly explored the related area of scriptural authority versus modern biblical idolatry (in the first installment in this series), the truth on this subject is a paradoxically simply yet difficult to discover gem of true wisdom and knowledge.
What Is False Salvation?
Far too many people trust and put their faith in falsehoods that promise salvation, but are utterly unable to grant this worthy gift.
For example, the belief that the modern bible is "the Living Word" is an abominable falsehood, because it presumes to view an inanimate object as capable of granting salvation, or of having some sort of "magical" power.
This is nothing more or less than ancient pagan idol worship in a new religious guise.
There is, in fact, only one living Word; and that is the Savior Himself ("John" 1:1-5, 9-11, 14).
Any attempt to present or worship a book in this light is a deceitful attempt to claim that an idol, a work of man's hands, can somehow grant you salvation!
Another way to understand the falsehood of this approach is to understand just what salvation actually is, and why it is necessary.
Ever since the start of man's time on this earth, the adversary has palmed off on mankind a substitute doctrine of salvation; one that in reality only leads men and women to ultimate and utter destruction instead.
This false doctrine has been the origin and source of all ancient and modern pagan philosophies, pseudo-religions, and even atheistic and agnostic concepts, all claiming to offer the one and only accurate and true view of life, death and your ultimate purpose for existing, in light of the fact that we are all mortal and eventually die.
Why Salvation Is Needed
From the very beginning, mankind as a whole has been deceived about our reason for living and why we are mortal.
According to the scriptural account, the first lie told to trusting, gullible Eve was: "You shall not surely die" (Genesis 3:4).
Of course, this lie is evident in the fact that we do indeed die or perish; but even so, most people prefer believing that we somehow continue to exist in spite of death.
This belief makes salvation out to be, at best, unnecessary, because who needs to be saved from never-ending existence in some form or other?
Indeed, if the false teaching that you have an "immortal soul" is true, then the teaching of salvation through resurrection from the dead, taught throughout scripture, is nothing less than a hypocritical contradiction.
Why would anyone, whose "soul" has supposedly been "freed from its mortal body at death," need to be resurrected physically?
Yet the famous "valley of dry bones" vision and prophecy of "Ezekiel" reveals that just such a physical resurrection of the dead will one day take place ("Ezekiel" 37:1-14).
Contrary to what most people would expect, from the "immortal soul" belief based on a false understanding of the word "soul," as it is used in scripture, this word merely means "person" in most places, and "breath" in all the other places where it occurs.
In total scriptural context, this word simply means "life."
For example, Genesis 46:25-27 describes living people as "souls," as in the phrase: "all the souls were sixty-six" (verse 26).
The death penalty is described as a man's (or woman's) "soul shall be cut off" throughout the Pentateuch (the five books of Moses).
This is found in numerous verses of scripture (cf. Genesis 17:14; Exodus 12:15, 19, 31:14; Leviticus 7:20, 21, 25, 27, 19:8, 22:3; Numbers 9:13, 15:30, 31, 19:13, 20).
The "New Testament" also confirms this use of the word translated "soul," as in Acts 2:41: "...and the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls."
In other words, about three thousand people were converted and joined the congregation of the elect at Yaravsalem on that occasion.
Quoting Genesis 46:27, as recorded in Acts 7:14, Stephen spoke of the "...seventy-five souls" who were Ya'acob's relatives (Stephen quoted from a more original version of scripture than the source for either the KJV or NIV translations, which each say "seventy" instead of "secenty-five" -- but see the Septuagint version for a more accurate translation).
And in I Corinthians 15:45, Paul said: "The first man Adam was created a living soul" (Note: Not a "pre-existing soul" given a physical body).
Finally, in I Peter 3:20 we read that "...eight souls were saved from water" through the terrible worldwide flood in Noah's day; that is, Noah and his family, including his wife, three sons and their wives, who were saved in the ark.
Can Souls Perish?
We have just read how souls, or people, can be saved alive.
But what does scripture teach us about death and souls?
Do souls somehow survive death? Or do souls perish, which is death?
Scripture, in fact, often says souls can and do perish.
Compare Leviticus 23:30: "And whatsoever soul it be that does any work in that same day [Atonement, verse 27] , the same soul I will destroy from among his people."
Psalm 40:14 says: "Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it."
Psalm 63:9 reiterates: "But those who seek my soul, to destroy it...."
These verses reveal that men (or women) can destroy the souls, or lives, of other men and/or women.
Men or women can also destroy their own souls: "But whosoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding: whoever does that destroys their own soul" (Proverbs 6:32; the masculine includes also the feminine, such as the words normally translated "he" and "him," as in most English renditions of this verse).
Souls can also be spared, saved or delivered from death: "For you have delivered my soul from death" (Psalm 56:13; Psalm 116:8 says the same); and: "Let my soul live, and it [or "I"] shall praise you" (Psalm 119:175).
Proverbs 23;14 says: "You shall beat him with the rod, and shall deliver his soul from the grave."
While "Jeremiah" 38:17, 20 reveals: "If you will assuredly leave...your soul shall live, and this city will not be burned with fire; and you shall live, and your family. ...so it shall be well with you, and your soul shall live."
Souls are also subject to death: "He made a way for His anger; He spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to pestilence; and killed all the firstborn of Egypt" (Psalm 78:50-51).
And this is nowhere more apparent that in Ezekiel 18:4, 20: "The soul that sins, it shall die."
"Matthew" 10:28, however, seems to contradict this, unless you correctly understand the meaning of the final words of the verse: "And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul: rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in the lake of fire."
Based on all the scriptural evidence we have just seen, verses the Savior often quoted (in this particular instance He was quoting Isaiah 8:12, 13, 51:7-8 and "Jeremiah" 1:8), this last scripture can in no way be misconstrued to support the false "eternal soul" doctrine.
Once you correctly understand the true full meaning of the word "soul," as used everywhere in scripture, this fact becomes crystal clear.
New Testament Confirms Real Meaning of "Soul"
The New Testament word for "soul" in "Mathew" 10:28 is elsewhere translated "life" in many places, such as in Mark 3:4, where you read: "And He said to them, 'Is it lawful to do good on the sabbaths, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill?" (cf. also Luke 6:9).
This is also seen throughout the first four books of the New Testament, in the adage: "Whoever will seek to save his life shall lose it, and whoever will lose his life shall find it" ("Matthew" 10:39, 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24, 17:33; "John" 12:25).
Even in the New Testament, "souls" are said to be subject to death, as for example in James 5:20, where it says: "He who converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."
Other examples are I "John 3:16, for instance: "He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
Revelation 8:9 also says: "And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died," while Revelation 12:11 adds: "...and they loved not their lives unto death."
The Greek word translated "soul" (Strong's Concordance Greek dictionary listing #5590, psuche) is also translated "life" and "lives" in these last two verses.
So obviously, whatever "Mathew" 10:28 says, it does not say that we have an "immortal soul."
If the word were translated "life" in this verse, as it should be, the meaning would be more clearly and apparently shown:
"And do not fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the life: but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both life and body in the lake of fire."
Life, or the spirit of breath which makes your life possible, does not exist separate from your physical body, other than in the ability of your Creator to recreate, via your resurrection from the dead, your character, nature and memories along with the physical body in and through which these find their expression.
Salvation Through Resurrection
This re-creation is known in scripture as the resurrection from the dead.
For the righteous this resurrection is to never-ending life (Revelation 20:6, 22:3-5, 14). For the unrighteous, or wicked, the resurrection is to everlasting, or eternal, punishment through a temporary physical resurrection to face judgment, followed by the second, permanent, death in the volcanic lake of fire, or molten lava (Revelation 20:11-15).
From this final death there is no hope for any further resurrection or life.
The hope of salvation, therefore, is to qualify for the resurrection to never-ending life, rather than this final resurrection to permanent death; the punishment awaiting the totally rebellious sinners (lawbreakers), who utterly refuse to repent (change), and thereby gain salvation!
Is Salvation Assured?
There are many who believe that all our Creator requires for them to be saved is to merely confess their sins and belief in whatever religious conception of a "savior" (usually in the name found in modern English bibles, rather than His true and only sacred name), who also wrongly believe in the adage: "once saved, always saved," in the context of their present physical life.
In other words, they believe that once they are converted to whatever denomination they choose or grew up in, that they are then and there "saved," and that it is then impossible for them to ever lose out on salvation, no matter what.
Needless to say, this idea is based on many woefully misapplied or misunderstood scriptures, not to mention many other scriptures which must be totally ignored, overlooked or "explained" away, by those anxious to lend support to this falsehood at any cost, rather than follow inspired scripture.
Before you decide which way you believe is right, and which is wrong, please carefully examine what the scriptures have to reveal on this most vital topic.
After all, with something as important as your future life at stake, you want to be absolutely certain, don't you!?
What did the apostle Paul think about salvation? Did he believe "once saved, always saved?"
Or did Paul know the truth that nobody is actually saved until they die, perfect in (true) faith, and are then resurrected to receive the final reward of salvation?
Paul wrote: "But I keep my body in check, and bring it into subjection: lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway" (I Corinthians 9:27).
What was Paul saying here?
Simply that he knew it was indeed possible, in spite of his amazing calling and mighty work converting so many hundreds or thousands of others, for Paul to have left the way of truth, and thus lose out on salvation in the end.
So Paul was wise and kept a close watch on himself, to ensure that his human nature would not, in the end, win out over the Spirit of truth, and lead him astray into unrepentant error.
The Crown of Life
Paul, as did the other apostles and prophets in scripture, referred to salvation -- by way of analogy -- as a crown, which the righteous will receive in the resurrection.
Notice how Paul explained this in the followng passages:
"And if a man strives also for mastery, yet he is not crowned, unless he strives lawfully" (II Timothy 2:5).
"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which Yahveh, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all those who likewise desire His appearing" (II Timothy 4:6-8; true sacred name restored to text).
Notice exactly what Paul said just prior to the scripture you have already read in I Corinthians 9: "Don't you know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? So run, so that you may obtain. And everyone who strives for the mastery is temperate in all things.
"Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible one. I therefore also run, not aimlessly; also I fight, but not as one who merely shadow boxes" (I Corinthians 9:24-26).
Here is what some of the other authors of the New Testament said on this subject:
"Blessed is the man who endures temptation [without succumbing to it]; for after he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which Yahveh has promised to those who care for Him" ("James" 1:12).
"And when the chief Shepherd appears, you shall receive a crown of glory that will never fade away" (I Peter 5:4).
"Fear none of those things that you will suffer...you be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you a crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).
Here again, in this last verse, is a clear indication that the crown of life could be lost, or taken away, if you are not careful and don't hold fast to what you are given in the way of pure truth.
Sadly, most tenaciously cling to error and falsehood, rejecting the truth, thinking and believing that they are doing just the opposite. A clear indication of this is the fact that, in so doing, they are taking the easy, comfortable, well-traveled path so many others are also following to judgment.
Those who do this are neglecting to recall, or have never heard, the Savior's sharp words of warning:
"Enter in at the strait [difficult; persecuted] gate: because wide [easy; comfortable] is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in there; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leads to life, and there are few who find it" ("Matthew" 7:13-14; Luke 13:24).
These verses of scripture, especially for those caught up in a contrary religious experience of very popular denominations and creeds -- whose members all mistakenly think that they are already saved or assured of salvation -- ought to sound loud and strident, unending warning alarms in your mind.
You should never, ever, take salvation for granted! Through Paul's writings, the Savior warns you clearly, unequivocally and unmistakeably:
"Therefore, let whoever thinks he [or she] stands take heed lest he fall" (I Corinthians 10:12).
You are also warned directly, by the Savior's own words, where He says: "Take heed that no one deceives you" ("Matthew" 24:4; Mark 13:5; Luke 21:8).
Similar warnings are found in other scriptures:
"Let no one deceive you with vain words" (Ephesians 5:6). "Beware lest any one spoil you through hollow and deceptive philosophy, according to human traditions and the basic principles of the world, rather than on the anointed King of kings and Priest of Priests" (Colosians 2:8).
"Let nobody deceive you by any method: because that day will not come, unless there first comes a rebellion, and the man of sin [lawlessness] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction" (II Thessalonians 2:3).
This man, who will preach false salvation, will be someone the entire world will embrace and follow, becasue of all the comforting, easy to swallow lies and things he will teach them (Revelation 13:4, 8, 14; and also: Daniel 11:31-32).
Unknown to most of his loyal and faithful followers, what this man says will actually be blasphemous (Revelation 13, verses 1, 5, 6), and will actually be cursing the true Creator and Savior, as if they are some alien interlopers, which will inspire most rebellious, sinful and arrogant modern men and women to do the same eventually (Revelation 16:9, 11, 21; and see: Daniel 11:36-38)!
The Meaning of Salvation
As with so many other concepts in modern bibles, the translators have transformed several words of original Ibreya (ancient "Hebrew") -- each with its own distinct, unique meaning -- into the one English word "salvation."
This process tends to dilute the intent of original inspired scripture, and it leaves you -- without concerted effort studying concordances, lexicons and assorted other original language resources -- all too often confused and unsure of the intended meaning of scripture.
Even such resources are not perfect, because the men and women who produce them are often not inspired, as were the authors of the scriptures they profess to help you study.
Even then, no one is perfect, and mistakes or typos are bound to creep in, particularly in older works, such as Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, in the process of being re-typeset and republished by one publisher after another.
When considering what is known today of the definitions of the words used by these ancient authors, it is always necessary to ponder the possible etymological -- or root origins -- meaning of each word.
In other words, where might it have originated in the culture you find revealed in scripture?
Granted, this is a lot like solving a puzzle by comparing its individual pieces with one another to see how their color or shape does or doesn't match.
In the New "Testament" (actually, covenant), the two words translated "salvation" are actually closely related in the Greek. They are (Strong's #s 4991 soteria, meaning: "rescue or safety;" and 4992 soterion, meaning: "defender or (by implication) defence."
The first of these is also translated "saved," "saving," "deliver," and "health," in Luke 1:71; Acts 7:25, 27:34; Romans 10:1; and Hebrews 11:7, respectively.
Bear in mind that these "definitions" are actually the ways each word was translated throughout the King James bible, in the case of Strong's Concordance's language dictionaries.
In the Old "Testament", to which we should look for help in explaining these Greek words, as being translated from an Ibreyan or Aramaic New "Testament" originals, the three words for "salvation" are more distinctly different.
They are (Strong's Hebrew dictionary listing) #s 3444 yasavah, meaning: "something saved;" 3467 and 3468 yasa, meaning: "liberty, deliverance, prosperity;" and 8668 tesevah, from 7768 sava ("to be free; freedom"), meaning: "rescue."
You should immediately see the relation between these words and the modern English words save, safety and salvation.
It isn't unusual to find these words variously translated as follows: 3444, "help," "helping," "welfare," "save," "saving health," deliverance;" 3468, "safety," "saving;" 8668, "deliverance," "help," "victory," and "safety," as well as each being translated "salvation" in other verses.
The Meaning of Salvation by Scriptural Context
Following are some of the key scriptures which reveal the full and original intended meaning of salvation:
3444
"Yahveh is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation: He is my Almighty One, and I will praise Him; my father's Almighty One, and I will exalt Him" (Exodus 15:2).
"The Almighty One...the Rock of his salvation" (Deuteronomy 32:15, translated "Savior" in the NIV; cf. Psalm 62:1-2 and 89:26). "He is the tower of salvation for His king" (II "Samuel" 22:51).
"You shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand still, and watch the salvation of Yahveh over you" (II Chronicles 20:17).
"Salvation belongs to Yahveh: your blessing is upon your people" (Psalm 3:8); "Oh that the salvation of Yasrael were come out of Ziovan! When Yahveh will bring back the captivity of His people, Ya'acob will rejoice, and Yasrael will be joyous" (Psalm 14:7 and 53:6).
"We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our Almighty One we will set up our standards" (or banners; Psalm 20:5); "My Almighty One, my Almighty One, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me...?" (margin: "from my salvation," Psalm 22:1).
"Yahveh is his strength, and He is the saving strength of His anointed. Save [#3467; the same as 3468 in original Ibreya; also translated: "Savior" in some verses.] your people, and bless your inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up forever" (Psalm 28:8-9).
"That your way may be known upon earth, your saving health among all nations" (Psalm 67:2); "Salvation is far from the wicked: because they do not seek your [the Sovereign Creator's] statutes" (Psalm 119:155).
"Yahveh takes pleasure in His people: He will beautify the meek with salvation" (Psalm 149:4); "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace; who brings glad tidings of good, who publishes salvation; who say to Ziovan, 'Your Almighty One rules!'" (Isaiah 52:7).
3467
"Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am the Almighty One, and there is no other" (Isaiah 45:22); "Whoever walks uprightly will be saved" (Proverbs 28:18).
"Rejoice mightily, O daughter of Ziovan; shout aloud, O daughter of Yaravsalem: Look, your King is coming to you: He is just, and has salvation; humble, and riding upon a ass, and upon a colt" (Zechariah 9:9).
"Now understand that I Yahveh saves His anointed: He will hear Him from His sacred heaven with the saving [3468] strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots [or tanks, airplanes, ships, etc.], and others in horses: but we remember the name of Yahveh our Almighty One. They are brought down and fall: but we are raised up, and stand upright. Save, Yahveh: let the King hear us when we call" (Psalm 20:6-9).
"Thus says Sovereign Yahveh...'Look I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. Because you have pushed with side and with shoulder, and shoved all the diseased with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad; therefore I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.... And you, my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your Almighty One,' says Sovereign Yahveh" (Ezekiel 34:20-22, 31).
"I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you" (Ezekiel 36:29).
"Neither will they defile themselves any longer with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: for I will save them out of all their dwelling places, in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their Almighty One" (Ezekiel 37:23).
"Look, Yahveh's hand is not too short that it cannot save; neither His ear too dull to hear: but your lawlessnesses have caused a separation between you and your Almighty One, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear."
"Because your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with lawlessness; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perverseness. No one calls for justice, nor pleads for truth: they trust in conceit, and speak falsehoods; they conceive mischief, and give birth to lawlessness" ("Isaiah" 59:1-4).
"And the afflicted people you will save: but your eyes are on the arrogant, that you may bring them down" (II Samuel 22:28).
"But He saves the poor from the sword [war], from their [the wicked's] mouth, and from the hand of the mighty" ("Job" 5:15); "...and He will save the humble person" ("Job" 22:29).
"My defense is from the Almighty One, who saves the upright in heart" (Psalm 7:10); "For you will save the afflicted people; but will bring down the arrogant stares" (Psalm 18:27).
"Yahveh is near to those who are humble in heart; and saves those who are of a contrite spirit" (Psalm 34:18); "He will judge the poor of the people, He will save the children of the needy, and will break into pieces the oppressor.... He will spare the poor and needy, and will save the lives of the destitute" (Psalm 72:4, 13).
"Nevertheless, He saves them for His name's sake, to make His mighty power known.... And He saves them from the hand of those who hate them, and redeems them from the hand of the enemy.... They forgot the Almighty One, their Savior, who did great things in Egypt" (Psalm 106:8, 10, 21).
"Don't say, 'I will repay evil;' but wait upon Yahveh, and He will save you" (Proverbs 20:22). "For they will cry to Yahveh, because of their oppressors, and He will send them a Savior, and a Mighty One, and He will deliver [save] them" (Isaiah 19:20).
"For I am Yahveh, your Almighty One, the Sacred One of Yasrael, your Savior.... I, even I, am Yahveh; and other than me there is no savior" ("Isaiah" 43:3, 11).
"Truthfully, you are an Almighty One who hides yourself, O Almighty One of Yasrael, the Savior.... Who has declared this from ancient times? Who foretold it long ago? Have not I, Yahveh? And there is no Almighty One other than me; a just Almighty One and a Savior; there is no other like me" ("Isaiah" 45:15, 21).
"I, Yahveh, am your Savior and your redeemer, the Mighty One of Ya'acob" ("Isaiah" 49:26 and 60:16).
"But where are your mighty ones, which you have made? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your distress: for according to the number of your cities are your mighty ones [idols], O Yavdah" ("Jeremiah" 2:28).
"Then the cities of Yavdah and the inhabitants of Yaravsalem will go, and cry to the mighty ones to whom they offer incense: but they will not save them at all, in their time of trouble" ("Jeremiah" 11:12).
"O Yahveh, although our lawlessnesses testify against us, do it for your name's sake: because our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you. O the hope of Yasrael, their Savior in time of trouble..." ("Jeremiah" 14:7-8).
"'Therefore, don't you fear, O my servant Ya'acob,' says Yahveh; 'neither be dismayed, O Yasrael: for look, I will save you from afar, and your offspring from the hand of their captors; and Ya'acob will return, and will be at rest and at ease, and no one will make him afraid'" ("Jeremiah" 30:10 and 46:27).
"'Yet I am Yahveh, your Almighty One from the land of Egypt, and you shall know no mighty one but me: for there is no other Savior but me'" ("Hosea" 13:4).
8668
"Now therefore arise, O Yahveh, Almighty One, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might: let your priests, O Yahveh Almighty One, be clothed with salvation, and let your elect rejoice in your goodness" (II Chronicles 6:41).
"But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahveh: He is their strength in the time of trouble" (Psalm 37:39).
"I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart; I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation: I have not concealed your caring kindness or your truth from the great assembly.... May those who care for your salvation continually say, 'Yahveh be exalted'" (Psalm 40:10, 16).
"Save me from bloodguiltiness, O Almighty One, you Almighty One of my salvation: and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness" (Psalm 51:14).
"Let your mercies come also to me, O Yahveh, even your salvation, according to your word.... My soul faints for your salvation: but my hope is in your word" (Psalm 119:41, 81).
"But Yasrael shall be saved by Yahveh with an everlasting salvation: you shall never be put to shame or disgraced, to ages everlasting" ("Iasiah" 45:17).
""I will bring my righteousness near; it shall not be far away, and my salvation shall not delay: and I will place salvation in Ziovan for Yasrael my glory'" ("Isaiah" 46:13).
"Truthfully, in Yahveh our Almighty One is the salvation of Yasrael" ("Jeremiah" 3:23).
"It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Yahveh" (Lamentations 3:26).
The Name of Deliverance
In addition to all the above, there is another word, Strong's Hebrew dictionary listing #4422 malat, meaning: "be smooth, i.e. (by implication) to escape (as by slipperiness); causitively to release or rescue." It is translated: "escape(d)," "deliverer(ed)," and "save(d)."
Examples of its scriptural context include: "Escape for your life...escape to the mountain" (Genesis 19:17).
"Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the fowlers traps: the snare is broken, and we have escaped" (Psalm 124:7).
"The offspring of the righteous will be delivered" (Proverbs 11:21).
"...he who speaks lies shall not escape....whoever walks wisely, he will be delivered" (Proverbs 19:5, 28:26).
"...that you may save your own life" (I Kings 1:12).
"O Yahveh...deliver my soul" (Psalm 116:4).
"...flee, save your lives" ("Jeremiah" 48:6). "...and deliver every man his soul" ("Jeremiah" 51:6, 45).
"And I have escaped by the skin of my teeth" ("Job" 19:20).
"Therefore, the swift will not escape, and the strong will not strengthen his force, neither will the mighty deliver himself: neither shall the bow handler stand; and he who is swift of foot will not deliver himself: neither will he who rides the horse deliver himself" ("Amos" 2:14-15).
Perhaps the most significant scripture where this word is found is the following: "And it will come to pass, that whosoever will call upon the name of Yahveh will be delivered" ("Joel" 2:32).
In the New Testament, the Greek word usually translated "save(d)" is Strong's Greek dictionary listing #4982 sozo, meaning: "to save, i.e. deliver or protect."
It is this word which is used in both Acts 2:21, quoting Peter quoting this Old "Testament" scripture, and Romans 10:13, where Paul also quoted it, to translate the Ibreyan word malat ("delivered") in the above passage: "And it will come to pass, that whosoever will call on the name of Yahveh will be saved."
So both Peter and Paul knew and taught this vital prerequisite for salvation, which most religions today refuse to teach! Therefore, theirs is a "gospel" of no salvation, which does more to harden men and women in their sinful ways, and hides from them the true good tidings and the only pure truth of real salvation!
Other important passages where the word sozo occurs in the Greek translation of the New "Testament" scriptures are: "And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake: but whoever endures to the end shall be saved" ("Mathew" 10:22; Mark 13:13).
"For whoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it" ("Matthew" 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24, 17:33).
"What does it profit, my brethren, though a man says he has faith, and has no works? Can faith save him?" ("James" 2:14).
"And if the righteous scarcely are saved, what will become of the wicked and the sinner?" (I Peter 4:18).
"I will therefore remind you, though you once knew this, how that the Sovereign, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who refused to believe" ("Jude" 5).
The Good News of Real Salvation
The word translated "gospel" (Strong's Greek dictionary listing #s 2097 and 2098, evangelizo, and evangelion), literally means: "to announce good news," or: "a good message."
Paul emphatically warned against false versions of this good news, pronouncing a double curse upon anyone teaching them (cf. Galatians 1:8-9).
Still, the exact meaning or teaching of the true good news is little known to most people today.
It can be seen revealed in the scriptures on salvation just examined above, and in many other similar scriptures on the subject, which there simply is not enough time or space to explore in this article.
Rather than attempt to piece together the many scriptures on this subject of the real good news of the Kingdom, one scripture in particular fairly well sums up the entire matter.
It is a prophetic message that the entire world will receive, one day in the near future, though perhaps by that time most men and women living on earth will entirely reject it, because of the true name of salvation which they cannot, and will not, accept because of their ingrained but pagan and false religious prejudices.
Here is that message, foretold long ago (around 1,930 years) in advance of this modern age, which it would serve you well to heed, accept and do your best to obey:
"And I saw another angel flying through the air, having the everlasting good news to preach to those who live on the earth.... Saying...'Fear Yahveh, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment has come: and worship Him who created heaven and earth, and the sea, and the wellspring of waters'" (Revelation 14:6-7).