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Seven Words from the Cross
These seven words may be designated as follows: (1) propitiatory—“Father, forgive”; (2) promissory—“Today you will be with me in paradise”; (3) provisionary—“Dear woman, here is your son”; (4) protestatory—“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”; (5) preemptory—“I am thirsty”; (6) proclamatory—“It is finished”; (7) pacificatory—“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Theologically, these words, in the order given above, illustrate (1) divine forgiveness, (2) assurance of immortality, (3) good works, (4) the awfulness of Christ’s death, (5) the true humanity of Christ, (6) the perfection of Christ’s atonement, and (7) the divine complacency.
Textual problems emerge in two cases.
Bibliography
W. H. Griffith Thomas, “The Words from the Cross,” ExpT XXVII (1915-1916), 46; T. E. Young, “A Fresh Exposition of the Cries from the Cross,” ExpT XXXIX (1927-1928), 93; R. G. Turnbull, The Seven Words From the Cross (1956); J. M. Spurrell, “An Interpretation of ‘I Thirst,’” Church Quarterly Review, 167 (1966), 12-18.