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In Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar is told to break away from his sins by showing mercy to the poor, which becomes redeeming sins in Theodotion's Greek translation. In the Didache, an early church manual, giving is also called a ransom for sins.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Daniel 4:27
Hebrew Bible
24 this is the interpretation, O king. It is the decision of the Most High that this has happened to my lord the king. 25 You will be driven from human society, and you will live with the wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and you will become damp with the dew of the sky. Seven periods of time will pass by for you before you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes. 26 They said to leave the taproot of the tree, for your kingdom will be restored to you when you come to understand that heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged.”
Didache 4:6
Early Christian
5 Don't be someone who is eager to receive but reluctant to give. 6 Give a portion of what you've earned with your hands as a ransom for your sins. 7 Don't hesitate to give, and don't complain when you do, for you'll know who rewards you well. 8 Don't turn away those in need, but share everything with your family, and don't claim it as your own. If you share in what is eternal, how much more should you share in what is perishable?
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Notes and References
“... The language and metaphors in Th Dan 4:27 and Did. 4.6 are, therefore, distinctly similar: in Th Dan 4:27, Nebuchadnezzar is instructed to redeem his sins by means of merciful acts, and in Did. 4.6 giving to the needy is a redemption payment for sins. In both passages it is sins themselves that are redeemed by merciful practice on behalf of the needy and not, as the image of redemption would typically be used, sinners. In neither passage is there any indication of what might be holding sins in bondage and in need of redemption, but the image of redeeming sins (as opposed to sinners) is so unusual that it is highly likely that Th Dan 4:27 underlies the tradition preserved in Did. 4.6. ...”
Downs, David J.
Alms: Charity, Reward, and Atonement in Early Christianity
(pp. 238-239) Baylor University Press, 2016
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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