And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
And he, х Autos (G846)] - 'And Himself.' He is our all-prevailing Advocate, because He is Himself 'the propitiation:' abstract, as in 1 Corinthians 1:30: He is to us all that is needed for 'propitiation in behalf of х hilasmos (G2434) peri (G4012)] our sins:' the propitiatory sacrifice, provided by the Father's love, removing the estrangement, appeasing God's righteous wrath against the sinner. 'There is no incongruity that a father should be offended with that son whom he loveth, and at that time offended with him, when he loveth him' (Dr. Pearson). [The only other New Testament passage where hilasmos (G2434) occurs, is 1 John 4:10: it answers in Septuagint to Hebrew kaapar (H3722), to effect an atonement or reconciliation with God; in Ezekiel 44:27, to the sin-offering; in Romans 3:25 ( hilasteerion (G2435)), it is a "propitiatory" - i:e., the mercy-seat, or lid of the ark whereon God, represented by the Shekinah glory above it, met His people, represented by the high priest who sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice on it.]
And, х de (G1161)] - 'yet.'
Ours - believers: not Jews, in contrast to Gentiles; for he is not writing to Jews (1 John 5:21).
Also for the sins of the whole world. Christ's advocacy is limited to believers (1 John 2:1; 1 John 1:7): His propitiation extends as widely as sin: note, 2 Peter 2:1, "the whole world" cannot be restricted to the believing portion (cf. 1 John 4:14 and 1 John 5:19). 'Thou, too, art part of the world: thine heart cannot think, The Lord died for Peter and Paul, but not for me' (Luther).