Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Redemption
(3,029 words)

1. Definition

The term redemption has the literal legal meaning of “releasing” an object (Res) or person. Figuratively, it means deliverance from a state of existential distress and destitution to a state of longed-for salvation. Hope for redemption is thus an essential basic element in the formation of religious tradition, although not all religions tie their idea of salvation to prior redemption. There are also notions of national…

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Laube, Martin, “Redemption”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 06 June 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_018896>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20210107



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