Aphesis (G859) means forgiveness, remission, release, cancellation. Derived from aphiēmi (G863, 'to send away, let go, forgive'), it carries the concrete image of debts being cancelled, chains being loosed, and sins being sent away. It appears approximately 17 times in the New Testament and is the standard word for the forgiveness of sins proclaimed in the gospel. Translated as 'forgiveness,' 'remission,' or 'release' depending on context.
Aphesis of sins is one of the central proclamations of the New Testament gospel. Jesus announced his ministry using the language of aphesis — in Luke 4:18 (quoting Isaiah 61), he proclaimed 'release to the captives' and 'liberty to the oppressed.' The same word covers both: forgiveness of sin and liberation from bondage are two dimensions of the same redemptive act.
At the Last Supper, Jesus said his blood was poured out 'for the forgiveness (aphesis) of sins' (Matthew 26:28). The apostolic proclamation consistently offered aphesis through repentance and faith: 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins' (Acts 2:38). Paul declares that in Christ 'we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses' (Ephesians 1:7). Aphesis is not moral improvement — it is total cancellation of debt, sins sent away as far as the east is from the west.