[Greek] προσφορά (prosphora), [Latin] oblatio: offering, sacrifice, oblation, thing offered, presentation, something presented, that which is offered; Acts 21:26, Acts 24:17, Rom.15:16, Heb. 10:5,8,10,14,18
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term can mean application, benefit (that which is added), wedding present, offerings for the dead, gift, income (revenue), food, flavor, and bouquet. Plato’s Laws 638c states “All those who take up (apply) and institution for discussion and propose, at first mention, to censure or commend it, is like a man who, when he hears somebody praising cheese as a good food, at once starts to disparage it, without having learn its effects, mode of administration, parts, condition, and people.” Plato Laws 791c states “When nursed are trying to discover what a baby wants, they judge it by these very signs in offering the baby things. If the baby remains silent when the thing is offered, they conclude it is the right thing, but the wrong thing if the baby weeps and cries out.” Theophrastes’ Characters 30.19 states “If a friend or friend’s daughter is to be married, he will go abroad while before, in order to avoid giving a wedding present.”
Old Testament: This term, referencing two Hebrews terms, means sacrifice, gift, tribute, grain offering, meat offering, face (person), and presence. The Hebrew lehem ha panim means Bread of the Face (of God). This bread itself is a visible sign of the heavenly reality of God. This is the bread, in front of the Holy of Holies, where the Shekinah (glory cloud of the divine presence) would descend. The Bread of the Presence was meant to be a memorial and sign of the same covenant that had been sealed with Israel at Sinai. The Bread of the Presence, used with wine, is considered a bloodless sacrifice. This practice of placing this Bread of Presence ended with the destruction of Temple in 70 AD.
Why is the Bread of the Presence a foreshadowing of the Eucharist? Bread and wine, as gifts brought forth by the congregation, are consecrated by the Catholic priest into the Eucharist (Body and Blood of Jesus). The Eucharist is also a physical sign of the heavenly reality of Jesus. Like the menorah continually burning alongside the Bread of Presence, a sanctuary lamp always burns when the Eucharist is present inside the Tabernacle in a Catholic church. The Catholic priest initiates a perpetual unbloody sacrifice consisting of bread and wine. The Mass is the re-presentation (unbloody sacrifice) of the one-time original bloody sacrifice at Calvary. Moses went up with Aaron (and others) and beheld the God of Israel. They saw God and ate and drank in a heavenly banquet. Catholics partake of the heavenly banquet (Eucharist) in the communion liturgy.
Cohanim Hand Blessing: The Cohanim, who trace their lineage to Aaron, the High Priest, spread out both hands in blessing the congregation (Lev.9:22). The Shekinah peers through the fingers of the Cohanim in keeping with the Midrash verse “five cracks in the wall.” The spreading out of both hands provide a total of five separations between the fingers. One space between (and below) the thumbs, two spaces between the thumb and first finger of hand, and two spaces between the second and third finger of each hand. Leonard Nimoy stated that he got this idea for his famous salute (Vulcan greeting) as a small boy. Now this popular Vulcan hand greeting is essentially the one hand version of this Cohanim blessing.
Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground (Gen.4:3). Then they set out their gifts to await Joseph’s arrival at noon (Gen.43:25). If your offering is a grain offering that is prepared in a pan, it must be made of bran flour, fried in oil (Lev.2:7). The sons of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab (Jdg.3:17). Accept this gift from me, since to see you face is for me like seeing the face of God (Gen.33:10). Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God (Exo.3:6). On the table you shall always keep the showbread (Bread of the Presence) set before Me (Exo.25:30)
New Testament: This term, primarily meaning sacrifice, refers to the Levitical sacrifices and offerings, Jesus’ sacrificial offering of Himself, and the offering up of the Gentiles. The Levitical offerings and sacrifices now become now less effective and efficacious. With Jesus’ perfect sacrifice, there is no longer a need for multiple offerings for sin. The offering of the Gentiles is made possible by priestly service of Paul. This offering is sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Scripture:
“To be a minster of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in performing the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering up of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” Rom.15:16
The offering up of the Gentiles is made possible by the ministry of Paul
“And live love, as Christ loved us and handed Himself over as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.” Eph.5:2
Christ provides a sacrifice superior to the multiple Levitical sacrifices.
“Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.” Heb.10:18
With Jesus’sacrifice there is no need for other Levitical sacrifices for sin.
Conclusion:
Prosper, prosperous, proffer, oblation
In the Greek Hellenistic era, I was not surprised that this term refers to offerings, sacrifices, and oblations in a time period associated with gods. It was interesting to learn about the more nuanced meanings such as income, benefit, and bouquet. Plato warns against making assumptions (judgments) before analyzing its various parts and aspects. In a more practical sense, this term refers to a wedding gift.
In the Old Testament era, this term references the Hebrew lehem ha panim, which literally means Bread of the Face. This is also referred to as shewbread or the Bread of the Presence. This bread was placed in the temple. This bread is a visible sign of the heavenly reality of God. It is quite interesting in how this bread foreshadows the Eucharist.
In the New Testament era, this term references how the Levitical sacrifices become inferior to Jesus’ sacrifice. The offering up of the Gentiles is made possible by Paul.
This idea of benefit (mentioned previously) provides the background context for the current words prosper and prosperous.
In conclusion, as Spock would say, “Live long and prosper.”