[kosta50]

The word lytron is the price for redeeming, the price. It's not extortion. It is something you voluntarily offer. Christ offered to die (offered himself to "death") in exchange for all those held captive by it. The Church does not say he offered himself to satan.

Death is used as a personalized concept by Paul when he combines the controversial Isaiah 25:8, with Hosea 13:14, namely "death is swallowed up in victory, o death where is thy victory? Where is thy sting?" (1 Cor 15:54-55).

More specifically, lytron was the price paid for slaves or captives.

[MarkBsnr]

The word lytron is the price for redeeming, the price. It's not extortion. It is something you voluntarily offer. Christ offered to die (offered himself to "death") in exchange for all those held captive by it. The Church does not say he offered himself to satan.

My sources say that Athenaeus and Origen did.

Death is used as a personalized concept by Paul when he combines the controversial Isaiah 25:8, with Hosea 13:14, namely "death is swallowed up in victory, o death where is thy victory? Where is thy sting?" (1 Cor 15:54-55).

But what is that victory? How did it come about?

More specifically, lytron was the price paid for slaves or captives.

That is not extortion? That is ransom which by definition is a type of extortion. Paid by one entity to another - grieving family to warlord or one king to another.