What is the ransom for the righteous?

See also: II Timothy 2:6; Matthew 20:28

Response

Each of these verses describes a different type of ransom.  First, the wicked sometimes take the place of the righteous in God’s judgment (or at least should—for instance, the stoning of Achan to remove sin from the camp of Israel in Joshua 7:24-25 ¹).  If government does not punish evil men, then God will judge the entire nation (often including the righteous)—and so the wicked should, in this sense, be a “ransom” for the righteous.

Second, a man’s riches are sometimes his ransom for his life, even today.  Finally, Jesus Christ is the ultimate ransom for our souls, and He is the only One Who can take our place so we can go to heaven instead of suffer eternal torment.

Thus, these verses describe different ransoms, and so there is no contradiction.