One of the things that this theory, substitutionary atonement, takes into account is the Old Testament sacrificial system. Thats a term Calvin himself of course did not use, but was applied later in the 19th century. Very much opposed to the idea of death being a punishment or being a payment for sin. Its demonstrating Gods justice, its communicating Gods hatred for sin, its motivating holiness and it satisfies the demands of justice. The Nature And Extent Of The Atonement A Wesleyan View William S. Sailer, S. T. D. At the Nashville meeting (1965) of the Evangelical Theological Society, Dr. Roger Nicole suggested that the nature and extent of the atonement are among the issues lying on our theological frontier. Ask all of the worlds two billion or so professing Christians and theyll most likely agree with that. in the Methodist Church the truth is that within modern Methodism there is a vast schism between the biblically high view of atonement of the Methodist's founding fathers and unenlightened, ignorant theologians who reduce Christ's atonement to simply an . We also see John talking about believers overcoming the devil, overcoming The Enemy because of the Word of God dwelling in them in 1 John 2. Although typically an in-house Protestant dispute, the discussion is noticeable enlarged to include wider perspectives and approaches. You could argue that with every single one of these theories though. Conservative theologians say evidence for this theory can be found in both the Old and New Testaments. St. Greggory of Nyssa, who lived in the 300s CE and profoundly shaped the way we still think of the Trinity, described it as sort of a bait-and-switch. Thats from one of the articles I gave you in the show notes. Thanks for joining me, you guys. 0000007736 00000 n This volume edited by Adam Johnson deals with the question, For whom did Christ die? This is known as the debate over the extent and efficacy of the atonement. Note there are many more theories and much ink has been spent debating and rebutting this fairly simple yet incredibly complex question. Im finally back with this episode, doing an overview of the major atonement theories, answering the question of how did Jesus accomplish atonement on the cross. This is describing what happened in Genesis 3. Knowing that, we can give a little grace for the fact that these theories were adopted and adapted within a cultural context. This is according to the gospel coalition. And further, if we are freed from evil and sin, why then do we keep sinning? As I reflect on all the possible theories of atonement (and I again admit there are more not covered here), I am in awe of the power of the cross and the atoning work of Christ. The problem comes when God is depicted as in this bargaining relationship with The Enemy or deceiving The Enemy. 0000001817 00000 n One thing again to notice is the cultural context of Anselm. 0000005591 00000 n He is the root. The New Testament in several places calls Satan the ruler of this earth, and everything Jesus was about centered on vanquishing this empire, taking back the world that Satan had seized and restoring its rightful viceroys humans to their position of guardians of the earth, writes one theologian. What is the doctrine of penal substitution? 0000004034 00000 n I hope you are as excited to learn more about atonement theories now as you were when you came in, [laughs] and I hope mostly that this helps you in your conversations and in discerning what you see online. In satisfaction theory, the judgment that we were supposed to receive is directed away from us because the wrath of God is satisfied. While the example theory is operative in Scripture, it is not the substance of what was accomplished in the atonement, but itself derives from the rest . Pelagius and his followers in the 400s CE essentially argued that Christians could be saved by their good works without divine help (his main and most vocal opponent was St. Augustine). He paid off The Enemy. Government theory has been the most confusing for me to study, so Im trying to reiterate a few of the principles here so that I can try and express exactly what is being said. And remember, early, while important, so early documents, early theology, its very important, but its not inerrant. No theory of atonement seems complete or absolutely correct, at least to human understanding. Every woman should be a student of the heart of God. Our last theory today is scapegoat theory. I will admit, it was through more liberal theology that I found Jesus and accepted Him as my savior. While there are some really neat elements of scapegoat theory that I think are worth considering, as a general rule, this is a theory that is perpetuated within progressive theology, and in doing so, also will undermine other key doctrines regarding the deity of Christ or the Trinity or theology of sin, things like that. The adult made a choice out of love. In the Old Testament, they point to Isaiah 53 (the suffering servant passage) and the various system of animal sacrifices and day of atonement described in Leviticus. Y&JZ]uE)vIeT)5xv7DoYfFF6# og. Strong and clear. Abelard developed quite a different view of the atonement, and its to his own theory we now turn. So, any salvation, in order for salvation to happen, it must be first free man from Satans dominion, and Ill have sources for this in the show notes. Scapegoat theory. Nor is it the "Wesleyan" view if Wesley himself did not hold to it, nor the great Orthodox Methodist theologians: Watson, Summers, and Pope to name a few. 1 Jacob Arminius' position was very similar to that of John Wesley and was less extreme than the Arminians that followed him. It was taken in by the enemy. Imagine siting safely on a pier, in a deck chair, when all of a sudden, out of nowhere, a man flings himself into the ocean and drowns. How do we understand it? In addition, he held that grace was given to all people enabling them to accept (or reject) salvation if they should so choose. However, I still think reading about it is interesting and helpful, because the theory is growing in popularity. Im going to have sources for this in the notes, a crime against a king would require more satisfaction, more of a debt, I guess, that a crime against a knight or a slave. This is one of those theories that can come alongside Christus Victor explicitly, though it differs fundamentally from ransom and satisfaction theory on several levels. Example Theory: This view sees the atonement of Christ as simply providing an example of faith and obedience to inspire man to be obedient to God. They could never pay back the king. Most of the quotes cited come from two books: The Nature of Atonement: Four Views edited by James Beilby and Paul Eddy, InterVarsity Press, 2009, and Atonement Theories: A Way Through the Maze by Ben Pugh, Cascade Books, 2014. Because ransom theory does operate a lot within this legal framework, it could be that the idea is that God has set up a rule of law essentially, just order, where because of what Satan did, He is bound to abide by that law, and therefore, He uses a ransom to buyback humanity, and He tricks Satan into doing it. Popular theology, in the wake of the two most destructive and deadly conflicts in all of human history, once again began emphasizing a just God over a God of love. Its kind of a both, and thats possible with Christus Victor. Gregory, when he wrote about this, he said that Satan obtained legal rights over man due to the fall. McGONIGLE: Arminius and Wesley 97 way-house between the two systems, but on questions of free will and human sinfulness, leaning much more to Calvin than to Pelagius. Nothing in the Christian system, wrote John Wesley, is of greater consequence than the doctrine of the atonement. How we answer this questions fundamentally shapes how we see the world and how we live our lives. Johnsons essay elegantly notes that the discussion of the atonement is important because it is shaped by and in turn shapes other doctrines related to God, divine attributes, Christology, and predestination. 0000045002 00000 n He was very well acquainted with the feudal system, in which you had slaves who worked on an estate for an overlord, and so that overlord usually at night protected the estate, but the knight also had to honor the king. Look for these keywords, look for these themes, and maybe start to pick out in your worship songs, or in the passages youre reading, or when youre reading a certain scholar online, see if you can pick out and guess what atonement theory they hold. Again, its important to understand the culture in which Anselm was writing. He is bringing all things to peace within Himself. Andrew Louths view is that the question is foreign to the Orthodox world with commitments to cosmic renewal, theosis, and Gods unlimited love render such a question of the atonements extent as moot. You later learn he did this because he loved you. And if youre ready to go deeper, God is just as ready to take you there. I will have all the articles that I use for my research on these listed in the show notes on phyliciamasonheimer.com, and youll be able to read the quotes that I gave you in their actual context If youre interested in learning more about any of these atonement theories. The contributors include Andrew Louth (Eastern Orthodox View), Matthew Levering (Roman Catholic View), Michael Horton (Traditional Reformed View), Fred Sanders (Wesleyan View), and Tom Greggs (Christian Universalist View). Ultimately, that is what the goal was. This was also as a reaction to the rationalism of the Enlightenment, along with such liberal ideas as postmillennialism and the Social Gospel movement. Now, before you get wiggly inside, lets follow this out. A few early proponents of this idea where church fathers origin in Gregory. He was demonstrating that sin has a cost. [15] Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! 0000057021 00000 n "Nothing in the Christian system," wrote John Wesley, "is of greater consequence than the doctrine of the atonement." How we answer this questions fundamentally shapes how we see the world and. Their way of explaining it though often had to do with a fear of universalism, because the people who held to this theory were not Calvinistic. 0000004552 00000 n Atonement is what God is doing through Christ, in which, this is according to him, the powers of sin, death, and the devil are overcome, and the world is reconciled to God. Also, I think there are elements of the theory that are absolutely true. If they get rid of Him, then the tensions will resolve. It could be a fun new theological game for you. But maybe that group actually wasnt wrong in the first place. Its different from penal substitutionary atonement or vicarious atonement, well talk about that in a second, because it has to do with Gods honor versus having to do with Gods law. Mark Heim says, The cross decisively demonstrates Gods opposition to this way of solving human division. Wesleyan Chapel, site of the 1848 Women's Rights Convention . So after three days, Jesus left Hell and returned to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. You see it on a lot of different levels. Its an idea of conflict, a divine conflict. This is the idea that the atonement of Jesus is satisfaction or compensation for the Father. Its just how far you take it, like with most things. His death is such that all will see forgiveness is costly and will strive to cease from anarchy in a world God governs. Gregory was the one who first established this analogy of Satan being tricked by God to take this ransom. Progressive Christian, journalist and entrepreneur , the name for Bozo the Clown has originated. Thats from P.T. The surfs who worked the land owed their protection to the lords and knights who owned it, who owed their loyalty to a regional lord or sovereign. 0000003243 00000 n What many peopledontknow is that this Instagram post wasnt a one-off postulation by an influencer. Counterpoints: Bible & Theology, series edited by Stanley N. Gundry. 0000052954 00000 n These were humans interpreting Scripture, and they also had a cultural context that impacted how they were looking at Scripture. For the Wesleyan view, Fred Sanders majors on atonement accomplished universally and objectively by the Son, but applied particularly and subjectively by the Spirit to those who respond to the gospel. In which case, I think I would have preferred then a book on the extent of the atonement featuring the early reformation majoring on Luther, something on Dortian perspectives and its hardening among Protestant scholastics, and finally, a type of Protestant minority report mapping Arminian and Amyraldian reactions to Protestant orthodoxy. Another element is that its not that God was having something offered to Him, but that God was making the offering. In penal substitution, in this theory, the son is freely going to sacrifice. This is Verity, where every woman is a theologian. God is both the subject, the reconciler, and also the object, the reconciled. Im so excited to put this book in your hands. The most important concept in Christianity is accepting Jesus as ones savior. With the early church fathers, what can be tough is, they werent just stating, I hold to the ransom theory of the atonement. No, these things are in development. Someone to blame for the conflict. These themes emphasize the saving nature of Jesus' death but they do so without linking it explicitly to a single . This, he submits, makes better sense of the pattern of Scripture and the universal scope of salvation. The atonement of God in Jesus Christ reveals the relational character of God and the depth of his love for the world. Here is the opening of my essay: It was combating a view of the atonement that arose in the 1500s. The resurrection proved that Jesus was Gods way, that God would not allow violence to be what won the day. Each contributor proffers their view at length which is then critiqued by the other respective contributors. God does not want to legitimate the act of scapegoating.. Remember, that was a more Calvinistic and Lutheran interpretation, even different from Anselms interpretation. In this atonement theory, Christ was not punished on behalf of anyone. Welcome to Verity. All of these reflect a standpoint within history, a view of history. NOTE TO READERS: Ive deliberately not included the names of theologians and writers quotedexcept for the major ones worth rememberingfor ease of reading. Obviously, Abelard came to quite different conclusions about the same passages conservatives would later exegete in support of penal substitution. I believe she did keep the recording but if not, if you ask her about it, she might have some resources for you as well, and her handle on Instagram is. This one should come first, because when we discussed that one, then well be able to talk about all of the other ones because they all connect to each other. 0000011872 00000 n But in penal substitution, the judgment is absorbed. Satan didnt want to give up the children of God. There also tends to be a general agreement that through Christ, humankind is somehow reconciled with God. should be a theologian. The idea that Jesus took our transgression, He endured our penalty, so that we could be free, that we no longer owe a debt to the Lord. Really, what it does is, it removes the need for themes of atonement in general. The heart of this theory is that violence is not salvific, this is according to Mark Heim again. But it is effective for the salvation of those God had to make the satisfaction for Himself. ~z-$7y+t~y?vdVn.ZzZr4*\!tiN A few months ago a post circulated Instagram in which Jesus was described as a victim of the cross. The beauty of being Gods daughter has some backstory, and its left out in a lot of messages preached to women. Instead, theyre directing that violence to these animals, and then in Jesus, we see the ultimate overcoming of the scapegoat model. What there is much less agreement upon is how and why this is achieved. Wesleyan: Fred Sanders Barthian Universalism: Tom Greggs This book serves not only as a single-volume resource for engaging the views on the extent of the atonement but also as a catalyst for understanding and advancing a balanced approach to this core Christian doctrine. So many of these theological issues require taking the historical context into consideration as we interpret them, as we read the scholars, as we discern through what they were teaching. He is a robber, a rebel, a tyrant, a usurper, unjustly laying hands on that which does not belong to Him. Someone who might even be an innocent bystander. There has to be a lot of tension, a lot of consistent conflict going on for there to be necessary to bring in a scapegoat. Instead, hes saying, Christ suffered for everyone so the father could forgive the ones who repent and believe. 0000002263 00000 n In doing so, I believe we come closer to God, through Christ, by the Holy Spirit. To them, it was not that Gods honor was offended. The absolute freedom of the divine being is recovered because, for Anselm, God has the right to act in his own creation just as he pleases.. You dont have to settle for watered-down Christian teaching. This analogy is still perpetuated to today, where God is basically saying to Satan, Oh, look, you can kill Jesus, you can actually get rid of Him by crucifying Him. The Hebrew of the Samaritans varies in form, just as the content Christ, Community, and Creativity (Part Three). I believe this is from a quote from Ligonier Ministries that said, The judgment is averted versus the judgment being absorbed. When Jesus took our penalty, He absorbed all the judgment that we deserved with satisfaction theory, that judgment is redirected or its. Apparently, I seriously underestimated how much time it was going to take for me to research this episode, and because of that, we have a little gap in our theology series. Anybody can be saved regardless of what they do. Paul is saying, the victory that you see there, the way that this is acted out visually in front of you on a daily basis, living under Roman rule, thats the kind of victory you have in Christ because of what Christ did to evil, what He did to the enemy. Its my brand-new book, Stop Calling Me Beautiful: Finding Soul-Deep Strength in a Skin-Deep World. Were learning what things we should want from the people were around. His act of substitution, Him offering Himself as a sacrifice allows us to be atoned for. Johnson, Adam J (ed.). In 1099, St. Anselm of Canterbury wrote Cur Deus Homo, or why God became man. It took the ransom theory to task. In a sense, Jesus was scapegoated, but His resurrection proved His innocence and gave an example of love for society. To me, this is the most important question in Christianity: How did humankind reconcile with God through Christ? God was hidden under the veil of our nature, that so, as with ravenous fish, the hook of [God] might be gulped down along with the bait of flesh. I use Greggorys words here to demonstrate that this was not a fringe view. There was no label for them. Calvin, who held to more of the vicarious atonement idea, he held that instead of Christ obeying where we should have obeyed, Christ was punished or we should have been punished. From his ideas was developed the Moral Influence theory of the atonement, where Christs life, death, and resurrection shows humans the true nature of love and turns them back towards God.