The Atonement

Question 1

What are some images/metaphors for the atonement?

Answer 1

Proto-gospel, Passover, sacrifices, suffering servant, Jonah, ransom, healing and salvation, reconciliation, revelation, new covenant, justification, cleansing, adoption

All images are incomplete/partial

Question 2

What is penal substitutionary theory (PSTA)?

Answer 2

Christ legally substituted us on the cross, bearing the punishment as required by the Law

Question 3

What are the different theories of atonement?

Answer 3

1. Renewal of Creation via Recapitulation
2. Ransom Theory
3. Anselmic Satisfaction Theory
4. Socinian Theory: Atonement as an Example (Heretic)
5. Abelardian Theory: Atonement as a Demonstration of God’s love
6. Governmental Theory: Atonement as Demonstration of Divine Justice
7. Penal Substitutionary Theory (PSTA): The Cross as Satisfaction of Punishment
8. Liberation Theory (Classic view): The Cross as Christus Victor
   9: Nonviolent Theories of the Atonement
   10: Co-existence of Multiple Theories or Integrative Theories

Question 4

What are some objections and responses to PSTA?

Answer 4

• Criticism against PSTA
o Uphold wrath as the supreme attribute
o Not morally right: innocent party pays for guilty party; Not morally possible: guilt can be transferred and substituted
o Promote distributive justice which promotes vindictiveness
o PSTA is culturally-laden to culture surrounded by forensic law

• Penal in PSA should be retained
o Objection to PSA is from theories of non-violent atonement, portrayed it as accidental death, but it should be deliberated death
o Does not leave the guilty unpunished
• Penal should not be over emphasized
o PSA works well in cultures that are very law based and rooted in judicial context
• Penal substitution must be carefully presented
o Must reject caricatured versions of PSA
o PSA as God satisfying his own wrath, God enters into and deal with his own wrath
o What is satisfied through Christ’s death on the cross, is the love, not the wrath of God
o Wrath is not an inherent mode of God’s divine life

Question 5

What are the 5 key elements of every theory of atonement?

Answer 5

o What is the cast assembled in this work on the atonement? (trinity, humanity)
o What divine attribute does this theory emphasize?
o What aspect of sin does this theory focus on?
o How does this theory develop Christ saving us from sin?
o How does this theory develop Christ saving us for life with God and others?

Question 6

What are the 2 important aspects to consider in a theory of atonement?

Answer 6

o Triune God at work

o God works atonement according to who he is– divine simplicity