Satan had control over humanity since the fall of man, and only the soul of perfectly innocent Jesus would be an acceptable payment for the return of humanity to the Father. God through Jesus is overcoming the evil of the world. 0000002263 00000 n A characteristic of this theory is that its double sided. 1 Jacob Arminius' position was very similar to that of John Wesley and was less extreme than the Arminians that followed him. Theres evil, theres a demonic power, theres people who are partnered with that demonic power, and then, there are people who are in bondage to that power. J. Kenneth Grider believes that if Jesus paid the penalty for the whole world, because thats what Scripture says, that Christ died for the sins of the world. When Jesus died, God was demonstrating His anger with sin. A modern conservative theologian describes it this way: The Father, because of his love for human beings, sent his Son (who offered himself willingly and and gladly) to satisfy Gods justice, so that Christ took the place of sinners. The theories we cover are: Phylicia: Welcome to Verity. 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. 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. 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). In fact, the expression, What Would Jesus Do? was born out of these thoughts, popularized by the 1896 novel In His Steps(again, 1 Peter 2:22). Kenneth Grider says that, Christ suffered for us. But maybe that group actually wasnt wrong in the first place. You later learn he did this because he loved you. Five hundred years after Anselm posited the atoning work of Christ was substitutionary, the thinkers of the reformation, most notably John Calvin, would go even further. When you hear the words, sin, death, and the devil together, that's usually an indicator of the Christus Victor theory. This is Substitutionary Atonement. How do we understand the love of God when we look at the Old Testament, when we look at the cross and how bloody and violent it was? Ultimately, that is what the goal was. 0000007736 00000 n The highest political crime. And then, Jesus conquers Satan through the resurrection and ransoms humanity back to the Lord.. 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. 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. Anselm describes it this way in this dialogue from Cur Deus Homo he has with another monk named Boso: Anselm: So no one except God can make the satisfaction.Boso: That follows.Anselm: But no one except humanity ought to do it otherwise, humanity has not made satisfaction.Boso: Nothing could be more just.Anselm: So if no one except God can make it and no one except man ought to make it, there must be a God-Man to make it.Boso: Blessed be God. I kind of set you up for what they are. If they get rid of Him, then the tensions will resolve. In the Old Testament, the sacrificial system was developed to direct peoples energy away from that revelry, and sin against other people, and to utilize this sacrifice of animals as a reminder of what they wanted to do to other people, what they wanted to do to other humans. Charles's view of the atonement was based in theology. He is the root. Then, God could forgive men on other grounds. This theory, I would say, is one that often gets picked apart, today. At least the middling section from the early church, all the way to close to the reformation, or a little bit before 300 years or so. For the Wesleyan view, Fred Sanders majors on atonement accomplished universally and. In satisfaction theory, the judgment that we were supposed to receive is directed away from us because the wrath of God is satisfied. In this new system, order in society was built on the idea that you owed somebody something. Aldersgate Papers, Vol.5 September 2004 . Louth points out how the arc from fall to redemption is subsumed in a larger arc from creation to deification. Its just how far you take it, like with most things. Leading conquered leaders of hostile forces through the streets and victory parade. How does it work? You have to be a little bit more cautious with this theory, even if youre like, Oh, I really liked that. Conservative theologians say evidence for this theory can be found in both the Old and New Testaments. [15] What He did could not have been to pay the penalty, since if He paid the penalty, then no one would ever go into eternal perdition. Okay, this is an important point hes making from his theological perspective. "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. One of the people who really pushed this theory to the forefront was the Swedish theologian, Auln. J. Kenneth Grider believes that if Jesus paid the penalty for the whole world, because thats what Scripture says, that Christ died for the sins of the world. The 3rd view of sanctification presented in Christian Spirituality is a Wesleyan view by Laurence Wood. So, everybody turns on Jesus. Y&JZ]uE)vIeT)5xv7DoYfFF6# og. There was no label for them. Fun aside: Boso is Anselms main foil in Cur Deus Homo, constantly getting it wrong and constantly being corrected by Anselm. This is called the Penal Substitutionary theory of atonement. 0000002735 00000 n Why would God have to pay Satan anything? You can grab your copy on Amazon, or for more information, head to my website, phyliciamasonheimer.com, and click the Book tab. If youre tired of hearing the watered-down Christian teaching and youre hungry for a deeper spiritual life, I have something for you. The atonement of God in Jesus Christ reveals the relational character of God and the depth of his love for the world. This view of Christ's atonement leaves mankind without a true sacrifice or payment for sin. Forde, in Its to blame, its to cast out, its to burn people at the literal or figurative stake. Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! What there is much less agreement upon is how and why this is achieved. The Wesleyan Chapel project was dedicated in July of 1993, and has been enjoyed by visitors to the park for the last sixteen years. 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. If in feudal society, someone offended another person, they were required to make satisfaction to the one they offended. Death is a punishment for sin, not the payment for salvation. Scapegoat theory. 0000001909 00000 n He didnt want to give up humanity. It was founded upon the Scriptures. 0000011872 00000 n (In the Wesleyan view, God's sustaining of the human race after Adam's sin was the first act of prevenient grace.) But in John 15, He does say this is an illustration of love. 0000001931 00000 n 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. These were humans interpreting Scripture, and they also had a cultural context that impacted how they were looking at Scripture. In the end, what I realized was, there was no best theory to put first, because they all cross reference each other. You dont have to settle for watered-down Christian teaching. 0000057021 00000 n Why would He be in debt to Satan? We should not stop asking questions about or digging for answers to this, the most important question in Christianity. The atonement then is mans reconciliation with God through the sacrificial death of Christ.. This view that Hugh Grotius saw, he said, that wrong, thats heretical. I believe these are from Irenaeus, where hes talking about the atonement and what was supposed to happen. They believed all may come to a saving knowledge of God if they believe in repent. Also, I think there are elements of the theory that are absolutely true. Those who hold the ransom theory, look at a couple different passages such as Matthew 20:28, which says, Even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Galatians 3:13, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree. Titus 2:5-6, which says, For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. We see a little bit in Scripture with this ransom terminology indicating the idea of something someone being paid for. 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. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019. Its my brand-new book, Stop Calling Me Beautiful: Finding Soul-Deep Strength in a Skin-Deep World. Thats from P.T. Ultimately the atonement for Horton is a matter for the triune God's purposes to save the elect. Obviously, Abelard came to quite different conclusions about the same passages conservatives would later exegete in support of penal substitution. In satisfaction theory, the judgment that we were supposed to receive is directed away from us because the wrath of God is satisfied. Every woman should be a student of the heart of God. We see this in Isaiah 53, the image of the suffering servant. I have a couple of interesting articles for you on this. The faith repentance, etc., in Christ is possible because Christ fulfilled this governmental need for showing that the law mattered, and that sin grieves God. No theory of atonement seems complete or absolutely correct, at least to human understanding. The interactions between authors were earnest yet polite. Anybody can be saved regardless of what they do. Thats the argument for satisfaction theory. 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. Most of the people who hold to scapegoat theory are theologically progressive to the point that what theyre teaching does not align with church history or with Scripture. Five Views on the Extent of the Atonement. So, lets start with looking at atonement theories as a whole. 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. It remains the dominant view of the atonement for most Evangelicals. There also tends to be a general agreement that through Christ, humankind is somehow reconciled with God. When this sacrifice happened, the justice of God was satisfied. Thus, Christ comes to earth as fully human and fully God, receives our punishment, and Gods demand for justice is fulfilled. In the Gospels, Jesus performed many miracles. Okay, you guys, that was a lot. The beauty of being Gods daughter has some backstory, and its left out in a lot of messages preached to women. A few early proponents of this idea where church fathers origin in Gregory. This was also as a reaction to the rationalism of the Enlightenment, along with such liberal ideas as postmillennialism and the Social Gospel movement. The atonement is a victory over Satan. So, lets start with ransom theory. 0000007376 00000 n Really, what it does is, it removes the need for themes of atonement in general. 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. You dont have to settle for watered-down Christian teaching. And that offense cannot go unanswered, Gods honor must be restored. Jesus likely performed many more miracles than are listed in the Gospel accounts. He held to total depravity and the need for grace. Thus, the cross speaks to us, but its power is enough to pull us in and atonethere is no transaction required of by God. Theres a dominion or capturing, and then theres a buying back imagery used in the Bible. It could be a fun new theological game for you. Its particularly distasteful to those who hold strictly to the penal substitutionary atonement view, because it skates around an individual atonement, and because PST is very popular right now, government theory is definitely in disfavor. Some people have attributed ransom theory to Irenaeus, but they also attribute Christus Victor to him. Christ brought us back to God, but how? The scapegoat theory, what its saying is that mans sinful way of solving conflict is to scapegoat. John Wesley clearly held to the penal substitution view. This is almost like ransom theory, but the person whos being paid back is God and not The Enemy. Not to mention literally the entire book of Revelation, which casts the end times as the ultimate and final battle between good and evil. 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. One modern theologian describes Anselms God as a status-paranoid power-monger who deliberately humiliates and infantilizes human beings under the guise of justice. Further, a thinker and theologian who lived around the time of Anselm, the French philosopher and ethicist Peter Abelard, wrote this: Indeed how cruel and wicked it seems that anyone should demand the blood of an innocent person as the price for anything, or that it should in any way please him that an innocent man should be slain still less that God should consider the death of his Son so agreeable that by it he should be reconciled to the whole world? Matthew Leverings presentation of the Catholic position surveys Catholic magisterial teaching, engages Augustine and Aquinas and draws upon biblical texts in dialogue with Francis de Sales. Despite what youve heard, theres actually been a ton of debate. What His death was doing is showing that sin deserves to be punished by the just governor of the universe, the King of the universe. Were not saying the Anselm completely borrowed the idea directly from the system in front of him, but we do have to keep in mind that since this working out of the atonement is a secondary issue for the most part. Its a human way to deal with sin and shame, but it was necessary for a time so that humans would not completely collapse in on themselves. But God basically tricked him with Christ. This is the idea that the atonement of Jesus is satisfaction or compensation for the Father. Like Augustine, The punishment and penalty we deserved was laid on Jesus Christ instead of us, so that in the cross both Gods holiness and love are manifested.. In 1099, St. Anselm of Canterbury wrote Cur Deus Homo, or why God became man. It took the ransom theory to task. I ended up taking a four week break partially to research the atonement episode and partially because we just needed that time as a family during my social media break here in the middle of 2021, when this episode is being recorded. Conflict, in his view, comes from mimicking others desires and behavior. The king had to send someone in the form of a slave to pay back himself, the king. 0000005591 00000 n I wont attempt to change your mind to what I believe, but I hope that as you read, youll thoughtfully and prayerfully reflect on your own answers. [13] [14] This view has been notably detailed by Methodist theologian John Miley (1813-1895) in his Atonement in Christ and his Systematic Theology. Welcome to Verity. So after three days, Jesus left Hell and returned to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. And just as every theologian has a Bible passage in support of their ideas, so to do the exemplarists (another name for this theory is moral example), notably 1 Peter 2:22, For this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps, as well as various passages in John (see John 13:1316 and John 15:917). In penal substitution, in this theory, the son is freely going to sacrifice. Christus Victor was the dominant theory for most of church history as well see, when we talk about a few of the other theories. The reprobate have no grace and cannot please God. The beauty of being Gods daughter has some backstory, and its left out in a lot of messages preached to women. This became more popular with the rise of Protestant liberalism in the 1800s through Horace Bushnell. I also believe that Amy Gannett has a video on atonement theories saved on her IGTV if youre interested in following her. In this theory, it is Gods honor that is offended by our sin. 0000036595 00000 n Secondly, . 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. Its demonstrating Gods justice, its communicating Gods hatred for sin, its motivating holiness and it satisfies the demands of justice. This view of atonement lies in sharp contrast to other views by its emphasis on the cosmic significance of Christ over the significance of personal salvation. This view of the atonement denies that Christ was a penal substitute and that he died in the sinners place to atone for sins and satisfy divine justice on behalf of the elect. (2) Sin is a ruling principle in man. 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. God does not want to legitimate the act of scapegoating.. 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. 0000057539 00000 n He thought that those who denied this truth and adhered to the Calvinistic (or "particular") scheme were in error because they elevated their theological system above the clear teaching of Scripture. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. This passage of Scripture proves that physical healing for the believer is a part of the atonement of Jesus Christ. 0000006246 00000 n In spite of the fact that Christian theology has found legitimate expression of the biblical emphasis on the atonement through a variety of theories, the Western Catholic and Protestant churches have tended to favor some form of a forensic penal view of the work of Christ. 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. You can grab your copy on Amazon, or for more information, head to my website. This idea of Christ as a conqueror, as the overcoming King would connect well to the imagery that we see, such as in 2 Corinthians 2, where the apostles writing about the victory that we experience in daily life in the Lord using the imagery of a Roman emperor leading conquered leaders of hostile forces. Besides the same criticism of dualism in the ransom theory (making Satan equal to God), the most pressing question with this theory isnt why, but how? 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. God had to make the satisfaction for Himself. 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. Hes freely giving himself up to pay the penalty, and God judges his son with a judgment we deserved. Of course, for each theory one can find ample support in various Biblical passages, just like any other theological concept in Christianity. Since this theory is so closely linked and integral to covenant theology, youre going to see the continuity between Old and New Testaments. In addition, he held that grace was given to all people enabling them to accept (or reject) salvation if they should so choose. 0000002987 00000 n This whole theory revolves around the idea that sacrifice is a negative thing. Thats what hes saying here. We are reconciled because the cosmos has been reconciled. We see Colossians 2, Hebrews 2. and Revelations 12, but do you have to hold to ransom theory? Ultimately the atonement for Horton is a matter for the triune Gods purposes to save the elect. 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. And remember, early, while important, so early documents, early theology, its very important, but its not inerrant. Michael Horton provides an exemplary layout of a classical Dortian position on deliberate redemption noting that it is really a recovery of divine grace against any account of a synergistic scheme of salvation. Wesley believed that the atonement of Christ was for everyone, that Jesus did not come to die only for his elect. Especially if you come from a background where its just Jesus died to take our penalty, it can be a little bit hard to understand. In this short essay, I will lay out five theories that have shaped (mainly Western) Christian thought. But, its not the only answer. 0000007203 00000 n Rom 8:32, Gal 1:4) and 'Christ died for our sins' (cf. This tension in the community is resolved by finding a scapegoat. This idea has a lot to do with Gods honor and giving Him the honor that is due Him. For instance, you can say that God overcame sin, death, and the devil through Christ, that the main center of this is Christ overcoming these things and therefore accomplishing salvation for humanity, while also holding on to things like satisfaction theory or even vicarious atonement. Keswick speakers and writers stress the reality of the sin nature and disavows the possibility of sinless perfection. Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Rom 3:21-26 - Translates, Paraphrase, Notes, Studying the New Testament through Inscriptions, Romans 13:1-7 - Translates, Paraphrase, and Notes. One of the most basic definitions of this word can be found in the Cambridge Dictionary, which states simply that atonement is, "something that you do to show that you are sorry for something you did.". 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. 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. In 2007, 221 out of 1,691 churches were non-Whitea 66 percent increase. The main objection by critics, however, is to the nature of God that is assumed by both of these theories. It seems like Gregory of Nyssa was holding to this idea of a ransom theory. I wanted to read a couple quotes. You see it on a lot of different levels. Like the ransom theory and the idea that Jesus paid God a ransom to free us from bondage, to free us from Satan. Arminius' position as revisionist Calvinism could hardly be more clearly seen than in his understanding of original sin and human sinfulness. That knight then answered to the king. Were going to be looking at six. This idea can usually be held alongside some other atonement ideas. He developed this view of the atonement that kept this big picture, Christs victory over evil as the central motif. Thats essentially the moral influence theory. How did Christ defeat Satan through the Cross? I read Jesus and John Wayne and Dr. Du ", "Who really cares whether one is a fundamentalist who believes in inerrancy of Scripture or ", "Unfortunately your demonizing of what you call the ultra-inclusivity, ultra-pseudo-progressivist tribe is totally inappropriate and ", Five Views on the Extent of the Atonement. One of the highlights of the design, the water wall, has provided a moving opportunity for visitors to read the words of the Declaration of Sentiments, the revolutionary document created just steps away in July of . In the New, like much of the foundational Lutheran ideas of the Reformation, support for penal substitution can be found in Pauls words in Romans. The earth and heaven are locked in a cosmic struggle between good (God) and evil (Satan). This podcast will help you embrace the history and depth of the Christian faith. They kill Him. 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, Christs death was a substitute for a penalty. Because the rebel powers have been put in their place, we can be presented holy and blameless before God.. With ransom theory, the idea is that the thing thats being bought is humanity because of sin, and the thing that has them captured is Satan. 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 next theory is government theory. God was making the atonement. 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. R. Larry Shelton . 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. My own sentiment is that the extent of the atonement is really an in-house Protestant debate, Louth and Levering both point out that this topic is not one normally germane to their own respective traditions, it is just not on their radar. 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. 0000002500 00000 n Johnson, Adam J (ed.). 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. This refers to the teachings of James Arminius and John Wesley. Okay, you guys, that was a lot. So troubled by those questions did one man offer a stern critique of ransom atonement, in a book whose influence is still being felt today. The problem lies in the sinful, hardened human heart, with its fear and ignorance of God Through the incarnation and death of Jesus Christ, the love of God shines like a beacon, beckoning humanity to come and fellowship. Thanks for joining me, you guys. "The Scope of the Atonement in the Early Church," Wesleyan Theological Journal 47.2 (2012), 26. So essentially, Jesus participated in being a scapegoat, but to show a better way in that scapegoat theory. If that sounds familiar, thats no surprise because that is exactly what most churches teach today. The second theory were going to look at is Christus Victor. Go back and listen to the discerning core doctrine episode if you want more on that, but its a question of how does the atonement work, not is the atonement true, which would be a core doctrine. 0000045002 00000 n The third theory is satisfaction theory. You see this tension in the gospels between the Jews and Rome, between Jesus and the Jewish leaders. The Wesleyan Church is an evangelical, Protestant, holiness denomination organized to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.