This blog post has been revised and turned into a chapter in The Rethinking Series.
The series includes each book in PDF, Kindle, and Nook formats.
Click here to view the Table of Contents for each book and how to get it
About Frank Viola
Frank Viola is a best-selling author, blogger, speaker, and consultant to authors and writers. His mission is to help serious followers of Jesus know their Lord more deeply so they can experience real transformation and make a lasting impact. To learn more about Frank and his work, go to 20 Years of Projects. To invite Frank to speak at your event, go to his Speaking Page. Due to a new problem with persistent spam that we haven’t figured out how to control, comments are closed for the present time. To contact Frank, use the “Contact” page in the top menu.
Years ago I wrote my theology honours dissertation on THE NT TEACHING OF REDEMPTION, with special reference to the NT concept of RANSOM. This called for a thorough-going historical survey of thinking from the sub-apostolic age to modern theology, modern formulations by Bultmann, Barth, Buchsel, Aulen, etc. Then a detailed examination of the biblical testimony from the synoptic gospels right through to the Johannine letters.
Suffice it to say, my conclusions then concur with Frank’s conclusions in this blog. I personally revelled in Gustav Aulen’s ‘Christ Victor’ approach, but each of the views Frank has mentioned, to a lesser or greater extent, reflect some aspect of the multi-facetted diamond which is Christ’s atonement. Thanks for the timely reminder!!
Frank, fancy reading this here! So is the atonement suddenly a hot topic? Because I started thinking about it maybe a couple of weeks ago and have been exploring the many theories of. It would be odd to find that it’s become the topic du jour. I had no idea that my favorite parable of the atonement was called Christus Victor, but it’s a great name. Jesus IS my hero!
I like what you said about atonement, but even moreso, what you’re saying about the value and subsequent depth of imagery. It’s important, as you point out, to study how and why Jesus uses it. Thanks for more great food for thought and inspiration!
I appreciate your perspective Frank and the simple way you lay it out. If I’m hearing you correctly you’re saying that many of the traditional views of the atonement that are present in the church today serve to capture elements of the whole and they are not necssarily mutually exclusive. They may not be equal either in terms of importance, but accepting one doesn’t mean rejecting all the others.
I’m working through some of this on my own trying to understand better what is known academically as the Christus Victor position and Penal Substitutionary Atonement. Maybe I’m making too broad a generalization but as I’ve followed and read some of the controversial books of the past few years and the heated debates that arise over many issues, it seems to me that this is at the root of much controversy, but usually what gets addressed are other issues with finger-pointing and claims of either heresy or being ungenerous to people with differing understandings.
For now, I’m not denying PSA. I think it’s there. But I’m also not seeing PSA as exclusive of a broader context in positions such as the Christus Victor and others that provide greater context and speak to the nature and character of God in a manner that seems to me to be more generous and reflective of Jesus’ revelation to us that God is indeed love.
amen!
Thanks for another Christ honoring post. A missionary I know once taught us the term, “God’s ambiguities” and said that if an individual scripture passage could mean two different but reasonable things, it probably means both. How much more does this apply to a giant topic running all thru the scripture like the atonement. One of the many very helpful things I learned from this man – the first live person I met with experience of organic church.
The atonement debate is one I had escaped hearing about until the controversy about The Shack became prominent. I know way too much now, sadly. But it could enrich us if we re-cast it as, “Look how wide and amazing the atonement of Christ is and let’s delve deep to see how many different ways He saves us.” Instead of fighting over the one correct way to understand it. Anyway, it seems to me the predominant metaphors in Scritpure have to do with purchasing us: ‘bought with a price,’ the Hosea story, we were slaves to sin, the Ruth story, and the word redemption, which is such a beautiful and meaningful word in English, whatever its connotations in Greek or Hebrew. Not that I want to fight for my view either, but it illustrates that there is far more going on at the cross than the narrow view being rabidly defended by some.
I can’t believe they want to cry heretic over a larger, richer understanding of the cross. But that is, of course, how some react to a richer view of the Church than as a weekly religious obligatory ceremony.
The Old Covenant offerings bring out the richness of Christ’s sacrifice as well … each offering (the meal, sin, trespass, etc.) represents a different aspect of Christ’s atonement.
Frank, I just added your blog to my google reader. I must say that you not nearly as ‘wacky’ as a certain circle of my friends might want to make you out to be. You see, I am smack dab in the middle of this ‘reformed resurgence’ (you know what I mean ;-); but nagging doubts in certain areas slap me upside the head to often these days. Not so much in the doctrine, but perhaps in the nature of the Church and simplicity. Your thoughts strike a cord. Just ordered ‘Pagan Christianity’ from the library. Looking forward to giving er a read, not just a ‘read about’ from other blogs. Gotta run brother.
Hi Turan. I’m quite impressed. The book you will want to read someday is FROM ETERNITY TO HERE. It’s been endorsed by some Reformed leaders and preeminently exalts the Lord Jesus Christ, presenting God’s eternal purpose in Christ. That book contains my main message which all my other works builds upon. see http://https://www.frankviola.org/frometernitytohere/
Interestingly, a number of folks from the RR movement have been very touched by it.
Further, you’ll want to read this page as it’s a response to some of the critiques that you’ve no doubt read: http://www.ptmin.org/answers.htm
I’m happy you wrote and am blessed by your open mind and heart.
Christ is ALL.
Frank
Yes! It was an infinite, eternal sacrifice! Not just the sacrifice of a man. While we have been able to comprehend some aspects of the atonement, it’s just the tip of the iceburg. I grew tired of the “debate” long ago. I’d rather know the One who made the sacrifice, and be known for expressing His love.
It was the ultimate expression of selfless love. A concept hard to understand in a society like ours where the word “love” has almost lost it’s meaning.
Amen!
Such a good point, Frank. And such a place of division and rancor in the body of Christ, because we’d like to pin it down and be “certain” (per your previous post, another good one.)
Dallas Willard recently talked about this point in great detail in a recently article in Conversations Journal (Full disclosure: I happen to edit the Journal, so I’m more than a bit biased about liking the content!)
Have you read it?
If so, I would love your thoughts. Either there or here.
Thanks for all you do.
Grace & peace,
Tara