Atonement

More documents

Recommendations

Info

RECOVERING BIBLICAL AT-ONE-MENT : M. M. M. NINAN the Theologian vigorously denied that Christ was a ransom paid to the devil or any evil power. Seven centuries before the scholastic theologian Anselm of Canterbury developed and popularized the satisfaction theory of the atonement, St. Cyril of Jerusalem in his Catechetical Lectures taught that Christ was ransomed to "put away" the wrath of God. The Roman Catholic Church in its official catechism describes the ransom paid by Christ at Calvary as a "mystery of universal redemption" In the ransom metaphor Jesus liberates humanity from slavery to sin and Satan by paying the price by giving his own life as a ransom sacrifice (Matthew 20:28). Victory over Satan consists of swapping the life of the perfect (Jesus), for the lives of the imperfect (humans). But to whom was the ransom paid? Jesus never explained that part. The first suggestion was articulated by the second-century Irenaeus of Lyons. He argued that Jesus paid the ransom to the devil. In the Garden of Eden, Adam sold himself in slavery to the Devil. Since then the Devil owned the whole of the Kingdom of the World. When Jesus was offered the Kingdom in exchange for worship at the wilderness temptation, Jesus never objected to his ownership. The Devil himself was the Supreme King of the World. The bargain started there. Specifically, so the theory goes, Christ was paid as a ransom to the devil to free people's souls. This was a clever ruse on God's part, however, for unknown to the devil, Jesus was actually God Himself. The Devil finally got Jesus killed. Here was the twist. Unable to constrain Jesus' divine soul, the devil was defeated and Christ emerged victorious and came out of the grave victorious. In that process made the High Way to Heaven to all those who will follow Jesus. This view, known as the "Ransom" or "Classic" theory, was taught consistently by nearly all of the Church Fathers, including Augustine. 40
RECOVERING BIBLICAL AT-ONE-MENT : M. M. M. NINAN “It means,” said Aslan, “that though the Witch knew the Deep Magic, there is a magic deeper still which she did not know. Her knowledge goes back only to the dawn of Time. But if she could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and the darkness before Time dawned, she would have read there a different incantation. She would have known that when a willing victim who has committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, the Table would crack an Death itself would start working backwards. And now—” “Oh yes. Now?” said Lucy jumping up and clapping her hands.... And now,” said Aslan presently, “to business. I feel I am going to roar.... C.S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Chapter XV: "Deeper Magic from Before the Dawn of Time". Ransom to Father God. Later in its historical development, the theory was modified, where Jesus' life was paid as a ransom not to the devil, but to God. Anselm, who lived in a feudal society, saw sin as dishonor to God. God's nature is such that He cannot overlook dishonor; thus a satisfaction is needed. Since sinful humankind is unable to make sufficient satisfaction, God became human to do it on humanity's behalf. Jesus is then a payment not to Satan but to God. The Protestant Reformers developed this doctrine by replacing God's honor with His justice and by speaking not only of Christ's passive obedience (death) but his active obedience as well (his fulfilling the law). Simply put, God requires that humankind obey an immutable law in a life of perfect, perpetual obedience. The purpose of the Mosaic law, it is taught, was to prove humanity's inability to live up to these requirements. By perfectly keeping the law, Jesus earned salvation. By suffering our punishment in our place, Jesus extends this salvation to us. 41
Page 2 and 3: Recovering Biblical ATONEMENT Prof.
Page 4 and 5: RECOVERING BIBLICAL ATONEMENT Prof.
Page 6 and 7: RECOVERING BIBLICAL AT-ONE-MENT : M
Page 94 and 95:
RECOVERING BIBLICAL AT-ONE-MENT : M
Page 96 and 97:
Page 98 and 99:
Page 100 and 101:
Page 102 and 103:
Page 104 and 105:
Page 106 and 107:
Page 108 and 109:
Page 110 and 111:
Page 112 and 113:
Page 114 and 115:
Page 116 and 117:
Page 118 and 119:
Page 120 and 121:
Page 122 and 123:
Page 124 and 125:
Page 126 and 127:
Page 128 and 129:
Page 130 and 131:
Page 132:
show all

Atonement

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?