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| The atonement in scripture |
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Rev'd Dr David Peterson
This paper was delivered at the Fourth Annual Oak Hill College School of Theology in May 2000. An expanded version of this paper appears as the first two chapters of 'Where Wrath and Mercy Meet: Proclaiming the Atonement Today' (Carlisle: Paternoster, 2001).
Please click the links below to read the different sections of the paper.
> Introduction
> Sacrifice and Atonement in the Pentateuch
> Sacrifice and Forgiveness in the Prophets and the Psalms
> Jesus and his Sacrifice
> Pauline perspectives on the atoning work of Christ
> Conclusions – see below
> Notes
Conclusions
Four propositions regarding atonement in different sections of the biblical canon are offered:
1. Sacrifice and atonement in the pentateuch
Atonement in the Pentateuch is not simply to be identified with ritual cleansing. It involves the notion of ransom from the divine penalty for sin, which is sometimes represented as physical death and sometimes as alienation from God, as in the exile. Animal substitution is a key to this notion of ransom or redemption, especially in the Day of Atonement ritual.
2. Sacrifice and forgiveness in the prophets and the psalms
The psalmists and prophets point to human obedience as God's ultimate purpose in establishing the sacrificial system. At the same time, they identify God as the true and only source of atonement and redemption, especially in the context of the Babylonian exile, where a definitive restoration of Israel's relationship with God is seen to be necessary. Within the framework of Biblical Theology, this prepares for the extraordinary message of Isaiah 53, where the perfect obedience of the Servant in his suffering and death is presented as the Lord's provision for Israel and ultimately the nations. Attempts to remove the penal substitutionary dimension to the Servant's self-offering appear to be an exercise in special pleading.
3. Jesus and his sacrifice
Jesus saw himself as called to fulfil the Servant's role, paying the ransom to liberate 'the many' from the consequences of their sin by his death. In so doing, he also indicates that he is inaugurating the promised New Covenant and making possible the forgiveness, restoration of relationships and new life foretold by the prophets.
4. Pauline perspectives on the atoning work of Christ
Paul's teaching about Christ suffering the judgement of God against sin in our place is fundamental to his other claims about the outcome of Christ's sacrifice, such as reconciliation and justification. Those who wish to play down or deny this foundational aspect to Paul's theology often do so by propounding an impersonal view of the wrath of God. But this attempt to avoid any notion of propitiation leaves us with a strangely mechanical view of atonement. Furthermore, it is neither consistent with Paul's own teaching nor the perspective of Scripture as a whole to divorce God's wrath from his righteousness and justice and view it as an impersonal force which Christ must meet on our behalf.
> Back to the introduction
© David Peterson 2000. This material is copyright and may not be reproduced or copied without due acknowledgement of its authorship and source. |
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