2C Atonement

A theme in the Old Testament where sacrifice is seen as mending the relationship between people and God, exemplified by Abraham's sacrifice of a ram and God's command to slaughter and eat lamb on Passover.

A reinterpretation of the Ransom model by Gustaf Aulen, suggesting that Jesus' death was a victory over evil, freeing souls from the devil's claim through a spiritual battle.

Anselm's Satisfaction theory posits Jesus' sacrifice as reparation for the infinite offence of Adam and Eve's sin, while Penal substitution theory argues Jesus took the punishment to satisfy God's moral law.

Peter Abelard's theory proposing that Jesus' sacrifice serves as a moral example influencing humanity to act morally, emphasizing the indirect power of Jesus' sacrifice to inspire moral behavior.

St. Augustine's doctrine suggesting all humanity inherited sin from Adam, raising questions about moral responsibility and the justice of imputing Adam's guilt to all.

Scholars like Abelard, N.T. Wright, and W.L. Craig argue that various atonement theories explain different aspects of the crucifixion, with each claiming their preferred theory as central while acknowledging the validity of others.

Sacrifice mends the relationship between people and God.

Jesus

The early Ransom model

Jesus' death as a ransom to redeem humanity from sin

St. Anselm

Jesus' sacrifice as reparation for the infinite offence of sin

God's moral law being satisfied through Jesus' sacrifice

Atonement through Jesus' moral example influencing humanity

Moral Example

Not contradictory but complementary explanations of the crucifixion

Penal Substitution

Christus Victor

A theme in the Old Testament is that ______ mends the relationship between people and God.

The ______ model is based on the early Ransom model.

St Anselm proposed the ______ theory, which means reparation.

The ______ is a development of Anselm’s satisfaction theory by the protestant reformers.

Peter Abelard developed this theory as a reaction against Anselm’s satisfaction theory, emphasizing the role of Jesus as a ______.

Many scholars claim that the atonement theories are not contradictory but that we can and should believe them to all be valid explanations of different aspects of the meaning of the crucifixion.