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| Jordan Ring-Sakabe |
The basic idea of Atonement Theology
posits that Jesus' death was necessary in some tangible, cosmic way, as a
"sacrifice" for the sins of humanity. Further, it suggests that this
sacrifice is the "salvific" work of Jesus; the moment that Jesus'
earthly ministry is complete.
HOW exactly the atonement works is
widely debated.
1. Moral Influence: This theory focuses
on not just the death of Jesus Christ, but on His entire life as influencing
people to make better choices through their own will to be more Christlike,
bringing them to repentance and change..
2. Ransom : in this act of Ransom Christ frees
humanity from the bondage of sin and death. He has bought us with his blood
3. Christus Victor: In this theory, Jesus
Christ dies in order to defeat the powers of evil (such as sin, death, and the
devil) in order to free mankind from their bondage, victory rather than
payment.
4. Satisfying Justice: Jesus Christ’s death is
understood as a death to satisfy the justice of God. Satisfaction here means
restitution, the mending of what was broken, and the paying back of a debt, In
this theory, God is acted upon by the Atonement (i.e. that Jesus satisfies
God).
5. Substitutionary Atonement: Jesus is punished in the place of
sinners in order to satisfy the justice
of God and the legal demand of God to punish sin.
6. Government theory : Jesus Christ suffers punishment of our
sins in general, not particular and propitiates God’s wrath, but only for those
who are members of his church. Thus the Church becomes a hiding place from
God’s wrath.
7. Scapegoat : Jesus Christ dies as the Scapegoat of
humanity. “Christianity is a priestly religion which understands that it
is God’s overcoming of our violence by substituting himself for the victim of
our typical sacrifices that opens up our being able to enjoy the fullness of
creation as if death were not.”
Various philosophical theories use the
words Reconciliation, Forgiveness, Sacrifice, Propitiation, and Satisfaction.
In human interpersonal relationships, atonement may be necessary to repair
breaches of trust: descriptions of how to atone include: Apology, Repentance,
Giving a True Account, Moral Reformation and Transformation, Reparation /Restitution
/Recompense /Satisfaction, Penance, Punishment, and Third Party Assistance.
[For an interesting philosophical
discussion of ‘atonement’, see https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atonement/ ]
The OT uses the word ‘atonement’ to
translate the Hebrew כָּפַר kāp̄ar which means “to cover, purge, make an
atonement, make reconciliation, cover over with pitch [as with Noah’s ark]. ‘Atonement’ is always spoken of in relation
to animal sacrifices made at the tabernacle or later temple. The cover of the
ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies was called כַּפֹּרֶת kapōreṯ : “mercy-seat, place of atonement; the
golden plate of propitiation on which the High Priest sprinkled the seat 7
times on the Day of Atonement symbolically reconciling Jehovah and His chosen
people; the slab of gold on top of the ark of the covenant which measured 2.5
by 1.5 cubits; on it and part of it were the two golden cherubim facing each
other whose outstretched wings came together above and constituted the throne
of God.”
Perhaps the single most complete
description of the atonement (never using that word) is
Isaiah 53: 5f “But he was wounded for
our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our
peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6. . . the Lord hath
laid on him the iniquities of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter. . . 8 He
was taken from prison and from judgment; . . . For he was cut off out of the
land of the living; for the transgressions of my people was he stricken. . .
.10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief; when thou
shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed, he shall prolong
his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall
see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; by his knowledge shall my
righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 . .
. he hath poured out his soul unto
death; and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sins of
many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
The English words “atone” and
“atonement” are derived from the expressions “make at one”, and “at onement”.
Usage of the latter phrase can be traced to as early as the 1300s in the
writings of John Wycliffe. The word thus carries at its heart the notion of
putting parties at one—unifying, or reconciling. The Oxford English Dictionary
offers several definitions of atonement: 1. “the condition of being at one with
others”, 2. “the action of setting at one, or condition of being set at one,
after discord or strife”, 3. “reconciliation or restoration of friendly relations
between God and sinners”, and 4. “propitiation of an offended or injured
person, by reparation of wrong or injury; amends, satisfaction, expiation”.
What did Jesus have to say on the
matter (as reported by his disciples)?
1. Luke
4:18 "He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good
news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and
recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the
year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the
attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your
hearing.”
2. Mat
8:16-17: “When the even was come, they
brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the
spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our
infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”
3. Matt
16:21 : From that time forth began Jesus
to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many
things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be
raised again the third day.
4. Matt
20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister,
and to give his life a ransom for many.
5. Matt
26:27-8: And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying,
Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed
for many for the remission of sins.
6. Luke
22:19-20 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them,
saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my
blood, which is shed for you.
7. John
6:51, 54 : I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man
eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my
flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.. . . Whoso eateth my flesh,
and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last
day.
8. John
10:15, 18: As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down
my life for the sheep. . . . No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of
myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This
commandment have I received of my Father.
9. John
12:32-3: And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
This he said, signifying what death he should die.
10. John
14:3, 6: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. . . . Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.
11. John
17:4,6,19: I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which
thou gavest me to do. . . .I have manifested thy name unto them which thou
gavest me . . . . And for their sakes I sanctify myself,
that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Paul
uses a lot of terms in speaking of Christ’s mission: propitiation,
justification, sanctification, reconciliation.
Peter
says that Jesus “suffered for us, . . .his own self bare our sins.”
John
taught that “the blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin, he taketh away our sins.”
The
English word ‘atonement’ is used only once in the NT: Romans 5:11 “ And not only so, but we also joy in God
through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” The Greek translated here is καταλλαγή katallagē: which means ‘an exchanging
equivalent values, adjustment of a difference, reconciliation, restoration to
favour.”
Latter-Day
scripture adds a lot:
Nephi
says that “he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin.” “It must needs be an
infinite atonement.” “God raises you from everlasting death by the power of the
atonement.”
Jacob
urges us to “be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ.”
King
Benjamin taught his people 3:16-18 :
“And even if it were possible that
little children could sin they could not be saved; but I say unto you they are
blessed; for behold, as in Adam, or by nature, they fall, even so the blood of
Christ atoneth for their sins. 17 And moreover, I say unto you, that there
shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can
come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord
Omnipotent. 18 For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infant
perisheth not that dieth in his infancy; but men drink damnation to their own
souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe
that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of
Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.”
Mosiah
quotes Isaiah 53.
Alma
taught the people in Gideon 7:11-13 :
“And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of
every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take
upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. 12 And he will take upon
him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he
will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy,
according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor
his people according to their infirmities. 13 Now the Spirit knoweth all
things; nevertheless the Son of God
suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of
his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power
of his deliverance. . .”
The
risen Christ introduces himself in 3 Nephi 11:
13 “And it came to pass that the
Lord spake unto them saying: 14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may
thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the
nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel,
and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.”
The
Doctrine and Covenants says
D&C
18:11-13 : 11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh;
wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come
unto him. 12 And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men
unto him, on conditions of repentance. 13 And how great is his joy in the soul
that repenteth!
D&C
19:16-19 : 16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they
might not suffer if they would repent; 17 But if they would not repent they
must suffer even as I; 18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest
of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer
both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and
shrink—19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my
preparations unto the children of men.
D&C
29:1 : Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the Great I Am,
whose arm of mercy hath atoned for your sins;
D&C
76:69: 69 These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus
the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement
through the shedding of his own blood.
D&C
138:2-4: 2 And reflecting upon the great atoning sacrifice that was made by the
Son of God, for the redemption of the world; 3 And the great and wonderful love
made manifest by the Father and the Son in the coming of the Redeemer into the
world; 4 That through his atonement, and by obedience to the principles of the
gospel, mankind might be saved.
However you understand the atonement of Christ, His actions were a great gift to us enabling us to forgive others and ourselves and live lives of joy
My daughter sent me this: I appreciated this take on the atonement and it was a theory of atonement I hadn't encountered before. I'd be interested to hear what others think of it, what critiques you might have.
| My son wrote this: |
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