Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Atonement Theories

"Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed to Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people." (Heb. 2:14-17)

Seems like this is a key atonement passage. Here, we have shades of substitution, Christus Victor, and the exemplary theories of the atonement.

1 comment:

Jason said...

But neither CV or MI can properly be called Atonement theories. Only substitutionary penalty is strictly called atonement. Talk of other "atonement theories" cloud this central truth. Those others are corrallary effects of the atonement and essential elements of salvation and the whole work of Christ, but to ever allow them to take the atonement out of the atonement is preposterous.