The Atonement: Ransom

THEOLOGIAN: Irenaeus (c. 130 - c. 200) Bishop, Theologian, and Saint. [1] WORK ON SUBJECT: Aversus Haereses V ANGLE: Transactional THEME: Satanward [2] IN HIS OWN WORDS: "the mighty Word, and very man, who, redeeming us by His own blood in a manner consonant to reason, gave Himself as a redemption...

The Atonement: Penal-Substitution

THEOLOGIAN: Anselm (c. 1033 - 1109) Archbishop, Saint, and Theologian. WORK ON SUBJECT: Cur Deus Homo [1] ANGLE: Juridical THEME: Godward (understands the work of Christ as primarily addressing a necessary demand of God [2]) IN HIS OWN WORDS: "It may, indeed be said, that the Father commanded...

The Atonement: Christus Victor

THEOLOGIAN: Gustaf Aulen (1879 - 1977) Theologian, Ecumenist, and Bishop. WORK ON SUBJECT: Christus Victor [1] ANGLE: Transactional THEME: Satanward [2] IN HIS OWN WORDS: “the idea of the Atonement as a Divine conflict and victory; Christ—Christus victor—fights against and triumphs over the evil...

Atonement Theology: Introduction

Introduction In recent weeks, I have considered various theories of The Atonement that have been held by Christendom and how they inform our faith. Typically, I avoid such speculation because there is room for divergent beliefs in the actual mechanism of The Atonement because they tend to grasp at...