52. Deconstructing the Atonement Pt. 1 (Summarizing Theories/Motifs)

Deconstructing the Myth

Welcome to Season 4 of Deconstructing the Myth! Liz Mall (MA of Christian Apologetics, Biola) and Jenny White (MA of Museum Studies, Harvard) join forces again to bring you another research season to help you on your deconstruction journey.

From today's episode:

10 theories/motifs drawn from Saving Power: Theories of Atonement and Forms of the Church by Peter Schmiechen

• 1. Sacrifice-this motif compares Jesus’ death to sin offerings in the Old Testament (Calvin)

• 2. Justification by Grace-in a “legal” sense, the death of Christ provided a way for humans to be judged as innocent (Luther)

• 3. Penal Substitution-a replacement is needed to pay the penalty for humans to be judged as innocent (Hodge)

• 4. Liberation-the death and resurrection primarily liberates us from sin

• 5. Renewal of Creation—a new spiritual existence is inaugurated by the death and resurrection (Athanasius)

• 6. The Restoration of Creation-creation and humanity need to be restored to its original state (Anselm)

• 7. Christ as the Goal of Creation-Christ and the new Christian community brought about by the death and resurrection is the completion of creation (Schleiermacher)

• 8. Christ the Way to the Knowledge of God-Christ came to restore our understanding/knowing of God (Niebuhr)

• 9. Christ the Reconciler-Christ reconciles those caught up in spiritual warfare (1 Corinthians 1 and 2)

• 10. The Wondrous Love of God-Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are all about pointing us to God’s love (Abelard, Wesley, Moltmann)

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