Atonement in Christianity
The Atonement is a Christian doctrine that describes how the redemptive death of Jesus Christ renders possible a reconciliation between God and creation. Christians believe that Christ's death makes possible the forgiveness of sin and enables some or all of creation to be reunited with God.
There have been numerous theories of Atonement put forward by theologians, with the most popular including the ransom theory, the Anselmian theory and the Abelardian theory.
Etymology
The word atonement gained widespread use in the sixteenth century after William Tyndale recognized that there was no direct translation of the concept into English. In order to explain the doctrine of Christ's sacrifice, which accomplished both the remission of sin and reconciliation of man to God, Tyndale invented a word that would encompass both actions. He wanted to overcome the inherent limitations of the word "reconciliation" while incorporating the aspects of "propitiation" and forgiveness. It is interesting to note that while Tyndale labored to translate the 1526 English Bible, his proposed word is comprised of two parts, 'at' and 'onement,' which also means reconciliation, but combines it with something more. Although one thinks of the Jewish Fast of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), the Hebrew word is ‘kaper’ ing ‘a covering’, so one can see that ‘reconciliation’ doesn't precisely contain all the necessary components of the word atonement. Expiation means “to atone for.” Reconciliation comes from Latin roots re, meaning “again”; con, meaning “with”; and sella, meaning “seat.” Reconciliation, therefore, literally means “to sit again with.” While this meaning may appear sufficient, Tyndale thought that if translated as "reconciliation," there would be a pervasive misunderstanding of the word's deeper significance to not just reconcile, but "to cover," so the word was invented.
The Atonement in Christianity
Especially prominent in western Christianity is the concept of substitutionary atonement pioneered by Anselm of Canterbury and adapted by Pierre Abélard, Thomas Aquinas, Hugo Grotius, John Calvin, John Miley and others. (Eastern Orthodoxy has a substantively different soteriology; this is sometimes cited as the core difference between Eastern and Western Christianity.)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expands the doctrine of the atonement complementary to the substitutionary atonement concept, including the following:
- Suffering in Gethsemane. The Atonement began in Gethsemane and ended on the cross (Luke 22:44; Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–19; Book of Mormon | Mosiah 3:7; Alma 7:11–13)
- The relationship of justice, mercy, agency, and God's unconditional love. Christ's infinite atonement was required to satisfy the demands of justice based on eternal law, rendering Him our Mediator, Redeemer, and Advocate with the Father. Thus, He proffers divine mercy to the truly penitent who voluntarily come unto Him, offering them the gift of His grace to "lift them up" and "be perfected in Him" through His merits. (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 2; 2 Nephi 9; Alma 12; Alma 34; Alma 42; Moroni 9:25 & 10:33) (See also Isaiah 55:1-9)
- No need for infant baptism. Christ's atonement completely resolved the consequence from the fall of Adam of spiritual death for infants, young children and those of innocent mental capacity who die before an age of self-accountability, hence all these are resurrected to eternal life in the resurrection.
- Empathetic purpose. Christ suffered pain and agony not only for the sins of all men, but also to experience their physical pains, illnesses, anguish from addictions, emotional turmoil and depression, "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." (Book of Mormon | Alma 7:12) (see also Isaiah 53:4)
The Atonement in Judaism
A different concept of atonement exists in Judaism. Atonement is said to be the process of forgiving or pardoning a transgression. Notably, this belief does not implicitly believe a redeemer was necessary.
The Holiest day of the year is the Day of Atonement known as Yom Kippur in Hebrew. It comes exactly ten days after the Jewish New Year known as Rosh Hashana.
Atonement theories in Christianity
- Christus Victor
- Atonement (Moral influence view)
- Atonement (satisfaction view)
- Atonement (governmental view)
- Atonement (Ransom view)
Christus Victor
Recapitulation: Irenaeus, Eastern Orthodox Church, some Lutherans
Ransom: Origen, Gregory of Nyssa
Scapegoating: William Tyndale (who invented the word from Hebrew and Greek manuscripts), René Girard, James Alison, Gerhard Förde see 'In Christianity' in Scapegoat
Moral Influence
Satisfaction
Divine satisfaction: Anselm of Canterbury & Salvation in Catholicism
Penalty or Punishment satisfaction: John Calvin, Calvinism, & Imputed righteousness
Governmental
- Hugo Grotius, James Arminius, John Miley
- Substitutionary atonement & Atonement (Governmental view)
- Jonathan Edwards & Charles Grandison Finney
See also
External links
- Biblical Atonement: The Governmental View (Arminian/Wesleyan)
- The Christian Doctrine of the Atonement (Arminian/Wesleyan)
- Historical Opinions as to the Nature of Christ's Atoning Death (Arminian/Wesleyan)
- The Biblical Doctrine of the Atonement (Calvinist/Reformed)
- The Atonement of Christ (Latter-day Saint)
- Definite Atonement, Limited Atonement, Particular Redemption (Calvinist/Reformed)
- Catholic Encyclopedia, "The Doctrine of Atonement" Ransom, and Anselm's Satisfaction model (Roman Catholic)
- [1] Atonement Theories in Current Philosophical Theology from Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- Jewish Encyclopedia: Atonement