Atonement Biblical Material

THE DOCTRINE OF THE
ATONEMENT
LECTURE TWO:
BIBLICAL MATERIAL

Biblical Material:
A Preliminary warning:
•The Danger of [Pauline] “Ventriloquism”

Biblical Material:
A Preliminary warning:
•The Danger of [Pauline] “Ventriloquism”
- Allowing Luke or Mark or Peter to “move their
mouths,” while the only voice we hear is that of
Paul (or Anselm, or Luther, etc.).
- Baker and Green:
See Mark Baker and Joel Green, Recovering the
Scandal of the Cross, 90.

Baker and Green:
“Many of us…have experienced that clever act where
a dressed-up wooden dummy is enabled to ‘speak’
buy means of a ventriloquist’s talent. Christian
reflection on the atonement has sometimes had a
touch of [this], with Luke or Peter or some other New
Testament writer made to speak in the voice of
another. In this vaudevillian act Luke is the
mannequin, and the levers are pulled, say, by the
Pauline interpreter. Dressed up to resemble another
New Testament writer or attached by puppet strings to
a historical Christian figure like Anselm or Martin
Luther… (Recovering the Scandal of the Cross, 90).”

Biblical Material:
The Danger of [Pauline] “Ventriloquism”
- Baker and Green:
- Scot McKnight:

Scot McKnight A Community Called Atonement
Atonement theories have been shaped by the history
of atonement theories, and that history has been
dominated by [a certain reading of] Paul’s letter to the
Romans so one-sidedly that opening the door to the
Kingdom of God [as declared by Jesus] upsets the
entire conversation.

Biblical Material:
The Danger of [Pauline] “Ventriloquism”
- Baker and Green:
- Scot McKnight:
We must survey more than Paul to get
THE BIBLICAL VIEW of the Atonement.
WE WILL DO THAT NEXT… [QUESTIONS?]

Old Testament: *(a small sampling…)
Questions:
How are sins forgiven in the Old Testament?
(Were they really forgiven?)
(Examples?)
Some key texts relating to Atonement…

The proto-evangelium (Gen. 3.15):

Genesis 3.15
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you
have done this,
“Cursed are you above all livestock…
15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your seed and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.” (cf. Romans 16.19)

- The so-called “first gospel”
- Clearly fits the Christus Victor motif.
The Passover Lamb (Exod. 12)

Exodus 12
13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses
where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass
over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I
strike Egypt.

- The so-called “first gospel”
- Clearly fits the Christus Victor motif.
The Passover Lamb (Exod. 12)
- The reference to “I will pass over” fits well with a
view of the blood of the Lamb as a“propitiation”
(turning away God’s wrath).
- The NT clearly views Christ as (Passover) Lamb

Lev. 16 (Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement)

Leviticus 16
29…On the tenth day of the seventh month you must
deny yourselves and not do any work…
30 because on this day atonement will be made for
you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be
clean from all your sins.

- Key Features:
‣The Transfer of Guilt by laying on hands
๏16.21 [Aaron] is to lay both hands on the head
of the live goat and confess over it all the
wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all
their sins—and put them on the goat’s head.
He shall send the goat away into the
wilderness

- Key Features:
‣The Transfer of Guilt by laying on hands.
‣The Scape Goat: Carries away sin
(presumably: “expiation”)
‣The Sacrificial Goat: Bears the penalty for sin
(presumably: “propitiation”).
- Hebrews utilizes this to point to Christ.

Lev. 17 (It’s the blood that makes Atonement)
- 17.11 …the life of a creature is in the blood, and I
have given it to you to make atonement for
yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes
atonement for one’s life.
- Hebrews again echoes: “Without the shedding of
blood there can be no forgiveness” (Heb. 9.22).

Lev. 17 (It’s the blood that makes Atonement)
- 17.11 …the life of a creature is in the blood, and I
have given it to you to make atonement for
yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes
atonement for one’s life.
A Bloodthirsty Deity?
Does God need blood in order to forgive?
How does this fit with Hosea 6.6?
“I desire Mercy rather than sacrifice.”

David and Forgiveness (Ps. 32).
- In the OT, sacrifices (perhaps excluding Yom
Kippur) were only for unintentional or minor sins.
- Yet God clearly “forgives” (e.g. Ps. 32).

Psalm 32
1 Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered…
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.

David and Forgiveness (Ps. 32).
- In the OT, sacrifices (perhaps excluding Yom
Kippur) were only for unintentional or minor sins.
- Yet God clearly “forgives” (e.g. Ps. 32)
- Paul returns to this in Romans 3:

Romans 3
25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of
atonement,through the shedding of his blood—to be
received by faith.
He did this to demonstrate his righteousness,
because in his forbearance he had left the sins
committed beforehand unpunished—
26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the
present time, so as to be just and the one who
justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Isaiah 53 - The Suffering Servant

Isaiah 53
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
…
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Isaiah 53
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him
and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.

Isaiah 53
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

- Substitution (…for our transgressions) is clear.
- Originally, the Servant was seen as Israel.
- Evidence suggests that some Jews began to hope
that righteous martyrdom might be redemptive for
God’s people as a whole.
• E.g. The death of Maccabean Martyrs seen as
potentially sacrificial (2 Macc. 7; 4 Macc. 6)

2 Maccabees 7
I, like my brothers, give up body and soul for our fathers’
laws, calling on God to show favor to our nation soon, and to
make thee acknowledge, 38in torment and plagues, that he
alone is God, and to let the Almighty’s wrath, justly fallen on
the whole of our nation, end in me and in my brothers.
4 Maccabees 6
28Be merciful unto thy people, and let our punishment be a
satisfaction in their behalf. 29Make my blood their
purification, and take my soul to ransom their souls.’

- Substitution (…for our transgressions) is clear.
- Originally, the Servant was seen as Israel.
- Evidence suggests that some Jews began to hope
that righteous martyrdom might be redemptive for
God’s people as a whole.
• E.g. The death of Maccabean Martyrs seen as
potentially sacrificial (2 Macc. 7; 4 Macc. 6)
This sets the stage for the New Testament

The Gospels: *(a small sampling…)
Synoptics:
- “A ransom for many” (Mt. 20.28; Mk.10.45)

Mark 10.45
43 “…whoever wants to become great among you
must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be
first must be slave of all.
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be
served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom
for many.”
The Later Question:
To whom was this ‘ransom’ paid?
Interestingly, the Greek (lutron) did not necessarily imply
‘paying someone off’ (see Exodus 6.6, LXX).

Exodus 6.6 (LXX)
6…’I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under
the yoke of the Egyptians.
I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will
[ransom, lutroomai] you with an outstretched arm and
with mighty acts of judgment.
Here: Ransom simply means “redeem”
No one (and especially not the Egyptians!)
was ‘paid off’

Synoptics:
- “Blood of the covenant” (Mt. 26.28; Mk. 14; Lk. 22)

Matthew 26.28
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given
thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of
you.
28 This is my blood of the [New] covenant, which is
poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
What is the OT context here?
Sacrifice.
Exodus / Passover.
The text has no explanation of “how” this works.

Matthew 26.28
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given
thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of
you.
28 This is my blood of the [New] covenant, which is
poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
What is the OT context here?
Sacrifice, at Exodus / Passover.
Question: Why does Jesus choose Passover,
instead of Yom Kippur?
No explanation of “how” this works

Synoptics:
- “Blood of the covenant” (Mt. 26.28; Mk. 14; Lk. 22)
- Triumph over Satan
‣Temptation in Wilderness (Recaps Adam/Israel)
‣Casts out Demons
‣Calms Sea (symbol of evil chaos)

John:
- The (Passover) “Lamb” who takes away sin.

John
1.29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him
and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away
the sin of the world!
19.13-14 (Connection to Passover) 13 When Pilate
heard this, he brought Jesus out…14 It was the day of
Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.
Here again, the context is ‘Exodus’ / ‘Sacrifice’

John:
- The “raised up” one (e.g. Jn. 3.14).

John 3
14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,
so the Son of Man must be lifted up,15 that everyone
who believes may have eternal life in him.”
Themes:
Transposes exaltation / humiliation.
The serpent is associated with curse / fall
Fits with Paul:
Gal. 3.13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law
by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is
everyone who is hung on a pole.”

John:
- The giving of the one and only Son as a
demonstration of the Father’s LOVE (Jn. 3.16)

John
3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one
and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send
his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to
save the world through him.
19.17 “Carrying his own cross…”
Themes:
The ‘Akedah’ (Binding of Isaac) - Symbolic in 2nd temple
Judaism for death on behalf of others.
Fits with Moral Exemplar models

John:
- The giving of the one and only Son as a
demonstration of the Father’s LOVE (Jn. 3.16)
Key:
The Exodus theme (esp. the Slain Passover Lamb)
predominates in John

Conclusion:
- The Gospels celebrate Christ’s redeeming victory
while being less specific as to “how” it is salvific.

Other, Non-Pauline Books:
1 John:
- “To destroy the works of the Devil”
1 Jn. 3.8:
“The reason the Son of God appeared was to
destroy the devil’s work.”

1 John:
- “Cleansing” (by an atoning sacrifice for sin)

1 John 2
1…But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with
the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is
the atoning sacrifice (hilasmos) for our sins, and not
only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Context:
Sacrifice / Day of Atonement (Lev. 16.16)

1 John 2
Leviticus 16.16
15 “He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering
for the people and take its blood behind the
curtain…He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover
…16 In this way he will make atonement for the Most
Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion
of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been.

1 John 2
Two Ongoing Debates
1. Does hilasmos mean “propitiation” (assuaging wrath)
or “expiation” (removing away sin)?
- [We will return to this debate later in the course]
2. This also raises questions about the extent of the
Atonement (Limited vs. Universal)

1 John:
- “Cleansing” (by an atoning sacrifice for sin)
Hebrews:
- “Perfect Priest”

Hebrews 2
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too
shared in their humanity so that by his death he
might break the power of him who holds the power of
death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all
their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
…17 For this reason he had to be made like them,
fully human in every way, in order that he might
become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to
God, and that he might make atonement
(hilaskesthai) for the sins of the people.
What models do we see here?
Christus Victor, Redemption, Sacrifice, Recapitulation(?)

Hebrews:
- “Perfect Sacrifice”

Hebrews 9
22…without the shedding of blood there is no
forgiveness.
…24 …Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with
human hands…25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer
himself again and again, the way the high priest enters
the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not
his own. 26… But he has appeared once for all at the
culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the
sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined
to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so
Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of
many…

Hebrews:
- “Perfect Sacrifice”
1 Peter:
- “A Lamb without blemish”

1 Peter 1
18 For you know that it was not with perishable things
such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from
the empty way of life handed down to you from your
ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a
lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen
before the creation of the world, but was revealed in
these last times for your sake.
Background:
Exodus (Slavery) / Sacrifice
Here, we are redeemed not from wrath(!),
but from our “empty way of life”

1 Peter:
- “A Lamb without blemish”
Revelation:
- The victorious Lamb who was slain

Revelation 5
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain,
standing at the center of the throne…
9 “You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased [ransomed] for
God persons from every tribe and language and
people and nation.
Themes:
Christus Victor / Sacrifice / Redemption (Ransom)

Paul *(a VERY small sampling…)
Introduction
- Paul develops his Atonement theology more fully
than any other NT author.
- Virtually every biblical model / metaphor for the
Atonement can be found in Paul.
- Sometimes almost in a single passage!
- Examples: 2 Cor. 5.

2 Corinthians 5
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are
convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
17…if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:
The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from
God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and
gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was
reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting
people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us
the message of reconciliation…We implore you on
Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him
who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might
become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we
are convinced that one died for all, and therefore
all died.
17if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has
come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All
this is from God, who reconciled us to himself
through Christ and gave us the ministry of
reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the
world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s
sins against them. And he has committed to us
the message of reconciliation…We implore you
on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God
made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so
that in him we might become the righteousness
of God.
Themes:
• Moral
Influence
• Universal
Atonement
• Union with
Christ
• New Creation
• Reconciliation
• Imputation
• Substitution

Introduction
- Examples: 2 Cor. 5 ; Gal. 3.10-14

Galatians 3
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a
curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not
continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before
God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”
12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says,
“The person who does these things will live by them.”
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by
becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is
everyone who is hung on a pole.” 14 He redeemed us in
order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to
the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we
might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Galatians 3
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are
under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone
who does not continue to do everything written in
the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no one who relies
on the law is justified before God, because “the
righteous will live by faith.”
12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it
says, “The person who does these things will live
by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse
of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is
written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a
pole.” 14 He redeemed us in order that the
blessing given to Abraham might come to the
Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we
might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Themes:
• Justification by
faith
• Redemption
• Substitution
• Sacrifice
• Gift of Spirit
• Adoption
(3.26)

Introduction
- Examples: 2 Cor. 5 ; Gal. 3.10-14
- We’ll return to Paul in every facet of this class.

New Testament Material:
Conclusion
•The NT uses MANY images to describe
Atonement.
•While each writer is unique, there are common
themes:
Triumph / Victory
Sacrifice
Moral Influence
Substitution
Reconciliation
Redemption / Ransom
We’ll see how this
plays out in
Christian History

For Next Time:
Read the Introduction & Chapters 1 & 3* in The
Nature of the Atonement.
- There will be a Quiz over the reading.
15 Minute Presentations (assign person/topic)
- A Response to Boyd (Christus Victor)
- A Response to Reichenbach (Healing)

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