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For other uses, see Atonement (disambiguation).

The atonement is a doctrine found within both Christianity and Judaism. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut It describes how sin can be forgiven by God. Sin is a term used mainly in a religious context to describe an act that violates a moral Rule, or the state of having committed such a violation God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. In Judaism, Atonement is said to be the process of forgiving or pardoning a transgression. This was originally accomplished through rituals performed by a High Priest on the holiest day of the Jewish year: Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). Kohen Gadol or Kohen ha-Gadol ( Heb כהן גדול "Great Priest" is the title of High Priest of early Israelite Yom Kippur (יוֹם כִּפּוּר ˈjɔm kiˈpur also known in English as the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn and important of the Jewish holidays Its In Christian theology the atonement refers to the forgiving or pardoning of sin through the death by crucifixion of Jesus Christ which made possible the reconciliation between God and creation. Crucifixion (from Latin crucifixio, noun of process crucifixio, from perfect passive participle crucifixus, fixed to a cross from Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Within Christianity there are numerous technical theories for how such atonement might work, including the ransom theory, the Abelardian theory, and the Anselmian satisfaction theory. The ransom view of the atonement, sometimes called the classical view of atonement, is one of several Doctrines in Christian theology related to the meaning The moral influence view of the Atonement is a doctrine in Christian theology that explains the effect of Jesus Christ 's death as an act of exemplary obedience The satisfaction view of the Atonement is a Doctrine in Christian theology related to the meaning and effect of the death of Jesus Christ

Contents

Etymology

The word atonement gained widespread use in the sixteenth century after William Tyndale recognized that there was not a direct translation of the concept into English. Tyndale redirects here For the English family see Tyndall. For other uses see Tyndale (disambiguation. 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 comprises 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' meaning 'a covering', so one can see that 'reconciliation' doesn't precisely contain all the necessary components of the word atonement. Yom Kippur (יוֹם כִּפּוּר ˈjɔm kiˈpur also known in English as the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn and important of the Jewish holidays Its Expiation means "to atone for. " Reconciliation comes from Latin roots re, meaning "again"; con, meaning "with"; and ultimately, 'sol', a root 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. [1][2][3]

Atonement in Christianity

Christians have used three different metaphors to understand how the atonement might work[4]. Churches and denominations may vary in which metaphor they consider most accurately fits into their theological perspective, however all Christians emphasise that Jesus is the Saviour of the world and through his death the sins of mankind have been forgiven. [5]

The first metaphor, epitomised by the “ransom to Satan” theory, was used by the fourth-century theologian Gregory of Nyssa based on verses such as Mark 10:45 – "the Son of Man came … to give his life as a ransom for the many". The ransom view of the atonement, sometimes called the classical view of atonement, is one of several Doctrines in Christian theology related to the meaning Gregory of Nyssa ( Greek: Άγιος Γρηγόριος Νύσσης Latin: Gregorius Nyssenus; Arabic: غريغوريوس النيصي In this metaphor Jesus liberates mankind from slavery to Satan and thus death by giving his own life as a ransom. Victory over Satan consists of swapping the life of the perfect (Jesus), for the lives of the imperfect (mankind). A variation of this view is known as the “Christus Victor” theory, and sees Jesus not used as a ransom but rather defeating Satan in a spiritual battle and thus freeing enslaved mankind by defeating the captor. Gustaf Aulén's Christus Victor The term Christus Victor comes from the title of Gustaf Aulén 's groundbreaking book first published in 1931 where he drew

The second metaphor, used by the eleventh century theologian Anselm, is called the “satisfaction” theory. Saint Anselm of Canterbury (1033 &ndash April 21, 1109) was an Italian medieval Philosopher, theologian, and church official The satisfaction view of the Atonement is a Doctrine in Christian theology related to the meaning and effect of the death of Jesus Christ In this picture mankind owes a debt not to Satan, but to sovereign God himself. A sovereign may well be able to forgive an insult or an injury in his private capacity, but because he is a sovereign he cannot if the state has been dishonoured. Anselm argued that the insult given to God is so great that only a perfect sacrifice could satisfy and Jesus, being both God and man, was this perfect sacrifice. A variation on this theory is the commonly held Protestant "penal substitution theory," which instead of considering sin as an affront to God’s honour, sees sin as the breaking of God’s moral law. Penal substitution is a theory of the Atonement within Christian theology, especially associated with the Reformed tradition Placing a particular emphasis on Romans 6:23 (the wages of sin is death), penal substitution sees sinful man as being subject to God’s wrath with the essence of Jesus' saving work being his substitution in the sinner's place, bearing the curse in the place of man (Gal. 3:13). A third variation that also falls within this metaphor is Hugo Grotius’ “governmental theory”, which sees Jesus receiving a punishment as a public example of the lengths to which God will go to uphold the moral order. Hugo Grotius or Huig de Groot, or Hugo de Groot; ( Delft, 10 April 1583 Rostock, 28 August 1645 The governmental view of the Atonement (also known as the moral government theory) is a doctrine in Christian theology concerning the meaning and effect

The third metaphor is that of healing, associated with Pierre Abélard in the eleventh century, and Paul Tillich in the twentieth. Paul Johannes Tillich ( August 20, 1886 &ndash October 22, 1965) was a German - American theologian and Christian In this picture Jesus’ death on the cross demonstrates the extent of God’s love for us, and moved by this great act of love mankind responds and is transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. This view is favoured by most liberal theologians as the moral influence view, and also forms the basis for Rene Girard’s “mimetic desire” theory (not to be confused with meme theory). The moral influence view of the Atonement is a doctrine in Christian theology that explains the effect of Jesus Christ 's death as an act of exemplary obedience René Girard (born December 25, 1923, Avignon, France) is a world-renowned French Historian, Literary critic

Main theories in detail

Ransom & Christus Victor

Main articles: Atonement (ransom view) and Christus Victor

Satisfaction

Main article: Atonement (satisfaction view)

Substitution

Main articles: Substitutionary atonement and Penal Substitution

Governmental

Main article: Atonement (governmental view)

Moral influence

Main article: Atonement (moral influence view)

Scapegoating: William Tyndale (who invented the word from Hebrew and Greek manuscripts), René Girard, James Alison, Gerhard Förde see 'In Christianity' in Scapegoat

Other denominational perspectives

Eastern Christianity

Eastern Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholicism have a substantively different soteriology; this is sometimes cited as the core difference between Eastern and Western Christianity. The ransom view of the atonement, sometimes called the classical view of atonement, is one of several Doctrines in Christian theology related to the meaning Gustaf Aulén's Christus Victor The term Christus Victor comes from the title of Gustaf Aulén 's groundbreaking book first published in 1931 where he drew Origen ( Greek: Ōrigénēs, or Origen Adamantius, ca 185–ca Gregory of Nyssa ( Greek: Άγιος Γρηγόριος Νύσσης Latin: Gregorius Nyssenus; Arabic: غريغوريوس النيصي Saint Irenaeus (Greek Ειρηναίος (2nd century AD - c 202 was Bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, Roman Empire (now Lyons France The satisfaction view of the Atonement is a Doctrine in Christian theology related to the meaning and effect of the death of Jesus Christ Saint Anselm of Canterbury (1033 &ndash April 21, 1109) was an Italian medieval Philosopher, theologian, and church official According to Catholic teaching Salvation (Greek soteria; Hebrew yeshu'ah) has in Scriptural language the general meaning of liberation from Substitutionary atonement is a Doctrine in Christian theology which states that Jesus of Nazareth died &ndash intentionally and willingly &ndash Penal substitution is a theory of the Atonement within Christian theology, especially associated with the Reformed tradition John Calvin (or Jean Calvin) (10 July 1509 – 27 May 1564 was a French Protestant theologian during the Protestant Reformation and Calvinism (sometimes called the Reformed tradition, the Reformed faith, or Reformed theology) is a theological system and an approach to the Imputed righteousness is a concept in Christian theology which proposes that righteousness of Jesus Christ satisfies all criteria necessary to share in God's John McLeod Campbell (May 4 1800 - February 27 1872 was a nineteenth century Scottish minister who has also been called Scotland's most creative Reformed theologian of the same century Robert Campbell Moberly ( July 26, 1845 - June 8, 1903) was an English Theologian. The governmental view of the Atonement (also known as the moral government theory) is a doctrine in Christian theology concerning the meaning and effect Hugo Grotius or Huig de Groot, or Hugo de Groot; ( Delft, 10 April 1583 Rostock, 28 August 1645 Jacobus Arminius, the Latinized name of the Dutch Reformed theologian Jakob Harmenszoon (also known by the Anglicized John Miley (1813-1895 was an American Christian Theologian in the Methodist tradition who was one of the major Methodist theological voices This article is about the theologian (b 1703 for other uses of Jonathan Edwards see Jonathan Edwards. Charles Grandison Finney ( August 29, 1792 – August 16, 1875) was a minister of the gospel originally in upstate New York and grew to become The moral influence view of the Atonement is a doctrine in Christian theology that explains the effect of Jesus Christ 's death as an act of exemplary obedience Hastings Rashdall (1858&ndash1924 was an English philosopher who expounded a theory known as ideal Utilitarianism. Tyndale redirects here For the English family see Tyndall. For other uses see Tyndale (disambiguation. René Girard (born December 25, 1923, Avignon, France) is a world-renowned French Historian, Literary critic Dr James Alison (born 1959 is a Catholic theologian and author Gerhard O Forde (1927 &ndash August 9, 2005) was an American Lutheran theologian who has written extensively on the Protestant Reformation scapegoat was a Goat that was driven off into the wilderness as part of the ceremonies of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement in Judaism during the times The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world This article refers to Eastern Churches in full communion with the Holy See Soteriology is the branch of theology that deals with Salvation. In contrast to other forms of Christianity, the Orthodox tend to use the word "expiation" with regard to what is accomplished in the sacrificial act. In Orthodox theology, expiation is an act of offering that seeks to change the one making the offering. The Greek word that is translated both into propitiation and expiation is "hilasmos" which means "to make acceptable and enable one to draw close to God". Thus the Orthodox emphasis would be that Christ died, not to appease an angry and vindictive Father, or to avert the wrath of God, but to change people so that they may become more like God (see Theosis). In Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic theology theosis (written also theiosis, theopoiesis, theōsis [6]

Roman Catholic views on atonement and reparation

As expressed by Pope Pius XI in his encyclical Miserentissimus Redemptor, in the Roman Catholic tradition the concepts of atonement and redemption are often seen as being inherently related. Pope Pius XI ( Latin: Pius PP XI; Italian: Pio XI; May 31 1857 &ndash February 10 1939) born An encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Christian church Miserentissimus Redemptor is the title of an Encyclical by Pope Pius XI, issued on May 8 1928. And atonement is often balanced with specific Acts of Reparation which relate the sufferings and death of Christ to the forgiveness of sins. In the Roman Catholic tradition an Act of Reparation is a prayer or devotion with the intent to repair the " sins of others " e [7]

Moreover, in Miserentissimus Redemptor the Pontif called acts of reparation a duty for Roman Catholics:

"We are holden to the duty of reparation and expiation by a certain more valid title of justice and of love. Miserentissimus Redemptor is the title of an Encyclical by Pope Pius XI, issued on May 8 1928. " . . . "Moreover this duty of expiation is laid upon the whole race of men"[8]

Pope John Paul II referred to the concept as:

"the unceasing effort to stand beside the endless crosses on which the Son of God continues to be crucified". Pope [9]

Specific Roman Catholic practices such as the Rosary of the Holy Wounds (which does not include the usual rosary mysteries) focus on specific redemptive aspects of Christ's suffering in Calvary. The Rosary of the Holy Wounds (also called the Chaplet of Holy Wounds) is a specific form of Roman Catholic prayer said on the usual rosary beads The Rosary (from Latin rosarium, meaning "rose garden" or "garland of roses" is a popular traditional Roman Catholic devotion. "Golgotha" redirects here For other uses see Golgotha (disambiguation. [10]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) expands the doctrine of the atonement complementary to the substitutionary atonement concept, including the following:

"The word (atonement) describes the setting 'at one' of those who have been estranged, and denotes the reconciliation of man to God. Sin is the cause of the estrangement, and therefore the purpose of the atonement is to correct or overcome the consequences of sin. " (Bible Dictionary in the LDS version of the King James Bible. )

New Age

New Age writer JJ Dewey synthesizes Western and Eastern religion to contend that "true atonement is a revelation of the truth so illusion passes away and guilt is lifted". New Age ( New Age Movement and New Age Spirituality) is a Social Collective Phenomenon and a Spiritual Nature [11]

See also

References

  1. ^ The Archbishop of Canterbury: William Tyndale; Reformer and Rebel. Roman Catholic tradition include specific prayers and devotions as Acts of Reparation for insults and blasphemies against Jesus Christ In Mormonism, blood atonement is the controversial concept that there are certain Sins to which the Atonement of Jesus does not In Christianity, divine Grace refers to the sovereign favour of God for humankind — especially in regard to Salvation — irrespective of actions The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy is a Roman Catholic devotion based on the visions of Polish Nun and Canonized Forgiveness doesn't mean that you deny the other person's responsibility for hurting you and it doesn't minimize or justify the wrong In Christian theology, justification is God 's act of declaring or making a sinner righteous before God According to the Bible, the mercy seat ( was an object which rested upon the Ark of the Covenant, and was connected with the rituals of Yom Kippur A pardon is the forgiveness of a crime and the penalty associated with it In Christianity Propitiation is a theological term denoting that by which God is rendered propitious i scapegoat was a Goat that was driven off into the wilderness as part of the ceremonies of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement in Judaism during the times Sin is a term used mainly in a religious context to describe an act that violates a moral Rule, or the state of having committed such a violation Substitutionary atonement is a Doctrine in Christian theology which states that Jesus of Nazareth died &ndash intentionally and willingly &ndash A Quincentenary Appreciation. Lambeth Palace, 5th October 1994 [1]
  2. ^ Online Etymology Dictionary, Yom Kippur, 2001 [2]
  3. ^ David Rolph Seely, PhD. "Words 'Fitly Spoken': Tyndale's English Translation of the Bible. " [3]
  4. ^ Kohler, K. (1997) Atonement from the Jewish Encyclopedia, http://www.mb-soft.com/believe/text/atonemen.htm
  5. ^ Ward, K. (2007) Christianity – a guide for the perplexed. SPCK, London, p. 48- 51
  6. ^ Fr. James Bernstein, author of Surprised by Christ: My journey from Judaism to Orthodox Christianity, The Illumined Heart Podcast, May 22, 2008
  7. ^ Ann Ball, 2003 Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices ISBN 087973910X
  8. ^ [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xi_enc_08051928_miserentissimus-redemptor_en.html
  9. ^ Vatican archives http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/letters/2000/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_20001021_riparatrici_en.html
  10. ^ Michael Freze, 1993, Voices, Visions, and Apparitions, OSV Publishing ISBN 087973454X
  11. ^ The Atonement Writings, JJ Dewey

External links

The Jewish Encyclopedia was an Encyclopedia originally published between 1901 and 1906 by Funk and Wagnalls. The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to today as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language Encyclopedia published by The Encyclopedia

Dictionary

atonement

-noun

  1. A repair done for the sake of a damaged relationship.
  2. (theology, often with capitalized initial) The reconciliation of God and mankind through the death of Jesus.
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