Johnson - T & T Clark Companion to Atonement.

T&T Clark Companion to Atonement

We dedicate this book to the contributors of this volume who went to be with the Lord prior to its completion. While more qualified than ever as saints and theologians, they lack (for the time being) the ability to share with us the fruits of their vision.

Ralph Del Colle

I. Howard Marshall

Edward T. Oakes

John Webster

Forthcoming titles in this series include:

T&T Clark Companion to Christian Prayer, edited by Ashley Cocksworth and John C. McDowell

T&T Clark Companion to Colin Gunton, edited by Myk Habets and Andrew Picard

T&T Clark Companion to de Lubac, edited by Jordan Hillebert

T&T Clark Companion to Pneumatology, edited by Daniel Castelo and Kenneth M. Loyer

T&T Clark Companion to Political Theology, edited by Ruben Rosario Rodriguez

T&T Clark Companion to Schillebeeckx, edited by Stephan van Erp

T&T Clark Companion to Thomas. F. Torrance, edited by Paul D. Molnar and Myk Habets

T&T Clark Companion to the Theology of Kierkegaard, edited by David J. Gouwens and Aaron Edwards

Titles already published include:

T&T Clark Companion to Atonement, edited by Adam J. Johnson

T&T Clark Companion to Augustine and Modern Theology, edited by C.C. Pecknold and Tarmo Toom

T&T Clark Companion to the Doctrine of Sin, edited by Keith L. Johnson and David Lauber

T&T Clark Companion Liturgy, edited by Alcuin Reid

T&T Clark Companion to Methodism, edited by Charles Yrigoyen Jr

T&T Clark Companion to Nonconformity, edited by Robert Pope

T&T Clark Companion to Reformation Theology, edited by David M, Whitford

T&T Clark Companion to the Septuagint, edited by James K. Aitken

T&T Clark Companion to Atonement

Edited by
Adam J. Johnson

Bloomsbury T&T Clark

An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Contents

This Companion seeks to contribute to the renewal and development of the doctrine of the atonement. Negatively, it seeks to move beyond commonly held assumptions about the mutually exclusive nature of theories of the atonement and simplistic views of the history of the doctrine (in which there were three main types of theories throughout the history of the church). Positively, it seeks to offer an expansive view of the doctrine, rooted in and contributing to further developments in doctrinal, biblical, and historical studies. If there is an emphasis within the volume, it lies in paying particular attention to the doctrinal intersections so vital to a full understanding of the atonement.

Given this aim, the various chapters seek to model future work on the doctrine, equipping the reader for this work. While the various authors do not all agree, and their positions will at times be at odds, the underlying vision for a more biblically, historically, and theologically expansive understanding of the work of Christ is largely shared, as is the desire to provide the reader with those resources necessary for this task. For this reason, the contributors have been asked to equip, more than summarize. Space constraints and the scope of the vision make it nearly impossible for any of the following essays to offer a complete overview of their respective topics.

Likewise, space constraints prohibit the inclusion of a wide variety of topics and figures relevant to the atonement. The goal is to provide an example through the selection of key topics and figures, giving the reader those concepts, definitions, context, and sources (primary or secondary) which will be most helpful in contributing to further research, either in the topics covered in this book, or others which by necessity or oversight have been omitted.

In short, the contributors to this volume hope that this book will furnish the church with the tools and example it needs to join us in this ongoing task. While there is a time and place for definitive and binding statements, comprehensive summaries, and decisive conclusions, this book aims rather to reinvigorate and redirect studies within this doctrine, for the sake of its growth and development in the years to come.

So many of the mystic theologians (such as Julian of Norwich and John of the Cross), poets (particularly those of the Anglican tradition, such as Herbert and Donne), post-Reformation Lutherans and Catholics, non-Western Christian traditions (Arab Christians such as Theodore Abl Qurrah, or Indian Christians), biblical scholars of the past few centuries ... the list of omissions is vast as to be discouraging.

Acknowledging those who played a formative role in the making of this volume would include the reduplication of the list of contributorsfor the contributors of this volume have been a constant source of assistance for which I am very grateful. My goal in editing this volume was to have such a resource on my shelf, and I am exceptionally thankful for the work the contributors have done to make this possible.

A handful of friends and colleagues lent a particularly helpful hand, making key recommendations for entries and contributors, without which the volume would have been significantly impoverished. Among these are Michael Allen, Scott Harrower, Matt Jenson, Ryan Peterson, Ben Rhodes, Fred Sanders, and Ben Sutton.

This volume in particular calls for the acknowledgment of Thomas Kraft and Anna Turton, who trusted me with this project. I never would have pursued such a daunting task without their trust and wisdom. I remember with great fondness my conversation with Thomas in a Starbucks in San Francisco as we first discussed this project. As I walked away from that meeting, I felt as though the keys to the kingdom had been handed to me, laughing out loud as I sauntered down the streetwhat better place for such behavior than San Francisco?

Biola University and the Torrey Honors Institute have helped me greatly to bring this project to completion through course releases and, above all, their support of my research assistant, Rachael Smith, who is as efficient as a small and well-trained army of editors. Additional thanks go to Daniel Chrosniak, Garrett Eaglin, Hannah Grady and Micah Hogan, who stepped in at the eleventh hour to help complete the biblical index.

As with all my work, I did not do this alone: my time is my familys time, and my labor is theirs. I thank my wife, Katrina, and our sons, Reuben, Nathan, and Simeon, for the opportunity and motivation to work on this book.