Johnson - Atonement: a guide for the perplexed

Atonement: A Guide for the Perplexed

Bloomsbury Guides for the Perplexed

Bloomsburys Guides for the Perplexed are clear, concise and accessible introductions to thinkers, writers and subjects that students and readers can find especially challenging. Concentrating specifically on what it is that makes the subject difficult to grasp, these books explain and explore key themes and ideas, guiding the reader towards a thorough understanding of demanding material.

Guides for the Perplexed available from Bloomsbury include:

Balthasar: A Guide for the Perplexed, Rodney Howsare

Benedict XVI: A Guide for the Perplexed, Tracey Rowland

Bonhoeffer: A Guide for the Perplexed, Joel Lawrence

Calvin: A Guide for the Perplexed, Paul Helm

De Lubac: A Guide for the Perplexed, David Grumett

Luther: A Guide for the Perplexed, David M. Whitford

Pannenberg: A Guide for the Perplexed, Timothy Bradshaw

Pneumatology: A Guide for the Perplexed, Daniel Castelo

Political Theology: A Guide for the Perplexed, Elizabeth Phillips

Postliberal Theology: A Guide for the Perplexed, Ronald T. Michener

Schleiermacher: A Guide for the Perplexed, Theodore Vial

Scripture: A Guide for the Perplexed, William Lamb

Tillich: A Guide for the Perplexed, Andrew O'Neill

Wesley: A Guide for the Perplexed, Jason A. Vickers

iek: A Guide for the Perplexed, Sean Sheehan

Forthcoming Guides for the Perplexed available from Bloomsbury include:

Barth: A Guide for the Perplexed, Paul T. Nimmo

Catholic Social Teaching: A Guide for the Perplexed, Anna Rowlands

Ecumenism: A Guide for the Perplexed, R. David Nelson

God-Talk: A Guide for the Perplexed, Aaron B. James and Ryan S. Peterson

Prayer: A Guide for the Perplexed, Ashley Cocksworth

Resurrection: A Guide for the Perplexed, Lidija Novakovic

Salvation: A Guide for the Perplexed, Ivor J. Davidson

Schillebeeckx: A Guide for the Perplexed, Stephan van Erp

Atonement: A Guide for the Perplexed

Adam J. Johnson

Bloomsbury T&T Clark

An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Bloomsbury T&T Clark

An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Imprint previously known as T&T Clark

www.bloomsbury.com

BLOOMSBURY, T&T CLARK and the Diana logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

First published 2015

Adam J. Johnson, 2015

Adam J. Johnson has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as Author of this work.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers.

No responsibility for loss caused to any individual or organization acting on or refraining from action as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by Bloomsbury or the author.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN: HB: 978-0-567-42468-6

PB: 978-0-567-25402-3

ePDF: 978-0-567-44085-3

ePub: 978-0-567-47741-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Johnson, Adam J.

Atonement: a guide for the perplexed / Adam J. Johnson.

pages cm.

ISBN 978-0-567-42468-6 (hardback) ISBN 978-0-567-25402-3 (pbk) ISBN 978-0-567-47741-5 (epub) 1. Atonement. I. Title.

BT265.3.J63 2015

232.3dc23

2014037718

Series: Guides for the Perplexed

Typeset by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India

CONTENTS

Writing this book has been energizing, delightful and worshipful. But as energy, delight and worship are some of the many gifts of God, more often than not I have experienced these blessings through the involvement of Gods people in my life and writing.

Tom Kraft and Anna Turton at T&T Clark trusted me with this opportunity in the first place. Unbeknownst to them, the contract for this book came the day prior to my doctoral graduation from TEDS, making for quite a celebration! Biola University and the Torrey Honors Institute have generously supported my research, and my students proved an eager trying-ground for much of this material. Some of the following material is the direct result of our joint in-class exploration of theological classics and the Bible.

A host of friends, colleagues and students helped me to edit and revise this book. My wife, Katrina, used scarce time away from the boys to edit the manuscript. Rachael Smiths work as my research assistant was a great help. Tentative about my ability to communicate to a broad audience, I sought the assistance of some of my current and former students. I give my sincere thanks to Daniel Chrosniak, Susanna Downer, Evan McGee, Josh Steele and Phil Worrall, among others, for their valuable feedback. A number of friends and colleagues played a significant role in this book, including Michael Allen, Uche Anizor, David Clough, Scott Harrower, Joe Henderson, Aaron James, Matt Jenson, Matthew Levering, David Moffitt, Paul Molnar, Ryan Peterson, Gabriel Renfro, Fred Sanders, Ben Sutton, Jeremy Treat and Kevin Vanhoozer. I am particularly grateful for my theological and philosophical colleagues during my 2 years at Cedarville University, who read and critiqued the first few chapters of this book. Unfortunately I was unable to benefit from the promised help of my dear friend and colleague Chris Mitchell, due to his untimely death this summer.

The lions share of my thanks goes to those who made the biggest contribution and sacrifice, particularly during the summers. Though we have had our share of camping, swimming and outdoor fun, I thank my wife and our three boys, Reuben, Nathan and Simeon, for those valuable summer hours of writing. My hope is that my boys will someday be able to appreciate this book in its own right, and in the meantime enjoy it by means of the ways it has shaped me.

I dedicate this book to my parents, Glen and Susie Johnson. They are in large part responsible for cultivating in me the joy, curiosity, creativity and love which I hope exude from this book.

As I told my veteran pastor of my plans to do graduate studies in the doctrine of the atonement, a wry smile creased his face as he asked: So... which theory of the atonement do you believe in? I responded: All of them! The purpose of this book is to offer a more expansive answer to this question, sharing a vision for a fuller understanding of the atonement which is eager to explore, embrace and apply new aspects of Gods work in Christ to reconcile all things to himself.