The Atonement

The atonement of Christ is the heart of Christianity. Christians are not only a people of the Book, but a people of the cross. This book considers the subject of the atonement, beginning with the key terms and concepts in the Old and New Testaments like sacrifice, redemption, reconciliation, substitution, propitiation, expiation, etc. Several issues are then addressed in successive chapters, including the atonement’s necessity, nature, intent, extent, and application. How the atonement relates to Christology, Soteriology, covenant, and questions like “is the atonement actual or potential?” and “is the blood of Christ wasted on those who are eternally lost?” are answered as well. The book concludes with a survey of the development of atonement theories throughout church history and an assessment of contemporary theologies of the atonement. The Atonement: A Biblical, Theological, and Historical Study of the Cross of Christ will be of help to pastors, laypeople, and scholars alike who wish to understand what Christ accomplished on the cross by his death.