Atonement sits at the very heart of Christian doctrine, describing believers' status as "being one again" with God through Jesus Christ. It is the culmination of God's work of reconciliation, simultaneously defining believers' relationship with God while also describing how that relationship is restored. Because of this, how one understands atonement has a profound impact on how one views and understands God, salvation, and human nature.
New Testament scholar Channing L. Crisler offers a robust foundation for understanding the divine mystery of atonement, drawing on biblical and historical witnesses to answer pertinent questions, such as:
Why is atonement necessary?
What are the different theories of atonement?
How is atonement understood by the various Christian traditions and world religions?
What implications does one's understanding of atonement have on the present?
Through its question-and-answer format, 40 Questions About the Atonement provides an expansive introduction to the doctrine of atonement, inviting the reader to wade into this divine mystery with curiosity and awe.
Author:
(PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is Associate Professor of New Testament at Anderson University and Clamp Divinity School in South Carolina. He is the author of several books, including A Synoptic Christology of Lament.