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Penal Substitutionary Atonement
The view of Christ’s death presented here has frequently been called the theory of “penal substitution.” Christ’s death was “penal” in that he bore a penalty when he died. His death was also a “substitution” in that the was a substitute for us when he died. This has been the orthodox understanding of the atonement held by evangelical theologians, in contrast to other views that attempt to explain the atonement part from the idea of the wrath of God or payment of the penalty for sin. This view of the atonement is sometimes called the theory of vicarious atonement. A “vicar” is someone who stands in the place of another or who represents another. Christ’s death was therefore “vicarious” because he stood in our place and represented us. As our representative, he took the penalty that we deserve.
Wayne Grudem from Systematic Theology
The theory of penal substitution is the heart and soul of an evangelical view of the atonement. I am not claiming that it is the only truth about the atonement taught in the scriptures. Nor am I claiming that penal substitution is emphasized in every piece of literature, or that every author articulates clearly penal substitution. I am claiming that penal substitution functions as the anchor and foundation for all other dimensions of the atonement when the scriptures are considered as a canonical whole. I define penal substitution as follows: The Father, because of his love for human beings, sent his Son (who offered himself willingly and gladly) to satisfy his justice, so that Christ took the place of sinners. The punishment and penalty we deserved was laid on Jesus Christ instead of us, so that in the cross both God’s holiness and love are manifested. The riches
of what God has accomplished in Christ for his people are not exhausted by penal substitution. The multifaceted character of the atonement must be recognized to do justice the canonical witness. God’s people are impoverished if Christ’s triumph over evil powers at the cross is slighted, or Christ’s exemplary love is shoved to the side, or the healing bestowed on believers by Christ’s cross and resurrection is downplayed. While not
denying the wide-ranging character of Christ’s atonement, I am arguing that penal substitution is foundational and the heart of the atonement.
Thomas Schreiner
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| Title | Notes |
|---|---|
The Atonement of Jesus Christ ![]() |
Brian Schwertley |
Nothing But the Blood ![]() |
Mark Dever (Christiainty Today) - More and more evangelicals believe Christ's atoning death is merely a grotesque creation of the medieval imagination. Really? |
Articulating, Defending, and Proclaiming Christ our Substitute ![]() |
Stephen J. Wellum (pdf) |
The Logic of Penal Substitution ![]() |
J.I. Packer |
The Judicial and Substitutionary Nature of Salvation ![]() |
Greg Bahnsen |
Penal Substitution ![]() |
Greg Bahnsen |
Is Penal Substitution Biblical? ![]() |
Nathan Pitchford |
Substitution ![]() |
Steve Sullivan (.pdf) |
Our Suffering Substitute ![]() |
Charles Spurgeon |
Revisiting Penal Substitution (.pdf) ![]() |
by Kevin D. Kennedy |
A Scandalous Attack on The Cross ![]() |
Martin Downes |
What Did the Cross Achieve? ![]() |
J.I. Packer - The Logic of Penal Substitution |
Ancient Texts on Penal Substitution ![]() |
Penal substitution has a long and distinguished pedigree, and was expressely articulated by many in the early Church. Sadly, the myth of the doctrine's supposed 'late development' continues to be perpetuated in books and theological seminar |
Punishment, Penitence and Forgiveness (.pdf) ![]() |
Alistair William Seabrook - A critical assessment of the argument in Atonement and Personality by R.C. Moberly |
What's all the fuss about? A Brief Introduction to the Penal Substitution Debate ![]() |
Steve Jeffery, Andrew Sach and Mike Ovey |
Response to N. T. Wright on Pierced for our Transgressions ![]() |
From the authors of Pierced for Our Transgressions |
The Devil’s Favorite Domino—the Penal in Penal Substitution ![]() |
Jonathan Leeman |
Penal Substitution Revisited ![]() |
J. I. Packer |
In My Place Condemned He Stood ![]() |
Tom Schreiner (Interview) |
Christ Our Ransom (MP3) ![]() |
Al Mohler |
He died my death ![]() |
Alex MacDonald |
The Revolt Against Penal Substitution ![]() |
Against Heresies |
“The Shack” and the Atonement ![]() |
Gary Johnson |
Justice, Law, and Guilt (.pdf) ![]() |
by Garry J. Williams - EA Symposium on Penal Substitution |
Penal Substitution and Social Transformation ![]() |
Stephen Walton |
Atonement: Scripture on Penal Substitution (MP3 Series) ![]() |
The Master's Seminary |
The Condemned King: Mark 15 and the Doctrine of Penal Substitution ![]() |
Martin Downes |
Christus Victor and Penal Substitution ![]() |
Martin Downes |
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Recommended Reading
Pierced for Our Transgressions
by Jeffery, Ovey and Sach
The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross
by Leon Morris
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