The Missions Podcast Penal Substitutionary Atonement and Theories of the Cross
How do you fully understand and explain the work of Jesus on the cross?
In this episode, Alex and Scott explore the doctrine of the atonement, focusing on the concept of Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA) and contrasting it with other historical and theological views. The discussion walks through various atonement theories—including the Moral Influence, Ransom, and Christus Victor views and more—acknowledging elements of truth in each while highlighting their limitations compared to PSA.
Lastly, they discuss the missiological implications, countering the claim that PSA is purely a Western, legalistic construct. Instead, they stress that guilt and innocence are universal moral realities recognized across cultures, and missionaries should faithfully present the biblical doctrine while adapting metaphors and illustrations for local understanding.
Key Topics
- Importance of understanding the atonement for cross-cultural missions.
- Overview of major atonement theories: Moral Influence, Ransom, Christus Victor, Satisfaction, Governmental, and Scapegoat.
- Strengths and weaknesses of each theory compared to Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA).
- Scriptural foundations for PSA and its theological depth.
- Addressing the critiques of PSA.
- Practical considerations for contextualizing PSA in missionary work.
Download the transcript for this episode.
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Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.