[Bonus Podcast] Is The Atonement of Jesus Defensible? (with Willliam Lane Craig)
Sep 2, 2020
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In this bonus podcast, William Lane Craig, an apologist and theologian, discusses the atonement of Jesus and defends it against common critiques. The conversation covers the multifaceted nature of atonement, different models of atonement in Christianity, the concept of legal fiction in relation to the atonement, theological discussions on the optionality of the cross, and the personal impact of studying the atonement. The host also promotes a book, educational programs at Biola University, and upcoming podcast episodes.
The atonement of Jesus is a multifaceted doctrine that encompasses various motifs and must be understood in its entirety to grasp its significance.
Dr. William Lane Craig emphasizes the importance of recognizing and discussing both the etymological and biblical meanings of 'atonement' for a comprehensive understanding of the doctrine.
Deep dives
The Importance of the Doctrine of Atonement
In this podcast episode, Dr. William Lane Craig discusses the importance of the doctrine of atonement and its defense against criticisms. He explains that he was motivated to explore this topic because he felt dissatisfied with the treatment of the doctrine by Christian philosophers and the lack of a robust defense of the Reformation doctrine of substitutionary atonement. Dr. Craig highlights that the atonement is a multifaceted doctrine, consisting of various motifs such as sacrifice, satisfaction of divine justice, redemption, and more. To have a complete understanding of atonement, these different facets must be considered together. Additionally, he emphasizes the significance of the Old Testament sacrificial system in laying the groundwork for the concept of substitutionary atonement, exemplified by Jesus' vicarious suffering on the cross. Throughout the episode, Dr. Craig addresses objections and defends the validity and coherence of penal substitutionary atonement.
Understanding the Doctrine of Atonement
Dr. Craig explains that the word 'atonement' has two different meanings: the etymological meaning referring to reconciliation with God and the biblical meaning of cleansing or purification. He highlights the importance of recognizing and discussing both meanings when examining the doctrine of atonement. Furthermore, Dr. Craig likens the multifaceted nature of the atonement to a jewel with various motifs and metaphors, such as sacrifice, redemption, and penal substitution. He emphasizes that all these facets are essential and leaving out any of them would result in an incomplete understanding of the doctrine.
Exploring the Legal Fiction of Atonement
Dr. Craig discusses the concept of legal fiction as it relates to the atonement. He explains that legal fiction is a well-established principle in the Anglo-American justice system, where crimes committed by one person can be imputed to a blameless third party. Dr. Craig provides examples of legal fictions like vicarious liability in maritime law and explains how these examples demonstrate the imputation of wrongdoing to an innocent third party. The application of legal fiction in the context of the atonement allows for the understanding that Christ, though blameless, had the sins of humanity imputed to him, making his substitutionary death a just and valid act.
Addressing Theological Questions and Criticisms
Dr. Craig addresses theological questions and criticisms surrounding the atonement. He explains that some church fathers believed the atonement to be optional, while others viewed it as necessary and essential for the satisfaction of divine justice. He also responds to objections regarding the optionality of the cross and the importance of the resurrection and justification in relation to the atonement. Additionally, Dr. Craig explores theological discussions on the optionality of the atonement and the theological implications of various perspectives, including divine command theory and retributive justice. He concludes with the importance of understanding and defending the biblical view of atonement.
In his latest book, William Lane Craig explains the significance of the atonement of Jesus and defends it against some of the most common critiques.
This interview was recorded on Sean's YouTube channel, and is longer than our typical episodes, but it falls right in line with the focus of the Think Biblically podcast. Enjoy!
Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.
To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.
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