[Bible] Episode 273: Jennifer Garcia Bashaw - What Did the Crucifixion Do? (REISSUE)
Jun 17, 2024
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Jennifer Garcia Bashaw, an expert in atonement theories, discusses the significance of Jesus's death on the cross in various atonement theories. They explore Christus Victor theory, penal substitutionary atonement, moral exemplar theory, and the impact of crucifixion on Christianity, shedding light on the diverse interpretations and implications of these theories.
Christus Victor theory views Jesus' death as victorious over evil forces.
Satisfaction Theory explains Jesus' death as restoring honor through payment.
Penal Substitutionary Atonement emphasizes Jesus' punishment for human sins to satisfy God's justice.
Deep dives
Theory of Christus Victor
Christus Victor theory explains Jesus' life, death, and resurrection as a victorious battle against evil forces. It portrays Jesus as the victor over Satan, breaking the power of evil that holds humanity captive. This theory draws biblical foundations from various metaphors in the New Testament depicting Jesus' triumph over evil.
Satisfaction Theory
The Satisfaction Theory, attributed to Anselm, posits that Jesus' death satisfies God's honor or justice. It explains Jesus' death as making restoration for humanity's wrongs by paying the penalty. This legal context theory emerged during the 12th century, connecting Jesus' death to satisfying God's honor.
Penal Substitutionary Atonement
Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA) emerged in the 16th century through reformers like Calvin and Luther. It focuses on the idea that Jesus suffered punishment for human sins to appease God's justice. The theory emphasizes the substitutionary aspect, stating that Jesus took humanity's place in bearing the penalty for sin.
Moral Exemplar Theory
The Moral Exemplar Theory by Peter Abelard emphasizes Jesus' life and death as an example for moral improvement. It suggests that Jesus' actions, love, and ministry aim to lead people towards repentance, reconciliation with God, and personal transformation. This theory focuses on emulating Jesus' life and teachings for moral growth.
Scapegoat Theory
The Scapegoat Theory by René Girard identifies societal violence patterned around a scapegoat figure who bears blame to alleviate conflict temporarily. Applying this to Jesus, the theory interprets his death as revealing humanity's tendency to scapegoat and project violence. Understanding Jesus as the 'last scapegoat' enables reflection on societal violence patterns and points to transformative possibilities.
Summary
The podcast episode delves into various atonement theories, exploring Christus Victor as Jesus' victory over evil, Satisfaction Theory relating Jesus' death to divine honor, PSA highlighting Jesus' substitutionary suffering, Moral Exemplar focusing on Jesus' exemplary life, and Scapegoat Theory examining societal violence dynamics. These theories offer diverse perspectives on the significance of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, inviting nuanced reflection on atonement themes.
In this episode ofThe Bible for Normal People, Jennifer Garcia Bashaw joins Pete and Jared to discuss how various atonement theories attempt to explain Jesus’s death. This is a reissue of The Bible for Normal People Episode 183 from October 2021.
For those of you who pay attention to the show notes, you can learn more about atonement theories from Jennifer at a discounted price! Use code atonement20off to get 20% off our class "Why God Died" until June 30, 2024.
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This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/bnp and get on your way to being your best self.
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Today’s podcast is sponsored by Palmer Theological Seminary & College of Eastern University, one of the most diverse seminaries in North America. You can study online or in person in the Philadelphia suburbs at Palmer. Visit www.palmerseminary.edu for more information.