Theme 2 - Section C

Question 1

What is the definition of Atonement?

Answer 1

To make ‘at one’ or reconcile

Atonement refers to the reconciliation between humanity and God.

Question 2

What does Expiation refer to in the context of Atonement?

Answer 2

What Christ did on the cross - paid the penalty for human sin

Expiation involves the act of making amends or reparation for wrongdoing.

Question 3

What is Propitiation?

Answer 3

The result of what Christ did on the cross - he averted God’s wrath

Propitiation signifies the act of appeasing God’s anger.

Question 4

What is the primary purpose of Atonement?

Answer 4

The reconciliation of humanity and God through Jesus’ death on the cross

Atonement addresses the separation caused by sin.

Question 5

What caused sin to enter the world according to the text?

Answer 5

Sin had come into the world through Adam and Eve and was passed down as original sin

This concept highlights the theological basis for the need for Atonement.

Question 6

What does the Sacrificial model of Atonement involve?

Answer 6

Old Testament practice of sacrifice to restore broken relationship between people and God

This model is illustrated in Leviticus and the Passover lamb.

Question 7

What biblical reference discusses the sacrifice of a goat to redeem sins?

Answer 7

Leviticus 16: 20-22

This passage describes the ritual of the scapegoat bearing the sins of the people.

Question 8

How is Jesus described in John 1:29?

Answer 8

As ‘the lamb of God who takes away sin from the world’

This emphasizes Jesus’ role in the Atonement.

Question 9

What does the Epistle to the Hebrews say about Jesus’ sacrifice?

Answer 9

The perfect sacrifice of Jesus took human sin away from the world - final atonement of sin

This points to the belief that Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient for redemption.

Question 10

What is a challenge associated with the Sacrificial model?

Answer 10

No loving God would sacrifice his Son to satisfy his own sense of justice

This raises ethical questions about the nature of God.

Question 11

What does the Ransom model suggest about Jesus’ death?

Answer 11

Jesus thought of his death as a means of a payment of ransom to redeem humanity from sin

This model interprets Jesus’ sacrifice as a payment to free humanity.

Question 12

Which biblical verse supports the Ransom model?

Answer 12

Matthew 20:28 - ‘the Son of Man came to give his life a ransom for many’

This verse is often cited to support the idea of Jesus as a ransom.

Question 13

What is the main critique of the Ransom model?

Answer 13

Gives Satan more power than he has, and God becomes both a debtor and a deceiver

This raises theological concerns about the nature of God and evil.

Question 14

What does the Christus Victor model emphasize?

Answer 14

Atonement is a passion story about God conquering hostile powers of death and the devil

This model focuses on liberation from sin and death.

Question 15

What is a challenge associated with the Christus Victor model?

Answer 15

Plays down human sin

This criticism suggests that it may overlook the severity of human wrongdoing.

Question 16

What is the Recapitulation model similar to?

Answer 16

Similar to Christus Victor - humans were in debt to God and Jesus cancelled it when he defeated the devil

This model ties together themes of debt and redemption.

Question 17

Fill in the blank: ‘The priest shall lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel … the goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a barren region; and the goat shall be set free in the ______.’

Answer 17

Wilderness

This refers to the ritual of the scapegoat in Leviticus.

Question 18

True or False: According to Origen, the payment could be made to God because He was holding sinners in captivity for a ransom.

Answer 18

False

Origen argued that the payment had to be made to the devil.

Question 19

Who is Anselm?

Answer 19

Italian born monk and theologian

Anselm is known for his contributions to the understanding of atonement in Christian theology.

Question 20

What does supererogation mean?

Answer 20

Doing more than duty requires

This concept refers to actions that go beyond what is required by duty.

Question 21

What does satisfaction mean in the context of atonement?

Answer 21

Reparation

Satisfaction is the idea that human sin has offended God and requires reparation.

Question 22

According to Anselm, why was the death of Jesus necessary?

Answer 22

To satisfy God’s honour and pay the human debt to God

Anselm modified the ransom model to explain that only the death of the God-man Jesus could satisfy this debt.

Question 23

What is the key challenge to Anselm’s satisfaction model?

Answer 23

It is based on a concept of honour in the feudal system

This model makes God appear as an overlord, which is seen as unbiblical.

Question 24

What do Protestant Reformers reject about the satisfaction model?

Answer 24

It is based on God’s honour rather than justice

Reformers argue that justice should be the basis for understanding atonement.

Question 25

What does penal substitution entail?

Answer 25

Jesus took on punishment for humans to satisfy God’s justice

This model suggests that through Jesus’ death, humans are freed from punishment.

Question 26

What is a key challenge to the penal substitution model?

Answer 26

It is based on a criminal justice system rather than biblical revelation

Critics argue that punishing the innocent in place of the guilty is unjust.

Question 27

What does the penal substitution model imply about the relationship between the Father and the Son?

Answer 27

It separates the Father from the Son

This separation is seen as incompatible with the Christian understanding of God’s nature.

Question 28

What is the moral example model of atonement?

Answer 28

Jesus died to show humans the depth of God’s love

This model emphasizes moral improvement and repentance as outcomes of Jesus’ sacrifice.

Question 29

What is a challenge to the moral example model?

Answer 29

It does not explain the necessity of crucifixion

Critics argue that Jesus’ teachings could have sufficed without his death.

Question 30

Fill in the blank: ‘The Lord has laid upon him the ______ of us all.’

Answer 30

iniquity

This quote is from Isaiah 53:6, highlighting the concept of Jesus bearing the sins of humanity.

Question 31

Fill in the blank: ‘Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a ______ for us.’

Answer 31

curse

This quote is from Galatians 3:13, illustrating the idea of Jesus taking on the curse for humanity.