Pierced for Our Transgressions

Pierced for Our Transgressions: Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution (Foreword by John Piper)
Steve Jeffery, Michael Ovey, Andrew Sach, John Piper (Foreword)

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With the central Christian doctrine of penal substitution increasingly under attack, these authors articulate a series of responses to specific theological and cultural criticisms.

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Contents

Foreword 13
Acknowledgments 17
The authors 19
Part One. Making the Case
1. Introduction 21
Setting the scene 21
Responding to the challenge 26
2. Searching the Scriptures: the biblical foundations of penal substitution 33
Introduction 33
Exodus 12 34
Leviticus 16 42
Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12 52
The Gospel of Mark 67
The Gospel of John 73
Romans 77
Galatians 3:10-13 88
1 Peter 2:21-25 and 3:18 95
Conclusion 99
3. Assembling the pieces: the theological framework for penal substitution 100
Setting the scene 100
Creation 105
'Decreation' - the undoing of creation 110
The consequences of sin 118
Truth, goodness, justice and salvation 124
Relationships within the Trinity 126
Redemption 132
Conclusion 148
4. Exploring the implications: the pastoral importance of penal substitution 149
Introduction 149
Assurance of God's love 150
Confidence in God's truthfulness 153
Passion for God's justice 156
Realism about our sin 158
5. Surveying the heritage: the historical pedigree of penal substitution 161
Introduction: Why bother with church history? 161
Justin Martyr (c. 100-165) 164
Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 275-339) 166
Hilary of Poitiers (c. 300-368) 167
Athanasius (c. 300-373) 169
Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 330-390) 173
Ambrose of Milan (339-397) 174
John Chrysostom (c. 350-407) 175
Augustine of Hippo (354-430) 177
Cyril of Alexandria (375-444) 180
Gelasius of Cyzicus (fifth century) 181
Gregory the Great (c. 540-604) 183
Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225-74) 184
John Calvin (1509-64) 185
Francis Turretin (1623-87) 186
John Bunyan (1628-88) 188
John Owen (1616-83) 189
George Whitefield (1714-70) 191
Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-92) 193
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) 194
John R. W. Stott (born 1921) 196
J. I. Packer (born 1926) 197
The Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF) Doctrinal Basis 200
The Evangelical Alliance Basis of Faith 201
Conclusion 203
Part Two. Answering the Critics
6. Introduction to the debate 205
Setting the scene 205
Our approach 206
Why do it this way? 207
7. Penal substitution and the Bible 208
Introduction 208
1. 'Penal substitution is not the only model of the atonement' 208
2. 'Penal substitution is not central to the atonement' 210
3. 'Penal substitution diminishes the significance of Jesus' life and resurrection' 212
4. 'Penal substitution is not taught in the Bible' 214
5. 'Penal substitution is not important enough to be a source of division' 216
8. Penal substitution and culture 218
Introduction 218
1. 'Penal substitution is the product of human culture, not biblical teaching' 218
2. 'Penal substitution is unable to address the real needs of human culture' 221
3. 'Penal substitution relies on biblical words, metaphors and concepts that are outdated and misunderstood in our culture' 224
9. Penal substitution and violence 226
Introduction 226
1. 'Penal substitution rests on unbiblical ideas of sacrifice' 226
2. 'The violence involved in penal substitution amounts to "cosmic child abuse"' 228
3. 'The retributive violence involved in penal substitution contradicts Jesus' message of peace and love' 233
4. 'The violence inherent in penal substitution is an example of "the myth of redemptive violence", which can never overcome evil' 235
10. Penal substitution and justice 240
Introduction 240
1. 'It is unjust to punish an innocent person, even if he is willing to be punished' 240
2. 'Biblical justice is about restoring relationships, not exacting retribution' 249
3. 'Penal substitution implicitly denies that God forgives sin' 263
4. 'Penal substitution does not work, for the penalty Christ suffered was not equivalent to that due to us' 265
5. 'Penal substitution implies universal salvation, which is unbiblical' 268
11. Penal substitution and our understanding of God 279
Introduction 279
1. 'Penal substitution implies a division between the persons of the Trinity' 279
2. 'Penal substitution relies on an unbiblical view of an angry God that is incompatible with his love' 286
3. 'Penal substitution misunderstands the relationship between God's wrath and human sin' 294
4. 'Penal substitution generates an unbiblical view of a God constrained by a law external to himself ' 300
5. 'Penal substitution is an impersonal, mechanistic account of the atonement' 303
12. Penal substitution and the Christian life 307
Introduction 307
1. 'Penal substitution fails to address the issues of political and social sin and cosmic evil' 307
2. 'Penal substitution is an entirely objective account of the atonement, and fails to address our side of the Creator-creature relationship' 313
3. 'Penal substitution causes people to live in fear of God' 318
4. 'Penal substitution legitimates violence and encourages the passive acceptance of unjust suffering' 321
13. A final word 325
Introduction 325
'The Vague Objection' 325
'The Emotional Objection' 326
Conclusion 328
Appendix: A personal note to preachers
Introduction 329
Exploring the problem 332
Addressing the problem 333
Bibliography 337
Index of names 352
Index of subjects 356
Index of biblical references 361
Index of ancient writings 373

About the Contributors

Steve Jeffery is a pastor at Holy Trinity, Lyonsdown, in North London. He has a MS and PhD in experimental physics from Oxford University.

Michael Ovey is principal of Oak Hill Theological College. He has a PhD in Trinitarian theology from King’s College, London.

Andrew Sach studied theology at Oak Hill and is now on the staff of St Helen’s, Bishopsgate, in central London. He has a PhD from York University.