The Sacrifice of Jesus: Understanding Atonement Biblically

by Christian A. Eberhart

The "sacrifice" of Jesus is one of the most central doctrines in Christianity-- and one of the most controversial, especially in contemporary debate (and after the appearance of films such as The Passion of the Christ). The implications of a violent parent and the necessity of innocent suffering are profoundly troubling to many people. Are they nevertheless necessary elements of Christian theology?

Christian A. Eberhart makes a decisive contribution to these debates by carefully and clearly examining the Old Testament metaphors of sacrifice and atonement and the ways these metaphors were taken over by early Christians to speak of the significance of Christ. Eberhart shows that these New Testament appropriations have been misunderstood as requiring a logic of necessary violence; rather they speak to larger Christological themes concerning the whole mission and life of Jesus.

170 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2011

Reviews

[Tim Donnelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, short introduction to the idea of sacrifice and atonement in the OT, and how those ideas apply to Jesus’ sacrifice and atonement.

In my opinion the book could have been longer, some points are made in drive by fashion.

Though, the section on the different offerings and sacrifices in Leviticus is really helpful and I’d recommend this book to read that section alone.

[Jared Greer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up. I’ve been wanting to get around to this book for a while. I really enjoy everything I’ve read from Eberhart on the Priestly materials in the HB; and I’ve been curious to see how he ties it all together in his conceptualization of Jesus’s atoning work. As I expected, the first section, which discusses the sacrificial cult in the Hebrew Bible, is excellent—perhaps one of the clearest and most concise primers I’ve read on the subject. The second section, which discusses sacrificial metaphors in the NT, is a bit underwhelming imo. I felt that the concise nature of the project left him little room to adequately flesh out his (usually very good) ideas. Everything felt rushed. Consequently, I would recommend supplementing this work with something like “Rethinking the Atonement” by David Moffitt, or Andrew Rillera’s forthcoming “Lamb of the Free.” In any case, still worth your time.

[Joel Wentz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an astoundingly-concise, informative and clear volume on Jewish sacrifice in the ancient Levitical system, as well as a thought-provoking consideration of how the death of Jesus could figure symbolically into that thought-world. Ultimately, Eberhart proposes a tantalizing interpretation of Jesus' death that does not fit neatly into the conservative-evangelical (quasi-reformed) views that are so well-known today. The possibility of some of the New Testament images and metaphors for Jesus' death coming from secular sources is kind of mind-blowing, as well as the notion that the actual death/slaughter of the animal in Levitical sacrifices was a marginally important action. If applied to Jesus' death in the way Eberhart is suggesting, the shift in thinking is quite profound.

Regardless of these interpretive moves, however, the first chapter of the book (which summarizes in amazing clarity the whole ancient temple-sacrificial system) should be required reading by anyone that is going to teach or preach on the bible. It's that helpful, and that important, and that unique in biblical studies publishing. Amazing resource.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A look at the use of sacrifice in the OT (Lev 1-7) reveals that death and blood were not the primary images connected with sacrifice. The NT application of sacrifice, then, as applied to Christ's death needs to be read with this in mind. Often the NT emphasizes the life that comes through Christ's blood, meaning that it consecrates and purifies (similar to the sprinkling of blood in the OT sacrifices). Therefore, there's far more emphasis on Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection bringing salvation, as opposed to simply his death. There's much to reflect on in this book, and while I am still sorting through the implications, it does raise significant questions concerning the perhaps over-emphasis in theological thought on sacrifice as death, which may be an anachronistic imposition on the biblical portrayal.

[Christopher Hutson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to move Substitutionary Atonement off of top dead center, you need to read this book. A distillation of earlier more technical studies, this is a quick survey of the meaning of sacrifice in the OT. Eberhart broadens the categories and offers plenty of biblical ways to think about the offering of Jesus beyond mere payment of a penalty.

[Crispin Newmarch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic little book - a little dry - but rigorous scholarship on the sacrificial system and it's application to New Testament Atonement.

[Jon Sumulong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an immensely clear and helpful book on the topic of sacrifice in the Bible—a subject often neglected and, perhaps more often, shrouded in confusion. In fewer than 150 pages, Eberhart takes readers on a well-paced journey: beginning with a concise overview of the idea of sacrifice, moving through the five sacrificial types outlined in Leviticus 1–7, exploring adjacent rituals, and finally using these Old Testament details to shed light on the sacrificial metaphors in the New Testament’s portrayal of Jesus.

The book’s tone is accessible and straightforward—perfect for anyone ranging from “I know nothing about sacrifices in the Bible” to “I’ve read about sacrifice and atonement in theology but I want a closer look.” As someone who has made reading about sacrifice, atonement, and Leviticus something of a hobby, I was delighted by how many insights were packed into such a short book. It’s also an easy and enjoyable read. While there are a couple of brief sections that may seem a bit dry—such as a short summary of scholarly theories of sacrifice, and a few pages describing sanctuaries and temples in detail—they’re easy to navigate or even skip. Overall, The Sacrifice of Jesus is a well-crafted, insightful, and surprisingly engaging book. I highly recommend it to anyone who reads the Bible.

[Raimo Wirkkala · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reads like a very earnest, scholarly, well-researched college thesis. That is, largely, the problem. The author tries a bit too hard to convince and his argument, in my view, doesn't really need to be made. Very educational as to Leviticus though.