Pierced for Our Transgressions: Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution

by Steve Jeffery, Michael Ovey, Andrew Sach

The belief that Jesus died for us, suffering the wrath of his own Father in our place, has been the wellspring of hope for countless Christians through the ages. However, with an increasing number of theologians, church leaders, and even popular Christian books and magazines questioning this doctrine, which naysayers have described as a form of "cosmic child abuse," a fresh articulation and affirmation of penal substitution is needed. And Jeffery, Ovey, and Sach have responded here with clear exposition and analysis. They make the case not only that the doctrine is clearly taught in Scripture, but that it has an impeccable pedigree and a central place in Christian theology, and that its neglect has serious consequences. The authors also systematically analyze over twenty specific objections that have been brought against penal substitution and charitably but firmly offer a defining declaration of the doctrine of the cross for any concerned reader.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christianity, Biblical Studies, Nonfiction, Religion, Faith

384 pages, Paperback

First published March 16, 2007

Reviews

[Joost Nixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resource. What was most helpful to me is that the book thoroughly engages a whole host of objections to penal substitution.

[Peter Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid introduction to the atonement and its forensic, penal aspects. The authors carefully lay out the Biblical, theological, and historical reasons for holding to it, as well as answering the objections. I thought the two most valuable sections were the theological framework discussion. In particular these chapters showed how God had to punish sin or he would be unfaithful to his word. This point is hammered home in various ways throughout the book. Second, the "Answering the Critics" section is large and helpful in addressing many of the common objections to this doctrine.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just wonderful.

[Engebret Andresen · Rating 4 out of 5]

En god, grundig, ryddig bok om læren om Jesu stedsfortredende soning. Boka demonstrerer tydelig det Bibelske grunnlaget for en slik lære og legger fram hva kirkehistoriens mest sendrale aktører mener om det, og til slutt besvarer boka alle innvendinger de kan finne mot stedsfortredende soning, og det er ikke rent få. Jeg tror dette et kjempeviktig bidrag til den teologiske debatten, og at den setter opp et tydelig vern om en veldig sentral lære, før angrepet mot den er for sterk.

Boka er veldig god på å vise hvor viktig, grunnleggende og vakker denne forsoningslæren er, og noen deler oppleves nærmest oppbyggelig. Det tas også flere spennende digresjoner som belyser temaet på gode måter. Også må det sies at det først og fremst er en akademisk bok, med utførligheten som følger, og ikke en bok for den gjengse kristne. Spesielt siste del av boka ble lengre enn jeg hadde glede av.

[Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really helpful summary of the biblical, theological, and historical doctrine of the subsitutionary atonement. It is fairly thorough without being too dense. Little wishes here and there for more thorough explanations, but overall very useful.

[Dr. David Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read on penal substitutionary atonement!

[Jaden A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came recommended from Keith Mathison of Ligonier and James Anderson, Carl W. McMurray Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina. I won’t attempt to write a lengthy review as that has already been done by others (see John Frame, D.A. Carson, Roger Nicole, J.I. Packer, etc.)

Part 1:
The book is broken out with its first portion dedicated to providing the Biblical foundations of penal substitution. This is followed by the second part with puts together a theological framework for such a theory. Next, pastoral implications are drawn out. Followed by this, twenty-one historical figures are canvassed concerning what their personal views were on theory of atonement. The authors argue against the idea the penal substitution was not itself a concept alive and well in patristic thought.

Part 2:
Six different chapters are presented against objections, not considering the introduction or conclusion. I found that the authors did an excellent job at crafting adequate responses that can serve as a launchpad for further exploration. Even William Lane Craig, the foremost defender of penal substitution in the realm of philosophical theology makes mention in a footnote in the introduction to his book on atonement that “a genuine effort is made to tackle philosophical problems of atonement” in Jeffery, Ovey, & Sach’s single volume book.

Overall, this is an excellent seminary-level book that will benefit both thoughtful lay persons and others. Highly recommend.

[James Bunyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book we need. So thorough, so clear, so persuasive, engages with other arguments so well. Loved it and will certainly be dipping into it again and again and again.

Helpful quotes:
"The promises of the Old Testament anticipate many different aspects of the work of Christ. It is unsurprising that his work should be so multi-faceted, for, as we have seen, the problems created by de-creation and false faith are many. Interestingly, some of the Old Testament prophecies seem to require a human saviour (e.g. the promise of a King from the line of King David , 2 Sam. 7), whereas others anticipate the action of God himself (e.g. Ezek. 34: 11). To combine these prophecies is to anticipate a redeemer who is both truly human and truly divine, without compromising either nature." pg 136

"We have seen how penal substitution , and particularly its associated ideas of justice and punishment for sin, integrate with three other important biblical perspectives on the cross; victory, reconciliation and ransom. It is clear that to dispense with penal substitution would distort these other perspectives. More than this, if penal substitution were abandoned, the very elements of these other perspectives tha are praised with such passion in scripture- the justice of God's victory and the surpassing glory of his reconciling love- would have to go as well. Thus we should not see these perspectives on the cross as alternatives to penal substitution, but rather outworkings of it. Penal substitution underpins and enriches them." pg144

[Anthony Locke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough summary and defense of penal substitutionary atonement (PSA) - will be interesting to see how the arguments made in the book, particularly the historical and defense sections of the book, hold up when reading the full critical positions of PSA instead of summaries/excerpts. I have already seen some overlap in historical names cited in other books in support of a different primary position on the atonement. Nonetheless, it was helpful for my own soul to meditate on PSA again.

[Josh G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive, robust, and utterly convincing. The authors cover the necessary exegetical, theological, and contemporary issues related to the debate over penal substitution. Additionally, while this is clearly an academic work, it is written for the educated lay person to understand a benefit from. I personally found it imminently accessible and devotionally rich.

[Philip Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noice.

[David Westerfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

A recent, thorough study of the American religious landscape conducted by the Pew Forum indicates that around 57% of self-labeled evangelicals now believe Jesus is not the only way to eternal life. This and other studies are showing the exact same thing: evangelicalism as a whole has lost, or is in the process of losing the Gospel as what makes it distinguishable from other "Christian" groups. This is saddening.



But it is no wonder when you have leaders, pastors and theologians in evangelicalism itself outright denying something that lies at the heart of the Gospel: the penal substitutionary atonement of Christ on the cross in behalf of sinners. Yes, evangelicals are beginning to deny this now! This excellent book, written by Steve Jeffery, Mike Ovey, and Andrew Sach is a very welcomed, thoughtful, timely and Biblically engaging response to those very people in showing them they are defying the Scriptures as well as historically what the church, its fathers and its doctors, have believed concerning this.



Just to give a short synopsis of the book, the first three chapters give a good thorough definition of what the doctrine is saying, the Biblical background of it from both the Old and New Testaments with a plethora of citations and explanations of the texts, and finally bringing all of this together into a theological framework in defense of the doctrine, respectively. All of this helps us understand the depths of how far God had to go in Christ in taking our sin upon Himself, taking the wrath in Himself that was due to us for that sin, and how we gain His righteousness through that work, by faith. Essentially, through faith and trust in Him, Christ takes our eternal punishment, in our place, and in return we get His reward for His work and toil! Unfathomable!



The fourth chapter then deals with the pastoral implications which I won't go into as much here. In helping gain a better grasp of what Christians have believed historically concerning penal substitution, the fifth chapter outlines from church history, chronologically, what those who have gone before us said pertaining to this wonderful truth.



And that's all just Part I.



All of Part 2 deals with answering the modern day critics who state that penal substitution is unbiblical, defies good modern-day common sense, and defies logic/reason. Many critics are making the old theologically liberal argument that penal substitution makes God the Father out to be a child abuser of His Son if He willingly sent Him to the cross to bear the wrath that was due to us. Unbelievable. How do we answer these people and the many other awful accusations of this wonderful truth? This book is a great place to start to know exactly how to do that.



This is was a wonderful read and a great resource to keep going back to in the future. The clear thinking, counter-arguments and Scriptural citations on the matter are so plentiful that it is really hard to negate the reality of this truth. In addition, though I initially thought this was going to be a high-level argumentation for penal substitution, I found it to be quite an easy read and not that difficult to keep up with at all. It's one of those books that the authors are so smart, they can not only comprehend the most difficult theology, but can then take that theology and make it easily understandable for the average lay person.



In the future, unless God in His mercy and intervenes, turning evangelicals hearts' back to Him again, this doctrine will continue to be lambasted as outdated, primitive, and downright offensive. We must be ready for the attacks on the heart of the Gospel, unfortunately, within many of our churches now. Believe me, it is coming. If theologians, pastors, and teachers are beginning to say these things now, it is only a matter of time before their cunning and deceitful arguments filter down into the thinking of the average person.



We must stand up for the Gospel now, in all of its difficult and soul-cutting truths, for the sake of the glory of God. Penal substitution is just one of these truths. In fact, it is a linchpin doctrine upon which our salvation rests, because how is it we can be saved unless God's justice against our wrong-doing was satisfied by Christ bearing our burden in Himself on the tree?



This book is a great place to start really understanding this timeless, Biblical truth and re-examining your own personal understanding of it even. In addition, if you really want to understand the apologetic defense against many of these arguments, this book is a must read. Regardless of where you are coming from, it will be well worth your time and help focus and concentrate you on the center-piece of our faith: Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

[Jonathan Klimek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pierced for Our Transgressions: Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution (POT) written by Steve Jeffery, Michael Ovey and Andrew Sach (authors).

The authors provide a comprehensive and biblical defense of the glorious doctrine of penal substitution (doctrine) and its theological framework (31). They demonstrate the validity and necessity of the doctrine by showing that 1) it is clearly taught in Scripture which they demonstrate by examining the exegesis and biblical theology of this doctrine; 2) it is upheld and taught throughout Church History; 3) it results in several pastoral consequences if neglected; 4) it is an undefeated doctrine which they demonstrate by answering every objection—exposing the error of every counter-argument (21–336). The authors begin with an excellent definition of penal substitution where they define it as, “The doctrine of penal substitution states that God gave himself in the person of his Son to suffer instead of us the death, punishment and curse due to fallen humanity as the penalty for sin” (21, see also 103). They show that this doctrine is not the only aspect of the cross (33–44) but it is the foundation of other aspects of the cross (138–48). To reject this doctrine is to reject the gospel.

In Part One: “Making the Case” after a brief introduction of penal substitution and how it is currently being attacked, the authors defend the glorious doctrine biblically, theologically, pastorally and historically. The authors demonstrate the centrality, accuracy, necessity, practicality, importance, and foundation of this doctrine for Christian theology and the grave danger of neglecting such a glorious doctrine. The exegesis and explanation of the doctrine in chapter two is sound and easy to understand—clear and accurate. They faithfully exegeted several passages of Scripture both in the OT and the NT (Exod 12, Lev 16, Isa 52–53:12, The Gospel of Mark and John, and the Letter of Romans, Gal 3:10–13 and 1 Pet 2:21–25; 3:18), which exposes the erroneous opposing views, such as the New Perspective of Paul whilst at the same time making it abundantly clear that this doctrine has been developed and confirmed throughout Biblical history through progressive revelation. Chapter three serves as an introduction to the theological framework—showing 1) how the doctrine fits into the “bigger picture” of Christian Theology; 2) how it relates to one’s understanding of God, creation, sin, and other aspects of the atonement; 3) the grave danger of excluding this doctrine, which will result in a distortion of many other theological themes. The chapter includes a wonderful treatment of the gospel including creation, fall, and salvation in Christ whilst brings special attention to the beauty of the Triune God. The authors demonstrate how this doctrine is central to understanding God—His justice and truthfulness, substitution and victory, substitution and reconciliation, substitution and ransom and the believer’s union with Christ because of His substitutionary atonement. Understanding that doctrine is for life and godliness (as opposed to being that which puffs up), in chapter four the authors outline some extremely comforting pastoral implications of the doctrine, such as the assurance of God’s love, confidence in God’s truthfulness, passion for God’s justice, and realism about our sin—highlighting the other aspects of the cross. Scripture is the highest authority, thus the authors rightly prioritize the Biblical defense of this doctrine. However, in chapter five they also provide a valuable historical survey of the defense and articulation of the doctrine by many prominent theologians who contended for the faith in the midst of extreme persecution, such as Justin Martyr, Athanasius, John Chrysostom, Augustine, John Calvin, John Owen, George Whitefield, Charles Spurgeon, John Stott and J. I. Packer; and they included statements of faith by evangelical fellowships such as the Evangelical Alliance. This chapter serves to further affirm the validity and accuracy of the doctrine demonstrating that is has been upheld by many throughout Church history.

In Part Two: “Answering the Critics” the authors comprehensively answer and address every objection against the doctrine, exposing the errors of the counter-arguments. Chapter six provides details about the approach used to counter the current arguments against the doctrine; and the motivation as to why this is necessary. Chapter seven explains the role of the doctrine in Scripture and accurately warns that a rejection of this doctrine is a rejection of the gospel—leading one to worship a different God and believe a different gospel. Chapter eight addresses questions relating to cultural relevance and the ability to understand the doctrine—the Biblical words, metaphors, and concepts. And exhorts the Christian to preach the unchanging gospel without any modification. Chapter nine addresses the violent nature of the cross and counters the assertion that the cross is “cosmic child abuse,” or that the doctrine relies on sacrificial ideas imported from paganism. The authors provide a comprehensive biblical response to each objection. Chapter ten addresses substitution and justice and counters objections relating to fairness. Their response to universalism whereby they defend particular redemption is thorough and Biblical. Chapter 11 addresses how the doctrine impacts our understanding of the doctrine of God who is all His attributes at all times with none being above another. The author's references and quotes of other theologians were used well and brought further clarity and gravitas to their responses. Chapter 12 addresses several issues pertaining to the Christian life and responses to evil, abuse, and unjust suffering. Chapter 13 addresses both the “Vague Objection,” employed by an acknowledge expert and the “Emotional Objection,” employed by a manipulator, but both fail to study Scripture. Throughout Part Two, the authors accurately use Scripture, illustrations and references to others work in each of their responses to these various objections.

The Appendix, “A Personal Note to Preachers,” is particularly helpful for pastors and preachers as the authors expose the shortcomings of many preaching illustrations relating to the doctrine and propose seven noteworthy points to keep in mind when preaching on the atonement.

As positively noted in the comments above, POT has many strengths which far outweigh the weaknesses. 1) The book begins by disclosing their position and argument right up front by including all the recommendations and lists of other works by other well respected orthodox evangelical theologians and scholars. It shows that their defense is not novel but part of a well tried and tested, established, respected, reformed, conservative orthodox community. 2) The authors provide an excellent example, method, and model for Christians to engage with the world and the church on this doctrine and others. 3) The authors have demonstrated immense diligence and care into putting together such a Biblical and comprehensive treatment of the doctrine. 4) The authors have demonstrated a love for Christ and His truth by their willingness to be criticized by other scholars who strongly disagreed and seek to undermine this doctrine. 5) POT serves as a very helpful resource for Pastors and Teachers to use when teaching this essential doctrine and refuting the erroneous teachings and attacks. 6) The authors have greatly contributed to the study and defense of the doctrine and should, therefore, be commended appropriately. 7) They have successfully demonstrated the accuracy of the doctrine both Biblically and historically, by accurately presenting a biblical case for the doctrine in biblical theology—showing the development of the doctrine over the period of progressive revelation. They show how the doctrine is based upon sound exegesis which earnestly seeks to understand the authorial intent—thus honors the literal, grammatical, historical hermeneutic and therefore exposes the error of human reason. They show the importance of deriving theology from Scripture (from above) and not from man (from below). They show how the doctrine was upheld and revered by the great figures in history. They show the immense value of discussing, studying and meditating upon and teaching the riches of this doctrine, which results in greater awe, thanksgiving and praise to the Triune God and especially the Lord Jesus Christ, the penal sacrifice for all who repent and believe. They show the practical applications and implications for the individual Christian and Church today. POT is a wonderful resource which is a clear, understandable, fair and pastoral way of presenting the beauty and glory of penal substitution and carefully scrutinizing and exposing the errors of the opposing views.

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hard looking and at times blistering book against the opponents of penal substitution. The only critique is that the authors sometimes seem to be incredulous at some of the arguments from their opponents, and tend to treat those arguments as something banal and ludicrous. That being said, it is hard to see how any Christian could be convinced that Jesus laid down His life for anything or any reason other than the atonement of sins.

[Eric Durso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. Thorough. Clear.

[Guillaume Bourin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful volume. However, I would have enjoyed a deeper development of the concept of penal substitution in the Synoptics.
The historical section is concise and really useful.

[Rui Cadima · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very thorough, engaging and well structured defense of a fundamental doctrine.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rich and thorough theological definition and defense of penal substitution.

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what took place on the cross with Christ shedding His blood as the prefect, spotless Lamb of God is one of, if not the most important doctrines of all of theology. The “nerdy” theological term for Christ’s sacrifice is known as penal substitution or the idea that “God gave himself in the person of His Son to suffer instead of us the death, punishment and curse due to fallen humanity as the penalty for sin.” This idea of a blood atonement for sin caused many liberal theologians to buck against that biblical concept thus resulting in the promotion of the idea that the traditional interpretation of the Greek word hilasterion (propitiation) was incorrect. Additionally, modern scholars continue to rail against penal substitution criticizing it as theologically and even morally incorrect. In response to this continue wave of resistance to the sound biblical doctrine of penal substitution comes the book Pierced for our Transgressions: Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution.

First, a word of caution: This is a very “nerdy” book and one that will take a lot of time and effort to wade through. The subject of penal substitution is woven throughout the fabric of Scripture so it is necessary when engaging such a topic to fully unpack how it is used or else run the risk of doing that which the liberal theologians have done, namely weaken the doctrine by taking the truth of this message out of the overall context of Scripture. I would also recommend having your Bible open and a good theological dictionary or website handy as there are a number of rather heady theological terms that are used by the various contributors to this book. With all that said, the time and effort it will take to work through this book is well worth it as by the end, the reader will have gained a solid understanding of what penal substitution is and how it plays out in Scripture and more importantly, why it matters in the life of the believer.

This book is divided into two sections, the first being an outline of why penal substitution is a biblically sound doctrine and the second part being a response to those who deem the idea of penal substitution to be biblically incorrect. Within section one are five chapters that lay the foundation of the doctrine from a biblical perspective while also walking through the Scriptural evidence for penal substitution, noting along the way the implications of the doctrine while concluding with a plethora of writings from church history of those who taught penal substitution providing a wonderful historical overview of how this doctrine has been an important part of church doctrine.

In section two, the authors address the debate that currently rages between those who affirm penal substitution and those who declare it is one of many possible approaches, the product of cultural thought, something derived from an incorrect approach to the topic of sacrifice in Scripture, the idea that penal substitution incorrectly addresses the idea of justice, that it negatively impacts our understanding of God, and that is improperly addresses the all important Creator-creature relationship. The book concludes with a response to two objections, the “Vague” and “Emotional” objections before offering an appeal to preachers on the nature of the issue and why they must adhere to a sound biblical perspective of penal substitution.

Since the material in this book is overwhelmingly excellent and to engage every positive aspect would take many, many pages, I will focus on a few aspects of this book I found extremely helpful. The first is the truly biblical approach the authors take to this somewhat thorny issue. Given the importance of what penal substitution is all about, it is vital to peel back the emotion and finite human perspective instead paying strict attention to how the doctrine of penal substitution is laid out in the grand framework of Scripture. For instance, the importance of understanding what Passover is all about, both within the OT construct with the command by God to His people that Passover would be an everlasting ordinance, a holy convocation and how that Feast was fulfilled at the cross is of great importance. The author rightly notes “Whereas the old Passover focused on the body and blood of a lamb, slain as a penal substitionary sacrifice for the redemption of Israel, the Lord’s Supper focuses on the body and blood of Christ, who gave himself as a penal substitutionary sacrifice for his people.” The blood of the lamb in Exodus during the first Passover delivered the people of Israel from God’s wrath. In the same manner, the blood of the Perfect Lamb of God spares us from God’s wrath that will be poured out on the wicked. This model is seen throughout the OT and the authors do a marvelous job of tracing its usage throughout both the OT and NT.

I also appreciated their dedication to outlining the consequences of sin and why penal substitution is important to the solution to the sin problem. For instance, the nature of the sin problem is not restricted to physical death. Certainly the wages of sin is death and God told Adam and if he partook of the fruit of the true of the knowledge of good and evil, dying he would die. With that sinful act came the problem of spiritual death, the separation of relationship from a holy God and sinful man. The authors rightly note “Death implies exclusion from the presence of God” as well as the reality that “exclusion from the presence of God implies death.” The promise of the Redeemer in Genesis 3:15 set the stage for the solution to this problem of death, both physical and spiritual death. This is seen in the doctrine of penal substitution for it “upholds the truthfulness and justice of God: it is the means by which he saves people for relationship with Himself without going back on his word that sin has to be punished.” Furthermore, it is the “basis of our reconciliation with God, for there was a moral enmity between us and God, and our guilt had to be overcome.” Through the penal substitutionary sacrifice of the perfect, spotless Lamb of God, relationship between God and man can be restored and such an act truly demonstrates God’s love and His righteousness.

Finally, the various responses provided to those who criticize penal substitution are truly an exercise in how to aptly and cogently respond to those who would seek to demean sound biblical doctrine. The authors essentially take the Puritan approach to this doctrine, first providing the biblical truth of the matter, stating clearly the facts of why the doctrine should be adhered to and then answering the objections to the doctrine. Such an approach provides the reader with the truth of the matter, the objections to the matter, and why the objections ultimately fail when placed under the piercing light of God’s Word. Furthermore, it is vital to understand the position of those who object to penal substitution. Through the process of engaging criticism, the reader will be better equipped to respond to those in their own sphere of influence who may be swayed by such arguments. Using the first part of this book as a foundation will help the reader to be prepared to respond to those criticisms with a full array of biblical and historical apologetics. I would also encourage the reader to take note of the numerous footnotes in this book as a means of further study. Often footnotes are overlooked by the reader which is truly a mistake. This book is very well researched and thus taking advantage of the footnotes that not just provide additional resources on this topic but that further elaborate on some of the more difficult aspects of penal substitution will only serve to provide the reader with an even more developed understanding of this all important issue.

Pierced for our Transgressions is a much needed and timely approach to the fully sound biblical doctrine of penal substitution. Those who take the time to read this excellent book will begin to understand why the subtitle says “Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution.” This concept is not just some old dusty theological term strictly to be used and understood by those ivory towered theological types. It is vital to the very fabric of the message of the Gospel and I would encourage all believers to read this book to better understand why Christ died and why it matters.

[Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last month in our evening service, our senior pastor was answering questions for our Q&A time. He was asked about why so many people try to argue against the Penal Substitutional Death of Christ. As I sat there, this question reminded me about a book I had started reading a number of months prior, I had read the introduction to, then got distracted and set to the side. So I pulled it off the shelf and began to read it again. I am so grateful I did. Pierced for Our Transgressions was a wonderful book. Truth be told though, I found myself incredibly frustrated, not with the authors at all, but with anyone who would attack the precious Biblical truth of Penal substitution. I found myself at junctures wondering, "Why in the world do you want to attack such a precious, solidly Biblical doctrine? It makes absolutely no sense to me. "

So Pierced for Our Transgressions, is subtitled, "Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution," and I think that is a very appropriate subtitle, for it is truly glorious when one considers the eternal plan of the Triune Godhead and the work that Christ did on the cross.

The authors begin this excellent book by explaining the issues, the debate around Penal Substitution. They then embark on a journey through reference after reference in the pages of God's Word that clearly support this doctrine. Next, they help the reader understand the theological implications of the doctrine and the pastoral implications. Those who disagree will often say that the Penal Substitution doctrine came about because of the reformation, so a whole chapter is given to show that the doctrine has actually been noted and written about throughout all of church history.

The second part of the book, while very helpful, was one that triggered my level of frustration (okay, it was anger). The authors took the last section of the book to respond to the wide variety of objections that are put forth by individuals throughout Christendom. Some of the objections, on the surface, made sense, while others seemed rather nonsensical. But each objection was beautifully answered by the authors. At some point, the objections seem to convey an attitude of, "We have this thought about God and thus, we want to force an objection because we can't believe that this god that we have formulated in our mind would actually do what the Penal Substitution doctrine says He did." So the objections to the doctrine are forced. Yet still, the authors of this book did a masterful job in answering each objections.

"Pierced for..." is a wonderful book. I would think of it as an academic book, but I hesitate to label it academic because that is what many people in the church want to do with Penal Substitution---leave it in an academic realm. The book will make one think; think deeply; think Biblically; think theologically. At the end of the day, after reading this book, I was much more thankful that, in my place, condemned He stood. Speaking of that idea, it is time to finish up another treasure titled, "In My Place, Condemned He Stood." Maybe you should dive in to Pierced for Our Transgressions and have your thinking and understanding stretched.

[Tim Donnelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 Stars

While this book offers some valuable theological insights I felt it is ultimately hindered by its overly rigid and narrow approach. The authors’ framework on sin, death, the Trinity, and recapitulation is well-developed, and their reflections on the pastoral implications of Christ’s love on the cross are thoughtful and encouraging. Additionally, their discussion on the union and participation believers share with Christ—particularly the transference of sin to Him—was compelling, though I wish they had explored this more deeply.

However, the book falters in several key areas. Their reading of the Levitical sacrificial system is overly simplistic, reducing it entirely to the appeasement of wrath—a concept notably absent in Leviticus—and failing to distinguish between different sacrifices or types of impurities. This rigidity extends to their exegesis, where the authors force Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA) into texts at the expense of other interpretative possibilities. Their analysis is often dichotomous, and the lack of interplay with other atonement theories or participation theology weakens the overall argument.

Moreover, the absence of covenantal and communal themes, as well as minimal focus on Israel’s narrative, highlights how PSA can become overly individualistic and mechanistic (as Baker and Green call attention to). The Old Testament portrayal of God is also reduced to one of wrath needing appeasement, with no mention of His pursuit of a rebellious people. Finally, the latter half of the book, which addresses objections to PSA, feels rushed and inadequate, leaving significant critiques unanswered.

While the book has its strengths, its lack of nuance and balance ultimately undermines its value as a comprehensive exploration of atonement theology.

[Sam Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.7) An exhaustive defence of penal substitutionary atonement.

3 things stand out that are brilliant about the book:

1) The writers (unlike many theological writers) make complex and important things clear and simple to understand. It’s a weighty book but it’s not dense. That’s key for such an important topic.

2) There has been much thought put in to present a full explanation of the topic, first laying out the biblical case for PSA, then the historical support for it by church fathers (for me, the highlight of the book) and then answering at great length and with great nuance, all the many objections to PSA, exposing their logical problems.

3) For a book where half of it is dealing with objections, the authors are exceedingly generous to their ‘opponents’. I was struck by the very measured and careful responses to objections to PSA. Credit was given to critics where credit was due and some (to my mind) pretty mindless critiques were dealt with graciously.
This gave the sense that the authors wanted to bring clarity and appreciation to a key doctrine of God rather than entrench their position and shoot others down.

[Josh Holloway · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an interesting, and deeply important topic, so I'll think more deeply about it and maybe change my opinion over time however these are my current thoughts on the book. I think that the books achieves what it sets out to achieve. It does make the case convincingly that Penal Substitution is a Biblical way of understanding the atonement. My criticisms is that I'm not convinced by all the exegesis in the book, not that Penal Substitution is contradicted in some of these passages, it may even be implicitly logically present, but that not all of the texts (or writings from historical church thinkers) make an explicit affirmation of the doctrine as clearly as the authors claim.

The response to common critiques of the doctrine section was pretty great and helpful on the most part.

[Matt Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great survey of the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement. It does make me wish it went into more detail on the historical theology. It is a little wanting in comparison the doctrine to the other theories. But it sets out to accomplish a goal of makes good on that. It seeks to answer the objections of PSA. They do converse with the same men over and over again. They include Joel green and mark baker. Paul fiddes and time smail among others. It deals in an objection and response format and explain both sides. It explain the wrong side and explains why they are wrong. It is a terrific volume and should move us to put more emphasis on PSA in our own personal study.

[Stephan vanOs · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book on the theology of Substitutionary Atonement. I took a long time to read this book as I wanted to think deeply on the contents. There are some 336 reading pages but at times felt it could have been described as an encyclopaedic text because not only was there a positive statement of the doctrine the authors also covered all the known critiques of this doctrine, providing a rebuttal and fresh statement of what it means to say that Christ died for our sins. An excellent addition to my library and definitely a keeper.

[Brian Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good, layman-friendly defense of penal substitution. The book is the size of a slightly large novel, but it is extremely short for what it accomplishes: very solid exegesis, historical excursus, pastoral advice, and satisfying rebuttals against all forms of objections. It's unfortunate that Arminian reconciliations are dismissed in line with the book's clear Calvinistic bent, but it is still a great reference on penal substitution.

[Ian Rees · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly readable and clear for a book with this depth and complexity. It sets out the Bible basis for saying that Christ died as a punishment for our sins, doing so in three major chapters: what the Bible says as you work through its pages, followed by a theological overview of other subjects it impacts, and then looking at what writers have said about it over history. The final third of the book is a carefully reasoned defence of penal substitution, answering its critics point by point.

[Jeff]

This was a fantastically written book. Whether you agree with PSA or not, if you're interested in the atonement or in theology at all, you owe it to yourself to read this. My only complaint was there were times when the authors went in a very specifically Calvinst direction to answer some objections to PSA (especially the objection that PSA entails universalism).

[Charles Musil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great treatment of why Penal Substitutionary Atonement is the primary dimension of what the cross of Christ accomplished. The authors fairly portray the critics and their arguments; while showing that PSA is robustly biblical. A great book to better understand the riches of what Jesus accomplished in his death for sinners.

[Ronnie Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll put this work right up there with Death of Death in The Death of Christ by John Owen, Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray, and From Heaven He Came and Sought Her by the Gibson Brothers as some of the best writings on the scope and efficacy of the Atonement. Top notch stuff here. highly recommended!