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Instead of Atonement
Do atonement theologies that focus on Jesus' death underwrite human violence? If so, we do well to rethink beliefs that this death is necessary to bring salvation. Focusing on the Bible's salvation story, Instead of Atonement argues for a logic of mercy to replace Christianity's traditional logic of retribution.The book traces the Bible's main salvation story through God's liberating acts, the testimony of the prophets, and Jesus's life and teaching. It then takes a closer look at Jesus's death and argues that his death gains its meaning when it exposes violence in the cultural, religious, and political Powers. God's raising of Jesus completes the story and vindicates Jesus's life and teaching.The book also examines the understandings of salvation in Romans and Revelation that reinforce the message that salvation is a gift of God and that Jesus's "work" has to do with his faithful life, his resistance to the Powers, and God's vindication of him through resurrection.The book concludes that the "Bible's salvation story" provides a different way, instead of atonement, to understand salvation. In turn, this biblical understanding gives us today theological resources for a mercy-oriented approach to responding to wrongdoing, one that follows God's own model.
- GenresTheology
280 pages, Paperback
First published March 13, 2013
4 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Ted Grimsrud
25 books6 followersTed Grimsrud is Professor in the Bible & Religion Dept. of Eastern Mennonite University (EMU).
Prior to teaching at EMU, Ted Grimsrud served 10 years as a pastor in Mennonite churches in Arizona, Oregon and South Dakota. He is especially interested in the connection between Christian theology and pacifism. He teaches classes in theology, peace studies, ethics, and the Bible. He is married to Kathleen Temple and is a grandfather. His website is at peacetheology.net. He hosts a weekly radio program on WEMC (91.7 FM; online at wemcradio.org), called “Wavelength,” where every Saturday at 3 p.m. he plays “the best of popular music at the intersection of country, folk, rock & roll, blues, and gospel.”
Education
Ph.D., Graduate Theological Union (1988)
M.A., Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (1983)
B.S., University of Oregon (1976)
Publications
Books
Theology as if Jesus Matters: An Introduction to Christianity’s Main Convictions. Cascadia Publishing House, 2009.
Reasoning Together: A Conversation on Homosexuality (with Mark Thiessen Nation). Herald Press, 2008.
Embodying the Way of Jesus: Anabaptist Convictions for the 21st Century. Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2007.
Transforming the Powers: Peace, Justice, and the Domination System (co-editor). Fortress Press, 2006.
God’s Healing Strategy: An Introduction to the Main Themes of the Bible. Cascadia Publishing House, 2001.
Peace and Justice Shall Embrace: Power and Theopolitics in the Bible (co-editor). Cascadia Publishing House, 2000.
Triumph of the Lamb: A Self-Study Guide to the Book of Revelation. Herald Press, 1987.
Articles
“Against Empire: A Yoderian Reading of Romans.” In Sharon L. Baker and Michael Hardin, eds. Peace Be With You: Christ’s Benediction Amid Violent Empires Cascadia, 2010. 120-137.
""Healing Justice. The Mennonite October 20, 2009, 8-10.
“Reflections on J. Denny Weaver’s The Nonviolent Atonement.” Conrad Grebel Review 27.2 (Spring 2009), 4-6.
Thirteen Sunday School lessons. Mennonite Weekly Review May 25, 2009 — August 17, 2009.
Review of Andrew Skotnicki, Criminal Justice and the Catholic Church. Modern Theology. 25.2 (April 2009), 364-67.
“How does Revelation speak today?” The Mennonite (September 2, 2008), 12-14.
“Violence as a Theological Problem.” CJP Web Journal #2 (Winter 2008).
Review of Mark Bredin, Jesus: Revolutionary of Peace. Biblical Theology Bulleton 37.4 (Winter 2007), 186-87.
“A Theology of Welcome.” In Michael A. King, ed., Stumbling Toward a Genuine Conversation on Homosexuality. Cascadia Publishing House, 2007. 237-244.
“The Legacy of CPS: Why Civilian Public Service is Important.” The Mennonite (June 19, 2007), 8-10.
Thirteen Sunday School lessons on Old Testament Prophets. Mennonite Weekly Review (June 3, 2007 – August 26, 2007).
“Walter Wink and Peace Theology.” In Frederich W. Weidmann and D. Sieple, eds. Enigmas and Powers: Engaging the Work of Walter Wink. Pickwick Publications, 2007. 74-78.
“Jesus’ Confrontation with Empire.” In Nathan Yoder and Carol Scheppard, eds. Exiles in Empire. Pandora Press, 2007. 27-41.
Scholarly Presentations
“Conversations on Homosexuality: Three Lectures.” Portland Mennonite Church, Portland, OR. February 5-6, 2010.
“Contemporary Theology in Light of Anabaptism” and “Theology as If Jesus Matters.” Papers presented to the London Mennonite Forum. September 10-11, 2009.
“Mercy, Not Sacrifice.” Cross Currents Seminar (Five Lectures). London Mennonite Centre. September 12, 2009.
“A Biblical Understanding of Justice.” Devito Lecture. Waynesburg (PA) University. March 17, 2009.
Justice Apart from the Law (and Empire): Paul’s Deconstruction of Idolatry. American Academy of Religion Annual Meetings. Chicago, November 1, 2008.
World So Full: My Quest for Understanding. Journeys with Jesus Colloquy. Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, October 17-19
Prior to teaching at EMU, Ted Grimsrud served 10 years as a pastor in Mennonite churches in Arizona, Oregon and South Dakota. He is especially interested in the connection between Christian theology and pacifism. He teaches classes in theology, peace studies, ethics, and the Bible. He is married to Kathleen Temple and is a grandfather. His website is at peacetheology.net. He hosts a weekly radio program on WEMC (91.7 FM; online at wemcradio.org), called “Wavelength,” where every Saturday at 3 p.m. he plays “the best of popular music at the intersection of country, folk, rock & roll, blues, and gospel.”
Education
Ph.D., Graduate Theological Union (1988)
M.A., Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (1983)
B.S., University of Oregon (1976)
Publications
Books
Theology as if Jesus Matters: An Introduction to Christianity’s Main Convictions. Cascadia Publishing House, 2009.
Reasoning Together: A Conversation on Homosexuality (with Mark Thiessen Nation). Herald Press, 2008.
Embodying the Way of Jesus: Anabaptist Convictions for the 21st Century. Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2007.
Transforming the Powers: Peace, Justice, and the Domination System (co-editor). Fortress Press, 2006.
God’s Healing Strategy: An Introduction to the Main Themes of the Bible. Cascadia Publishing House, 2001.
Peace and Justice Shall Embrace: Power and Theopolitics in the Bible (co-editor). Cascadia Publishing House, 2000.
Triumph of the Lamb: A Self-Study Guide to the Book of Revelation. Herald Press, 1987.
Articles
“Against Empire: A Yoderian Reading of Romans.” In Sharon L. Baker and Michael Hardin, eds. Peace Be With You: Christ’s Benediction Amid Violent Empires Cascadia, 2010. 120-137.
""Healing Justice. The Mennonite October 20, 2009, 8-10.
“Reflections on J. Denny Weaver’s The Nonviolent Atonement.” Conrad Grebel Review 27.2 (Spring 2009), 4-6.
Thirteen Sunday School lessons. Mennonite Weekly Review May 25, 2009 — August 17, 2009.
Review of Andrew Skotnicki, Criminal Justice and the Catholic Church. Modern Theology. 25.2 (April 2009), 364-67.
“How does Revelation speak today?” The Mennonite (September 2, 2008), 12-14.
“Violence as a Theological Problem.” CJP Web Journal #2 (Winter 2008).
Review of Mark Bredin, Jesus: Revolutionary of Peace. Biblical Theology Bulleton 37.4 (Winter 2007), 186-87.
“A Theology of Welcome.” In Michael A. King, ed., Stumbling Toward a Genuine Conversation on Homosexuality. Cascadia Publishing House, 2007. 237-244.
“The Legacy of CPS: Why Civilian Public Service is Important.” The Mennonite (June 19, 2007), 8-10.
Thirteen Sunday School lessons on Old Testament Prophets. Mennonite Weekly Review (June 3, 2007 – August 26, 2007).
“Walter Wink and Peace Theology.” In Frederich W. Weidmann and D. Sieple, eds. Enigmas and Powers: Engaging the Work of Walter Wink. Pickwick Publications, 2007. 74-78.
“Jesus’ Confrontation with Empire.” In Nathan Yoder and Carol Scheppard, eds. Exiles in Empire. Pandora Press, 2007. 27-41.
Scholarly Presentations
“Conversations on Homosexuality: Three Lectures.” Portland Mennonite Church, Portland, OR. February 5-6, 2010.
“Contemporary Theology in Light of Anabaptism” and “Theology as If Jesus Matters.” Papers presented to the London Mennonite Forum. September 10-11, 2009.
“Mercy, Not Sacrifice.” Cross Currents Seminar (Five Lectures). London Mennonite Centre. September 12, 2009.
“A Biblical Understanding of Justice.” Devito Lecture. Waynesburg (PA) University. March 17, 2009.
Justice Apart from the Law (and Empire): Paul’s Deconstruction of Idolatry. American Academy of Religion Annual Meetings. Chicago, November 1, 2008.
World So Full: My Quest for Understanding. Journeys with Jesus Colloquy. Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, October 17-19
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 4, 2021
Somehow Grimsrud says everything that needs to be said about atonement theory, liberation, salvation, and God’s work of mercy and reconciliation revealed through Jesus in a little over 200 pages. The best introduction to these topics in theology I could recommend.
September 27, 2014
Instead of Atonement is a book well worth reading. The author presents a very strong, textually based interpretation of Jesus’ death and resurrection from the standpoint of a protestant liberation theology. The book provides a close textual reading of the Bible, particularly the Gospels, Paul and a bit on Revelations, and treats these books as the primary source for his arguments. He situates Jesus’ ministry, his death and his resurrection within the Prophetic tradition, arguing that the prophets themselves drew upon God’s promise to Abraham as a gift freely given and God’s liberation of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt as the basis of their call for social justice. Grimsrud then contrasts this liberationist theology with the two primary approaches to Judaism during Jesus’ life: the Pharisaic and Temple traditions. He argues that Jesus’ ministry, his death and his resurrection are a prophetic call to return Judaism to its early social justice theology of Torah and the Prophets. He argues that this tradition stands in opposition to both the oral law of the Pharisees that arose to maintain Jewish Identity during the Babylonian exile as well and the temple centered religion of the Davidic tradition and its re-establishment upon the return from exile under Persian (and later Greek and Roman) rule. Reading the Gospels in this way provides a clear opportunity to critique institutional religion as steeped in atonement theology and caught up in the idolatry of identity worship and shows how this theology runs counter to the teachings and meaning of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
However, the book has real shortcomings that arise from its own interpretative strategy. The general story arc of Torah consists of God’s fulfillment of his promise to make the descendants of Abraham into a great nation. Grimsrud’s theology of liberation cannot account for the promise of nationhood, organized religion, or really even a community that is non-utopian. Indeed, he tends to treat the time before Kings as utopian set over against the fall into social and political stratification and oppression of a united national government. Because he idealizes the Torah his treatment of the first five books of the Old Testament leaves much to be desired. Grimsrud avoids the complications of the early biblical stories and instead he adheres to a notion that the Hebrews were somehow living in a federalist golden era from the time Moses brought them out of Egypt through the small government philosophy of judges up until their first King, Saul, brought the whole enterprise crashing down with his centralized government. But he never adequately addresses the nationhood of the Promised Land or its central meaning for the Hebrew Scriptures.
The book therefore falters because Torah and the Hebrew Bible are much richer and much more interesting than what is presented by Grimsrud as a series binary oppositions between nation vs liberation as seen in the dichotomies: Jesus/Torah vs Pharisees/Oral Tradition, Jesus/Torah vs Temple/Davidic Tradition, and Jesus/Torah vs. Rome. In fact, the one dichotomy he could have maintained (that between Jesus and Rome) gets the least attention and is the most poorly argued because he refuses to acknowledge the nation building character of God’s promise in Torah or the legitimacy of Davidic Messianism in the Gospel stories. This tendency is redeemed a bit In the final chapters on Paul and Revelations. Paul’s letter to the Romans is rooted in the emergence of Christianity as separate from Judaism and treats the stakes of that separation much better than Grimsrud’s reading of the Gospels. But here again, the interpretation of the letter is very much driven by justification by faith, and the limits of that interpretation are on display. The treatment of Revelations is different. Here he finally confronts the clash between Rome and Jesus, and shows the alternate vision of Christian community. At the same time, it is notable that Revelations consists of visions of community addressed to real communities still in the process of formation and dealing with all of the struggles of living according to the interpretation of Jesus teaching, death and resurrection. Despite the flaws though, the book is well worth reading for its liberationist approach to the Gospels and its critique of religious chauvinism and power politics.
However, the book has real shortcomings that arise from its own interpretative strategy. The general story arc of Torah consists of God’s fulfillment of his promise to make the descendants of Abraham into a great nation. Grimsrud’s theology of liberation cannot account for the promise of nationhood, organized religion, or really even a community that is non-utopian. Indeed, he tends to treat the time before Kings as utopian set over against the fall into social and political stratification and oppression of a united national government. Because he idealizes the Torah his treatment of the first five books of the Old Testament leaves much to be desired. Grimsrud avoids the complications of the early biblical stories and instead he adheres to a notion that the Hebrews were somehow living in a federalist golden era from the time Moses brought them out of Egypt through the small government philosophy of judges up until their first King, Saul, brought the whole enterprise crashing down with his centralized government. But he never adequately addresses the nationhood of the Promised Land or its central meaning for the Hebrew Scriptures.
The book therefore falters because Torah and the Hebrew Bible are much richer and much more interesting than what is presented by Grimsrud as a series binary oppositions between nation vs liberation as seen in the dichotomies: Jesus/Torah vs Pharisees/Oral Tradition, Jesus/Torah vs Temple/Davidic Tradition, and Jesus/Torah vs. Rome. In fact, the one dichotomy he could have maintained (that between Jesus and Rome) gets the least attention and is the most poorly argued because he refuses to acknowledge the nation building character of God’s promise in Torah or the legitimacy of Davidic Messianism in the Gospel stories. This tendency is redeemed a bit In the final chapters on Paul and Revelations. Paul’s letter to the Romans is rooted in the emergence of Christianity as separate from Judaism and treats the stakes of that separation much better than Grimsrud’s reading of the Gospels. But here again, the interpretation of the letter is very much driven by justification by faith, and the limits of that interpretation are on display. The treatment of Revelations is different. Here he finally confronts the clash between Rome and Jesus, and shows the alternate vision of Christian community. At the same time, it is notable that Revelations consists of visions of community addressed to real communities still in the process of formation and dealing with all of the struggles of living according to the interpretation of Jesus teaching, death and resurrection. Despite the flaws though, the book is well worth reading for its liberationist approach to the Gospels and its critique of religious chauvinism and power politics.
June 20, 2014
I will not claim to review this book, as I do not think I can do it justice. I found it encouraging, uplifting, and life-confirming with its message of God's love freely given, even though we do not deserve it and certainly cannot earn it with works, sacrifices or declarations.
P. 75: "The good news of God's love...has always characterized reality no matter how blind human beings have been to it."
P. 83: Jesus calls "his followers to live by the logic of mercy and to reject the logic of retribution."
"...'Father' conveys intimacy and mutuality." We are "to think of God as one who loves (us) like a parent." As a mother myself, who has been amazed to learn over the years how deep, enduring and indestructible my love for my children can be, this feels real to me, for if I can love my children so unconditionally and so permanently, how much more must God be.
This book does a good job of breaking down the false image of an angry vengeful God expecting unreasonable perfection and fearful obedience from a detestable humanity.
P. 75: "The good news of God's love...has always characterized reality no matter how blind human beings have been to it."
P. 83: Jesus calls "his followers to live by the logic of mercy and to reject the logic of retribution."
"...'Father' conveys intimacy and mutuality." We are "to think of God as one who loves (us) like a parent." As a mother myself, who has been amazed to learn over the years how deep, enduring and indestructible my love for my children can be, this feels real to me, for if I can love my children so unconditionally and so permanently, how much more must God be.
This book does a good job of breaking down the false image of an angry vengeful God expecting unreasonable perfection and fearful obedience from a detestable humanity.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews