Atonement, Law, and Justice: The Cross in Historical and Cultural Contexts

by Adonis Vidu

Adonis Vidu tackles an issue of great current debate in evangelical circles and of perennial interest in the Christian academy. He provides a critical reading of the history of major atonement theories, offering an in-depth analysis of the legal and political contexts within which they arose. The book engages the latest work in atonement theory and serves as a helpful resource for contemporary discussions.

This is the only book that explores the impact of theories of law and justice on major historical atonement theories. Understanding this relationship yields a better understanding of atonement thinkers by situating them in their intellectual contexts. The book also explores the relevance of the doctrine of divine simplicity for atonement theory.

Genres: Theology

304 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2014

About the author

Adonis Vidu (PhD, University of Nottingham) is associate professor of theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, and is the author of several books, including Theology after Neo-Pragmatism. He previously taught at Emmanuel University and at the University of Bucharest in his home country of Romania.

Reviews

[Sooho Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atonement, Law, and Justice is both an ambitious attempt and a bit of a quandary: Did Adonis Vidu write two books in one? Here's what I mean. 

The first five chapters brief over two thousand years to postulate that it is possible that atonement theories are formed in dialectical engagement with philosophies of law and justice. Greco-Roman philosophers with patristic fathers, the medieval wedding of natural and divine law, the reformation reaction to the medieval wedding, the modern reaction to the reformation's reaction, and the postmodern reaction to all things prior. Though not exhaustive, Vidu makes a compelling case that certain atonement theories of certain periods tend to agree with the general sentiments about law and justice in said periods. These chapters alone are worth reading for an interesting historical reconstruction of Western atonement, law, and justice. 

The last chapter, however, seems to take a dramatic turn. It is here Vidu proposes something more "constructive" (though, really, it is "defensive"). Vidu argues that a robust Doctrine of Simplicity can assuage harsh criticisms against penal substitutionary atonement (PSA). In short, the Doctrine of Simplicity claims that God is ontologically basic. God's essence is his existing; his essence is to will and act one thing. The divine attributes are not collapsed into one conglomerate but unified distinctly and simply in God. For example, God is, at once, fully loving and just; there is not a moment where God is "more loving" and then the next moment "more just." God is, at all times, fully both because he is Love and is Justice. 

Confused? Well, perhaps reading Vidu's take will help. Or not. 

So, if God is simple, as Vidu strongly claims, then God is not "more wrathful and less loving" at the cross then, say, at the resurrection and Pentecost. Additionally, God the Father cannot be punishing God the Son, because that would assume God is comprised of, at least, two parts (Father and Son). 

Surely, Vidu's last chapter is a strong defensive proposal for PSA, but I cannot seem to make its connection with the previous five chapters. Is Vidu arguing that the Doctrine of Simplicity should be in the driver seat for atonement theories rather than philosophies of law and justice? Perhaps that would be the more "just" reading. 

cf. www.sooholee.wordpress.com

[Andrew K · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good survey of the history of atonement in historical and cultural contexts. specifically examining the cultural views of justice and law, and how various views have given rise to atonement theories.

the last chapter on divine simplicity, while helpful, was out of left field and left me confused on its connection to the previous 250 pages.

[Michael Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am pretty disappointed in this book as I had high hopes. It’s a survey of representative figures from five epochs on the conceptual relationships between law, atonement, and justice. Vidu writes self-consciously as a Christian committed to penal substitution (though not at the expense of other models). My qualm is that Vidu quite literally often just summarizes these other thinkers’ positions, one after another. It was like I was reading drafting notes of what would become a book, not a published work. Second, and perhaps more problematically, he cites primary sources not nearly enough. It’s like I was being exposed to, e.g. Kant, but strictly through secondary interpreters who were then filtered through Vidu.

I got the book hoping to read a helpful survey with constructive contributions in what seems to be an intriguing and promising scholarly inquiry. But I was so far removed from the sources that I’m not sure if I’m actually more familiar with those sources or not, and the constructive contribution was largely lacking. However, Vidu’s contributions on divine simplicity and its relation to atonement in the opening and concluding chapters were interesting and probably worth revisiting.

[Richard Lawrence]

Fascinating but flawed.

I'm glad I read it but I won't be recommending this one widely, Vidu raises several fascinating connections but seems to misread some important points (e.g. a confessional lutheran I asked did not recognise Vidu's portrayal of Luther) and his concluding material arguing that divine simplicity must inform our approach to the atonement whilst helpful was undermined by a somewhat confused account of divine being and action; his work on divine action in "the Same God who Works all things" is far far better.

[Taylor Belt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, in every sense of the word. It provided me with some more historical background into the views of the atonement and how various theologians' views of justice relate to their views on the vicarious penal substitutionary atonement that the LORD Jesus has accomplished for me on the cross so long ago. I can't recommend this book enough to anyone because it's such a great book.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on the atonement I’ve read. Would recommend to anyone who has an interest in the atonement, legal theory, or practical implications of the doctrine of God.

[Bradley Blaylock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting history of the development of law and atonement. I appreciate the ending chapter a lot, with the focus on the character of God