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Atonement: Soundings in Biblical, Trinitarian, and Spiritual Theology
This book presents the chief insights concerning the mystery of atonement in the works of four theological John Paul II, Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI, Hans Urs von Balthasar, and Norbert Hoffmann.
The author argues for the central importance and perennial value of a theology of atonement, even as she explains the modern aversion to it. The book's central aim is to deepen our understanding of the biblical claim that God shows himself to be love precisely by sending his Son as atonement. "In this is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins" (1 Jn 4:10).
The book develops a compelling vision of atonement as a process that originates from and is engendered by God's own power to love. This vision not only takes account of the gravity of sin and its consequences, but also provides a clear illumination of the wholly gratuitous, radically forgiving, passionate and powerful nature of God's redeeming love for mankind. Distinct from the majority of theological accounts of atonement, which focus almost exclusively on the role of Christ, this book highlights the role of God the Father in the atoning mission of the Son.
The author argues for the central importance and perennial value of a theology of atonement, even as she explains the modern aversion to it. The book's central aim is to deepen our understanding of the biblical claim that God shows himself to be love precisely by sending his Son as atonement. "In this is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins" (1 Jn 4:10).
The book develops a compelling vision of atonement as a process that originates from and is engendered by God's own power to love. This vision not only takes account of the gravity of sin and its consequences, but also provides a clear illumination of the wholly gratuitous, radically forgiving, passionate and powerful nature of God's redeeming love for mankind. Distinct from the majority of theological accounts of atonement, which focus almost exclusively on the role of Christ, this book highlights the role of God the Father in the atoning mission of the Son.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 16, 2022
22 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 18, 2022
Even though intellectually I have only scratched the surface of the material presented in this book, even so, that is so nourishing. So much to ponder and this presentation of Jesus atoning death and the Trinitarian aspects gives me a lot to contemplate.
October 7, 2024
Great and important book.
March 22, 2024
A profound, illuminating, and inspiring treatment of the mystery of atonement. As the title and Introduction make clear, the book does not intend to be a philosophical, inter-religious, or apologetic treatment of the Christian doctrine of atonement . Other works have already undertaken that project. Instead, this book brings to light what remains unseen or unclear in the latter works, precisely because it illumines the entire drama against the backdrop of the Holy Trinity. As a result, it showcases a marvelous inner coherence and development within and among the biblical texts.
July 26, 2022
This is the best systematic treatment of the atonement I have encountered. Turek not only brilliantly synthesizes the thought of von Balthasar, Ratzinger (Benedict XVI), John Paul II, and Norbert Hoffmann in a compelling manner, but draws out the practical implications for the spiritual life. It is an outstanding exercise in “theology on one’s knees.”
September 17, 2023
Committed Christians who read this as a meditation upon Scriptural texts will undoubtedly find this to be a comprehensive, thoughtful and excellent exposition of the central ‘Paschal mystery’ of Christianity.
Other readers may be a little disappointed, as the book does not explain why Christians think that there needs to be an atonement consisting of someone dying to save human beings. Non-Christian faiths like Islam do not have that concept and so many non-Christians struggle to understand the idea of the atonement. Many non-Christians even see logical problems in the idea that one person can step in to atone on behalf of someone else. After all, if someone is convicted of murder in a human court, would we think it rational for another person to step forward and 'atone' on behalf of (or in place of) the murderer? To the extent that people’s intuitions about justice tell them that that does not make sense, it raises a question about the rationality of Christianity’s doctrine of atonement.
But the book does not press that particular question. Part of the reason for this may be that the theologians in the book seem to view the issues as ‘defying analysis in terms of our rational formulae,’ as Pope Benedict XVI put it (quoted in chapter 1). If that is so, then does that mean that there is in fact no rational reason for what Christians believe about the atonement; which is of course the very criticism put to them by non-Christians who claim that it does not make sense?
In previous centuries, theologians tried to address this point. Anselm famously gave an argument and a ‘reason’ for why Jesus had to atone - in order to make satisfaction. Reformation models of Penal Substitution represented another set of reasons. The author avoids those two types of arguments, but nothing seems to be offered as an alternative. That leaves a hole in the foundations of what the book goes on to then explain as the meaning of the atonement.
Whilst the exegesis of texts in the book is clear and thoughtfully presented, there are places where they raise doctrinal issues, which are not pressed. One example concerns the doctrine of impassibility, which the author realises is a difficulty, and so devotes Appendix B to the issue.
Appendix B argues that the ancient doctrine of divine impassibility is compatible with modern theological views that God can have a passionate love for humanity (a view which it is suggested can be found in Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI). The author’s argument casts impassibility as ‘being unmoved by blameworthy passions.’ So an impassible God can still have morally good passions (like passionate love). But, arguably, the theological elephant in the room is not the doctrine of impassibility, it is the doctrine of immutability, as that rules out all passions, whether they are blameworthy or not. So, Appendix B does well to probe a very real problem, but it doesn’t actually resolve the problem.
Overall this is clear and enjoyable read for Christians who already believe in the doctrine of the Atonement. Readers who are trying to understand the logic and rationality of the doctrine (from perhaps outside of Christianity) may well find the book a bit frustrating, as it does not resolve those issues. In a modern world where people are trying to understand different multi-faith perspectives, that is a little disappointing.
Other readers may be a little disappointed, as the book does not explain why Christians think that there needs to be an atonement consisting of someone dying to save human beings. Non-Christian faiths like Islam do not have that concept and so many non-Christians struggle to understand the idea of the atonement. Many non-Christians even see logical problems in the idea that one person can step in to atone on behalf of someone else. After all, if someone is convicted of murder in a human court, would we think it rational for another person to step forward and 'atone' on behalf of (or in place of) the murderer? To the extent that people’s intuitions about justice tell them that that does not make sense, it raises a question about the rationality of Christianity’s doctrine of atonement.
But the book does not press that particular question. Part of the reason for this may be that the theologians in the book seem to view the issues as ‘defying analysis in terms of our rational formulae,’ as Pope Benedict XVI put it (quoted in chapter 1). If that is so, then does that mean that there is in fact no rational reason for what Christians believe about the atonement; which is of course the very criticism put to them by non-Christians who claim that it does not make sense?
In previous centuries, theologians tried to address this point. Anselm famously gave an argument and a ‘reason’ for why Jesus had to atone - in order to make satisfaction. Reformation models of Penal Substitution represented another set of reasons. The author avoids those two types of arguments, but nothing seems to be offered as an alternative. That leaves a hole in the foundations of what the book goes on to then explain as the meaning of the atonement.
Whilst the exegesis of texts in the book is clear and thoughtfully presented, there are places where they raise doctrinal issues, which are not pressed. One example concerns the doctrine of impassibility, which the author realises is a difficulty, and so devotes Appendix B to the issue.
Appendix B argues that the ancient doctrine of divine impassibility is compatible with modern theological views that God can have a passionate love for humanity (a view which it is suggested can be found in Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI). The author’s argument casts impassibility as ‘being unmoved by blameworthy passions.’ So an impassible God can still have morally good passions (like passionate love). But, arguably, the theological elephant in the room is not the doctrine of impassibility, it is the doctrine of immutability, as that rules out all passions, whether they are blameworthy or not. So, Appendix B does well to probe a very real problem, but it doesn’t actually resolve the problem.
Overall this is clear and enjoyable read for Christians who already believe in the doctrine of the Atonement. Readers who are trying to understand the logic and rationality of the doctrine (from perhaps outside of Christianity) may well find the book a bit frustrating, as it does not resolve those issues. In a modern world where people are trying to understand different multi-faith perspectives, that is a little disappointing.
December 26, 2025
Definitely one of my top 5. I am reading it a second time. Delving deeply into the theology of atonement and the Son of God “being made sin itself” and experiencing the infinite consequences of that sin as estrangement from the Father in a kind of “love-suffering” has brought a whole new meaning to “offer it up”
November 1, 2022
The central act of Christianity... how does Jesus' atoning work on the cross actually redeem us? And how do we participate in it? This is a rather academic read so it's not for the theologically faint of heart.
April 29, 2025
One of the best books I’ve read on the Atonement. Short, substantive, and will leave you wanting more!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews