In Christian theology and political philosophy, five partially overlapping areas of meaning are treated in terms of reconciliation. (1) Dogmatic theology often operates with an umbrella concept covering the entire work of Christ. (2) Philosophical theology employs a concept of atonement/rec...
Salvation in the Bible has two aspects, which might be called deliverance and blessing. In love, God takes the initiative to rescue human beings from a negative condition – such as illness, danger, death, exclusion, oppression, or sin – and bring them into a positive condition – such as hea...
In the ancient Near East and Roman Empire of the first century CE, sacrificial rituals were a common worship practice of many different religions and cultures. Due to the destruction of the Herodian Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE, early Christianity developed – as a movement of Jews who followe...
This article explores the complex notion of Jesus as substitute in Christian theology, situating this topic within the doctrine of the atonement in general. It considers the role of ‘theories’ of the atonement, and provides a biblical/historical/theological overview of substitution in gener...