Beilby, James, and Paul R. Eddy, eds. The Nature of the Atonement: Four Views. With Contributions by Gregory A. Boyd, Joel B. Green, Bruce R. Reichenbach, and Thomas R. Schreiner. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2006.
The Nature of the Atonement is one of the latest additions in the “Four Views” series published by InterVarsity Press. Each book bearing this imprint examines various interpretations that students of the Bible have attached to any given theological topic. As the title suggests, this volume explores the primary foundation on which the doctrine of Christ’s atonement is grounded.
Four scholars contributed to this project. Gregory A. Boyd, senior pastor at Woodland Hills Church in Maplewood, Minnesota, supported the position that the main purpose for the atonement was to demonstrate Christ’s triumph over the realm of evil (the Christus Victor paradigm). Thomas R. Schreiner, professor of New Testament at Southern Seminary, explained the theory that the most important aspect of the atonement is the satisfaction of God’s justice by means of Christ’s sacrifice for sinners (Penal Substitution). The Healing View, a hypothesis that views the atonement through the lens of the healing and restoration of a sinner by means of the atonement, was championed by Bruce R. Reichenbach, professor of philosophy at Augsburg College. The Kaleidoscopic approach, presented by Joel B. Green, professor of New Testament interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary, asserted that the numerous objectives accomplished by Christ’s atonement cannot be distilled into a single prominent theme, but all must be treated in like manner because they are of equal importance.
After an introduction to the doctrine of the atonement by the editors (James Beilby and Paul R. Eddy, both professors of theology at Bethel University, St. Paul, Minnesota), each of the four authors discussed the reasons why he believed that his particular stance best fits what the Bible teaches. Each essay is then followed by rebuttals which are written by the other three essayists. These critiques not only reveal areas of disagreement, but also details which are agreed upon.
The Nature of the Atonement is to be commended for a number of reasons. First, the atonement interpretations surveyed in the book are described by scholars who adhere to them. This ensures that each view is represented fairly and accurately (at least to the extent that each participant personally understands them). Furthermore, this format prevents the development of a “straw man” caricature of any of the portrayals of the atonement.
Second, The Nature of the Atonement is clearly written and easy to comprehend. Each stance is sufficiently detailed without overwhelming the reader with minutia. This makes for a pleasant read that provides a springboard for the study of more technically dense surveys of the atonement.
Third, the sheer number of Scripture references within the essays indicates that the four contributors made a genuine effort to discover what the Bible teaches about atonement. The many allusions to the Bible also have another advantage. Readers may quickly use these Scriptural quotations to determine whether an author’s explanation best embodies a particular biblical text.
Fourth, the inclusion of rebuttals after each essay is a brilliant idea that lends additional value to an already outstanding work. The manner in which each author interacts with the offerings of his peers is not hostile, but dignified and professional. The participants were quick to point out not only areas of mutual agreement, but also points that challenged their own positions. As a result, this portion of the volume has the flavor of an amiable and engaging round-table debate.
One shortcoming of the book is related not to its content, but to its presentation of itself. On the back cover, The Nature of the Atonement is described as “a panel discussion of four views of atonement maintained by four evangelical scholars.” The problem with this statement is that Greg Boyd considers himself an “open theist.” One of the signature beliefs of Open Theism is the insistence that God does not know the future. Historically, this tenet of Open Theism has not fallen under the umbrella of evangelicalism and disputes biblical teachings, so it is a stretch to refer to Boyd as an evangelical. This having been said, Boyd’s commitment to Open Theism does not figure greatly in his defense of the Christus Victor position within his essay. Furthermore, the inclusion of a selected bibliography for further reading on the subject would have been a welcome feature.
Although not an exhaustive treatment of the subject due to the fact that some theories of the atonement are not addressed (and because there are countless subtle variations of the views that are treated), The Nature of the Atonement succeeds in its purpose to articulate the most commonly defended versions embraced by theologians. Additionally, the easy to follow format of the book enhances its usability. Scholars and laymen alike will benefit from a careful study of the arguments and counter-arguments compiled by Boyd, Schreiner, Reichenbach, and Green. Any person who is interested in this most important doctrine should own a copy of the volume.
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