Why Did Jesus Die and What Does That Have to Do with Me?: A Biblical and Sacramental Understanding of Atonement - Paperback

by Fred R. Anderson (Author)

This book looks at atonement biblically, theologically, historically, and sacramentally. Biblically it is tied to Scripture's narrative of humanity's failure to fulfill God's intention and God's subsequent covenant with Abraham fulfilled in Jesus. Theologically, in Jesus the eternal Logos became incarnate to fulfill God's intention to deal with sin and begin again with a new creation. Jesus' death was not a payment for anything to anyone! It was the Triune God's non-violent way of absorbing, defeating, and overcoming sin and death for the world. Two chapters focus on sacrifice: how it functioned in Israel's life with God, how Paul and Hebrews use it, and how it thereafter took on pagan connotations. Historically, three chapters review the development of atonement theories through Gustav Aulen's Christus Victor. After reviewing atonement theologies of the last seventy-five years--especially feminist critiques of them--this retrieves Irenaeus and Athanasius, offering an understanding of atonement influenced by Baillie, Barth, Moltmann, Torrance, Von Balthazar, Tanner, and Weaver. Sacramentally, it describes how atonement is realized through the word, baptism, Eucharist, and prayer. Sacramental "atonement" nurtures those "in Christ" as members of God's new creation through Jesus' continuing high priestly ministry of atonement, until his final return.

Author Biography

Fred R. Anderson is pastor emeritus of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, where he retired after forty-two years of pastoral ministry in the Presbyterian Church (USA). A well-known preacher and author of hymn texts and psalm paraphrases, he is a pastoral theologian with special interest in the theology of worship, preaching, and sacraments, and known for his efforts to promote weekly eucharistic celebration in Christian worship.