The Actuality of Atonement: A Study of Metaphor, Rationality and the Christian Tradition

by Colin E. Gunton

Overview

In a reissue of a masterly examination of both the Christian doctrine of Atonement and the nature and working of theological language, Professor Gunton reassesses the doctrine and the language in which it is expressed in the light of modern scholarly developments. He explains how the traditional metaphors of Atonement, drawn from the battlefield, the altar and the law courts, all express something of the meaning of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus-and examines their bearing on human life in today's world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780567080905
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	12/06/2003
Pages:	236
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Colin E. Gunton was Professor of Christian Doctrine, King's College, London, UK, and a Minister of the United Reformed Church.

Table of Contents

	Preface	xi
	Acknowledgements	xiv
1.	Patterns of Rationalism	1
I	Where We Stand	1
II	Redemption by Reason: Immanuel Kant and the Rationalism of Morality	3
III	Translation and Reduction: F.D.E. Schleiermacher and the Rationalism of Experience	9
IV	Metaphor and Concept: Hegel and Conceptual Rationalism	16
V	Rationalism and Rationality	23
2.	Metaphor and Theological Language	27
I	The Dynamics of Metaphor	27
II	Words and the World	32
III	Words and the World	36
IV	Metaphor in Theology	40
V	Language in Action	48
3.	The Battlefield and the Demons	53
I	A Divine and Human Victory	53
II	The Old Testament and the New	59
III	The Language of Demons	62
IV	The Language of Victory	74
4.	The Justice of God: A Conversation	83
I	Overlaps	83
II	Anselm of Canterbury	87
III	Beyond the Legal Metaphor	93
IV	The Justice of God	96
V	Justice, Justification, Judgement	100
VI	Two Twentieth Century Theologies	105
5.	Christ the Sacrifice: A Dead Metaphor?	115
I	The Problem	115
II	The Bible and the Metaphor	120
III	Edward Irving and the Priestly Self-Offering of Christ	128
IV	The Logic of Sacrifice	135
6.	The Atonement and the Triune God	143
I	Relation	143
II	God: in the Beginning	145
III	God: in the End	150
IV	Subjective and Objective	155
V	Representation and Substitution	160
VI	Two Systematic Questions	167
7.	The Community of Reconciliation	173
I	Perplexity	173
II	Truth	178
III	Victory	180
IV	Judgement	183
V	Forgiveness	188
VI	Community	195
VII	Praise	200
	References and Bibliography	205
	Index of Biblical References	215
	Index of Subjects	217
	Index of Names	221

Editorial Reviews

'. . . a thought-provoking challenge for all Christians'.
Christoph Schwobel

"This is a well-written book that deserves a wide readership."

From the Publisher