Christus Victor: An Historical Study of the Three Main Types of the Idea of the Atonement

Excellent and insightful. Even though Aulen's analysis is not 100% accurate and comprehensive when critiquing Anselm's doctrine etc., however inasmuch as the main thrust of his thesis is concerned, he is remarkable. Penal substitution is definitely there in the atonement, this is clear from the OT sacrificial system, but it is not all there is. Thoroughly recommended so that we can rejoice more fully in our Saviour's work.

I finally got around to reading this book. Aulen's stated purpose is to outline the classic view of the atonement and to compare it to the objective (latin) model and the subjective (exemplar) model. Aulen does an excellent job of describing the patriotic view and the development of penal substitution. One major difference he sees between the classic model and the later penal models is an emphasis on Christ's divinity in the former and Christ's humanity in the latter. The classic view posits that Christ's incarnation and atonement was God's way of defeating the demonic powers that held humanity captive from within. In the satisfaction model, God becomes man in order to pay the penalty due sinful humanity. Both of these models are show more objective, but while the penal view rescues humanity from God's punishment, the Christus Victor view sees the atonement as rescuing humanity from demonic oppression.

Aulen deals less with the subjective view, though he treats its main proponents. Before Aulen wrote this book, the Latin and subjective models were treated like a binary in atonement views. Aulen helped us recover the patriots (and Luther's) view. show less

Superb presentation of the dogma of the atonement.

Doctrinal Theology

An Historical Study of the Three Main Types of the Idea of Atonement