Finally, after months of processing and editing, the content from November’s What DID Jesus Do? symposium is online for your education and edification. Enjoy!

Presenter: Scot McKnight

Synopsis: Atonement theory emerges from a theology and for some it shapes the whole of theology. I propose that we learn to rethink “atonement” in the context of the Bible’s Story and not simply in terms of one theme — soteriology– of that Story. What happens to atonement theory when the driving Story is a Christology?

Presenter: Daniel Kirk

Synopsis: Any viable theory of the atonement must indicate not only how Jesus takes care of the problem of a world in rebellion against God, but also how he enables the story of the world to arrive at its God-intended purpose. While drawing on the best of the Christus victor, penal substitution, and moral influence views, Cosmic Atonement draws unique attention to what each of them lack: the absolute necessity of Jesus’ humanity not merely to overcome human lack, but to fulfill the purposes for which God created people.

Presenter: Leanne Van Dyk

Synopsis: Scripture gives us succinct summaries of the gospel, including this seven word summary from II Cor. 5:18, “God reconciled us to himself through Christ.” Short summaries have a wonderful way of focusing the mind and clarifying the central claims of the Christian faith. This lecture will examine some short gospel summaries, using a recent exchange of views in The Christian Century as a resource. The lecture will make the central claim that atonement theologies, even short ones of seven words, are, at their very core, stories of God and God’s world.

Presenter: Vincent Bacote

Synopsis: After considering how we might “reconcile” competing atonement theories, I will consider how the atonement is good news not only in terms of what Christians believe but also in terms of the journey the Christians may take in living out the implications of God’s great reconciling work. What does reconcilation mean for our personal and public lives? What trajectories of reconciliation can we consider and begin to model for others, especially in light of the lingering challenges of racial/ethnic tension?

Tags: atonement, videos, What Did Jesus Do?