Western Theories of Atonement

Fr. Panayiotis continues his discussion on salvation and redemption by pointing out some of the theories of atonement in the West and then makes a comparison with the ancient Christian view to show how these new theories deviated from the original understanding. These Western theories include the Ransom or Bargain theory, Anselm's theory of debt or satisfaction, the Penal Substitutionary theory of atonement, and the Moral Exemplar theory of atonement.

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[slimduster]

I almost became an orthodox Christian at one point, but I had no support from my peers. They thought I was converting to a whole other religion. The ignorance of modern protestants and their overlooking of the early church father's, astounds me.

[calvinpeterson]

The biggest problem in the west is it makes the Father sound angry while Jesus is the nice guy. In essence in western theology Jesus came to save us from the Father. In the east Jesus came to restore our relationship back with God.

[emZee]

Wow an Orthodox priest explained Catholicism better to me than any Catholic YouTube channel I've yet to find. Thank you! This was very helpful to wrap my mind around Christianity

[danielkent]

I was first Protestant but knew there was more depth to Christianity. I read the church fathers and they point to the Orthodox belief system. I love the richness in orthodox worship and liturgy..

[Trisagionfilms]

Nowhere in the Bible does it say that a debt needs to be paid to God the Father for human sins as some modern theories of Atonement claim. Claims like "When one transgresses any law there is a debt owed to someone, typically the law giver, such as the government in civil law.", as well as claims that "We are incapable of paying our sin debt to God by cleansing ourselves from sin, " and that "the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and the subsequent resurrection paid that sin debt to God the Father, " reflect a theory of Atonement developed by Anselm of Canterbury in the middle ages (11-12th centuries). This theory of Atonement was called "Substitutionary Atonement". This is the source of many people's understanding, not the Holy Scriptures.
This is based on the idea of total depravity of man after the Fall (an other Western idea drawn from St. Augustine): Man's sin (which is absolute depravity) must be punished by God absolutely. God's honor and justice demands that the debt owed to God must be paid off so that justice may be satisfied. The debt is owed to God by the human race, but humanity is in total depravity (fallen and sinful) and cannot pay the debt to God in order to satisfy His justice and free us from punishment. Even if we repent from our sins we cannot be forgiven because the justice of God has to be satisfied. Divine justice and offended honor demand that punishment be exacted, Anselm claimed, because God is unable to forgive until a debt is paid to Him. This is the teaching of Anselm of Canterbury, not of the Holy Scriptures.
Solution offered by Anselm: Only Jesus could pay the debt because he is sinless and perfect (substitutionary atonement). The Son of God is punished by God the Father in our place so that His wrath and justice might be satisfied. The Son of God saves us from the vengeance of God the Father by taking the punishment himself.
This idea of Anselm is based on the legalistic society that he was part of. He is also drawing from the Knights' concepts of honor and punishment. This is a totally new approach to the Christian understanding of salvation not found anywhere among Christian theologians before Anselm.
Anselm does not represent ancient Christianity and does NOT rely on the Holy Scriptures. Even when he refers to the Holy Scriptures, he stretches the ideas to fit his world of legalism and his social context of the 11th century.
If one wants to find out what the early Christians understood, you have to read St. Ireneus, Origen, St. Athanasius, Gregory of Nyssa, John Chrysostom, St. Basil and others from the Greek speaking Fathers. The middle ages are far removed from the early Church and do not represent the Ancient Church's Soteriology.
In fact, even a contemporary of Anselm's, Peter Abelard, wrote against this legalistic approach by proposing his own theory of atonement known as "Moral Exemplar theory of atonement". Both of these propositions are far removed from Early Christian thought and created serious problems for Western Christianity going forward.
Anselm's legalistic approach to salvation brought about the Indulgences of the Roman Catholic Church, which were developed based on the understanding that God has to be satisfied. This development brought about the revolution within the Roman Catholic Church called Protestant Reformation, which sought to correct this false Soteriology, but created other serious problems. Also, the theology of the "Angry God", developed later by some Protestant Reformers comes out of this understanding, as well. The "theology of the angry God" has caused much unnecessary pain to many people and continues to cause many people to reject Christianity.
Peter Abelard's theory of atonement, on the other hand, led modern liberal theologians to develop what we know today as "the social gospel of softness, kindness and love" in an effort to correct the theology of the angry God. This new theology, however, lacks of the Divine Presence of Christ and His transformative power for humanity.
Western salvation theology has been in serious trouble for almost a thousand years because of this constant moving away from the Biblical and Early Christian understanding of Salvation.

[Conmezzo]

Amen and thank you for this teaching. I'm currently Presbyterian and fortunate enough to attend a church that encourages inquiry into early Christianity.

[RinaldoDegliAlbizzi]

Catholic here. Thank you father, your talk is clear, straight to the point.

[panokostouros]

One time I was speaking with a Calvinist who started promoting the Penal Substitutionary Atonement view and I asked him if he knew who Anselm of Canterbury was. His response to me was, "No sir! I don't follow the traditions of men. The Bible says 'call no man Father' . I follow the word of God."

[susansuewwilliams]

What a wonderful lesson.
Having been a Lutheran until 2006, when my family found the One True Church, these lessons are so important to farther our understanding of the Lord's deep love for us.

[nancyincanada]

I've never heard this explanation/differences before. I truly enjoy these video teachings. Thank you and bless you.

[CScott-whyk]

Nikolai the Traveler recommenced this channel in his recent video - I’m glad he did, this is great content that is concise and helpful.

[susanct]

Since my 20s, I have been almost theologically and humanly crushed by the first 3 theories of the Atonement. Fifty years later, I am thrilled beyond measure on hearing these theories so expertly, succinctly, and exactly expounded and Refuted by Fr, Panaylotis. Deeply grateful to God that He brought me to this video. Will listen to more of this series. Deo gratias.

[Nomansland]

What is not assumed can not be healed. That puts it into a more sensible explanation of things. Thank you Saint Gregory the Theologian.

[vickykentrota]

So simply and divinely explained.Thank you so much Father.

[dj]

Thank you for your easy to understand explanation. I am a protestant, taught a combination of the first three Western atonement beliefs you talked about.

[maaikekamstra]

Thank you so much. I am coming from the protestant belief system and convert to Orthodoxy.
There is so much to learn and to unlearn. Thank you so much for this overview and explanation.

[simontemplar]

Thank you for these wonderful videos. They are so informative and so important. May His peace be with you, Father.

[mandyvatougios]

Thankyou much father Panagioti. Christ Is This was a very very clear and informative presentation...I very much appreciate it. May our Saviour and Redeemer have you always in His embrace.

[kevinhughes]

This is one of the best breakdowns of The western understandings that I have seen

[guspapadopoulos]

Many, many Orthodox fathers of the past were tortured for not relenting to the infallibility of papacy, to name a few were those priests in Cyprus who were burned alive, the Russian Saint Peter of Alaska was literally disemboweled, Maximos the Confessor had his tounge ripped out. Saint Haralambos was tortured and beheaded when he was past 100 years old. Those of the faith from the one true church the holy catholic and apostolic church were severely tortured prior to the great schism. The Orthodox under the Bolsheviks were literally wiped out. So many Orthodox were killed when the Crusaders pillaged Constantinopoly. Whether it was at the hands of the Muslims, the Roman Catholics or the powers of the orient far east; the Orthodox have suffered more, and been martyred more than anyone else; Someone tell me when in history have Orthodox tortured or killed anyone whom did not convert to Orthodoxy, don't think so. What does that say about a witness to the true Church of Jesus Christ.