Includes bibliographical references and indexes

Justice, law, and the cross in patristic thought -- Medieval atonement and the legal revolution -- The Reformation : Luther, Calvin, and the tradition of penal substitution -- Modernity : atonement and the cure of the soul -- Atonement and the postmodern critique of law -- Atonement and the perfection of divine agency

Adonis Vidu tackles an issue of great current debate in evangelical circles and of perennial interest in the Christian academy. He provides a critical reading of the history of major atonement theories, offering an in-depth analysis of the legal and political contexts within which they arose. The book engages the latest work in atonement theory and serves as a helpful resource for contemporary discussions. This is the only book that explores the impact of theories of law and justice on major historical atonement theories. Understanding this relationship yields a better understanding of atonement thinkers by situating them in their intellectual contexts. The book also explores the relevance of the doctrine of divine simplicity for atonement theory