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Sin and the Story of Salvation: the Theology of Atonement in Light of Biblical Narrative Theology Mark Ortwein

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Sin and the Story of Salvation: the Theology of Atonement in Light of Biblical Narrative Theology Mark Ortwein Duquesne University Duquesne Scholarship Collection Electronic Theses and Dissertations Spring 2015 Sin and the Story of Salvation: The Theology of Atonement in Light of Biblical Narrative Theology Mark Ortwein Follow this and additional works at: https://dsc.duq.edu/etd Recommended Citation Ortwein, M. (2015). Sin and the Story of Salvation: The Theology of Atonement in Light of Biblical Narrative Theology (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/999 This Immediate Access is brought to you for free and open access by Duquesne Scholarship Collection. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Duquesne Scholarship Collection. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SIN AND THE STORY OF SALVATION: THE THEOLOGY OF ATONEMENT IN LIGHT OF BIBLICAL NARRATIVE THEOLOGY A Dissertation Submitted to the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts Duquesne University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Mark J. Ortwein May 2015 Copyright by Mark J. Ortwein 2015 SIN AND THE STORY OF SALVATION: THE THEOLOGY OF ATONEMENT IN LIGHT OF BIBLICAL NARRATIVE THEOLOGY By Mark J. Ortwein Approved March 26, 2015 ________________________________ ________________________________ William M. Wright IV, Ph.D. Elisabeth T. Vasko, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Theology Assistant Professor of Theology (Committee Chair) (Committee Member) ________________________________ ________________________________ Bogdan G. Bucur, Ph.D. Maureen R. O’Brien, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Theology Chair, Department of Theology (Committee Member) Associate Professor of Theology ________________________________ James C. Swindal, Ph.D. Dean, McAnulty School of Liberal Arts Professor of Philosophy iii ABSTRACT SIN AND THE STORY OF SALVATION: THE THEOLOGY OF ATONEMENT IN LIGHT OF BIBLICAL NARRATIVE THEOLOGY By Mark J. Ortwein May 2015 Dissertation supervised by William M. Wright IV, Ph.D. Contemporary atonement theology offers three general conceptions of the cross: objective, subjective, and dramatic, which corresponds to Gustaf Aulén’s classic tripartite typology. Although these different views are important since they contribute to a rich soteriology, when addressing the topic of atonement, or reconciliation proper, the objective type, promoted in satisfaction and penal substitution theories, are by comparison more compatible with Scripture when considering its larger narrative structure. This compatibility is attributable to the seriousness with which they construe the problem of sin that alienates humanity from God and places them in a predicament from which they are unable to extricate themselves. The cross, according to the objective type, is then disclosed as the only solution to the human situation since it is God in Christ who can make satisfactory atonement. Demonstrating the centrality of these themes in iv Scripture and the comparative consistency of these two theories with the canonical narrative in the works of their leading proponents, Anselm of Canterbury and John Calvin respectively, is the primary goal of this dissertation which will bring fresh insight unto the subject of atonement theology for today. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to thank the Department of Theology for inviting me to Duquesne University to pursue this degree in systematic theology. My time here as both a student and teacher has been a great experience. There are many colleagues and faculty members in this program whose advice and encouragement helped me complete this dissertation. In particular, I am thankful for the direction Dr. Wright has given me on this project. In addition to keeping it on a proper trajectory, through his patience and hard work, his concern for my future academic career in our many discussions, was a true blessing. Similarly, I would also like to thank Dr. Vasko for being a mentor to me since my first semester in this program. As her teaching assistant for four semesters, I have been able to develop both my pedagogical and academic skills. I am also thankful for the scholarship of Dr. Bucur especially for introducing me to the topic of biblical theology. His seminar on this approach to interpreting and appropriating Scripture served as an inspiration for the methodology of this dissertation. Yet my completion of this project would not have been possible apart from the prayers, encouragement, and financial support of my mom Kathryn A. Ortwein, along with my brothers, sisters, and friends. Foremost, though, I thank God my Father and Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior who, through the power of his Holy Spirit, guided and motivated me throughout this dissertation, to help me articulate this “good news” concerning the prospect of having one’s sins forgiven and atonement with God through the cross which is my primary reason for entering this program and for selecting this subject for my project. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract .......................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgement .......................................................................................................... vi Chapter One: Atonement Theology: A Review of Three Types ....................................... 1 1.1. Gustaf Aulén’s Tripartite Typology .......................................................................... 4 1.1.1. Atonement Theology: The Objective Type ................................................. 5 1.1.1.1. Satisfaction Theory: Anselm of Canterbury ................................. 5 1.1.1.1.1. Cur Deus Homo: Context and Approach ........................ 8 1.1.1.1.2. Cur Deus Homo: Theology and Christology ................ 13 1.1.1.1.3. Satisfaction Theory on the Problem of Sin ................... 18 1.1.1.1.4. Satisfaction Theory on the Forgiveness of Sin ............. 25 1.1.1.2. Penal Substitution Theory: John Calvin ..................................... 32 1.1.2. Atonement Theology: The Subjective Type .............................................. 38 1.1.2.1. Moral Influence Theory: Peter Abelard ...................................... 38 1.1.3. Atonement Theology: The Dramatic Type ................................................ 44 1.1.3.1. Christus Victor Theory: Gustaf Aulén ........................................ 44 1.1.3.2. Narrative Christus Victor Theory: J. Denny Weaver .................. 52 1.2. Defining the Problem .............................................................................................. 59 1.3. Atonement Theology: A Biblical Narrative View ................................................... 64 Chapter Two: The Problem of Sin: A Biblical Narrative View....................................... 73 2.1. Sin and Exile: The Work of N. T. Wright ............................................................... 73 2.1.1. The New Testament within the Second Temple Narrative ........................ 75 vii 2.1.2. The Second Temple Worldview: Land, Torah, and Temple ...................... 77 2.1.3. Sin and the Prospect of Salvation: First Century Judaism ......................... 80 2.2. Major Biblical Images for Sin: The Work of Gary A. Anderson .............................. 83 2.2.1. Debt and Almsgiving ............................................................................... 91 2.2.2. Debt and Satisfaction ............................................................................... 94 2.3. Christian Anthropology in New Testament Theology: The Work of Frank J. Matera ...................................................................................................... 98 2.3.1. The Synoptic Tradition on the Problem of Sin .......................................... 99 2.3.2. The Pauline Tradition on the Problem of Sin .......................................... 110 2.3.3. The Johannine Tradition on the Problem of Sin ...................................... 118 2.3.4. Other Voices on the Problem of Sin ....................................................... 122 2.3.5. Summary ................................................................................................ 126 Chapter Three: The Forgiveness of Sin: A Biblical Narrative View ............................. 128 3.1. Forgiveness of Sins as the End of Exile: The Work of N. T. Wright ...................... 129 3.1.1. Judaism and the Early Church ................................................................ 129 3.1.2. Israel and the Kingdom of God ............................................................... 134 3.1.3. Themes in the Synoptic Gospel’s Soteriology in Light of Second Temple Jewish Theology ......................................... 139 3.1.4. Paul on Second Temple Judaism and Salvation in Christ ........................ 148 3.2. Soteriology in New Testament Theology: The Work of Frank J. Matera ............... 155 3.2.1. The Synoptic Tradition on the Forgiveness of Sin .................................. 156 3.2.1.1. The Good News in Mark .......................................................... 158 3.2.1.2. The Forgiveness of Debt in the Gospel of Matthew .................. 161 viii 3.2.1.3. Salvation in the Gospel of Luke and Acts................................. 164 3.2.2. The Pauline Tradition on the Forgiveness of Sin .................................... 168 3.2.2.1. Substitutionary Atonement in Corinthians ................................ 169 3.2.2.2. God’s Love in Galatians and Romans .....................................
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