Augustine on the Atonement

[JonC]

I am starting this thread because @DaveXR650 insists that any discussion of the Cross has to include Augustine.

Here we can read what Augustine taught in a larger context than snippets that can be misused.

So...here we go


The devil was conquered by his own trophy of victory. The devil jumped for joy, when he seduced the first man and cast him down to death. By seducing the first man, he slew him; by slaying the last man, he lost the first from his snare. The victory of our Lord Jesus Christ came when He rose, and ascended into heaven; then was fulfilled what you have heard when the Apocalypse was being read, ‘The Lion of the tribe of Judah has won the day’ (Revelation 5:5). . . . The devil jumped for joy when Christ died; and by the very death of Christ the devil was overcome: he took, as it were, the bait in the mousetrap. He rejoiced at the death, thinking himself death’s commander. But that which caused his joy dangled the bait before him. The Lord’s cross was the devil’s mousetrap: the bait which caught him was the death of the Lord.” (St. Augustine of Hippo, c. 354-430, Sermon 261)

 

[JonC]

"For then that blood, since it was the blood of Him who had no sin at all, was shed for the remission of our sins, that because the devil deservedly held those whom he had bound by the condition of death as guilty of sin, he might deservedly loose them through Him who was guilty of no sin, and whom he had undeservedly struck with the punishment of death. The strong man was conquered by this justice and bound by this chain, that his vessels might be taken away, which with himself and his angels had been vessels of wrath while with Him they might be turned into vessels of mercy” (Augustine, Confessions).

 

[JonC]

"What is the justice, therefore, by which the devil was conquered? What, unless the justice of Jesus Christ? And how was he conquered? Because, although he found in Him nothing worthy of death, yet he slew Him. And it is certainly just that the debtors, whom he held, should be set free, since they believed in Him whom he slew without any debt. It is in this way, then, that we are said to be justified by his blood” (Augustine, 13:14:18)

 

[kyredneck]

I am starting this thread because @DaveXR650 insists that any discussion of the Cross has to include Augustine.

Here we can read what Augustine taught in a larger context than snippets that can be misused.

So...here we go


The devil was conquered by his own trophy of victory. The devil jumped for joy, when he seduced the first man and cast him down to death. By seducing the first man, he slew him; by slaying the last man, he lost the first from his snare. The victory of our Lord Jesus Christ came when He rose, and ascended into heaven; then was fulfilled what you have heard when the Apocalypse was being read, ‘The Lion of the tribe of Judah has won the day’ (Revelation 5:5). . . . The devil jumped for joy when Christ died; and by the very death of Christ the devil was overcome: he took, as it were, the bait in the mousetrap. He rejoiced at the death, thinking himself death’s commander. But that which caused his joy dangled the bait before him. The Lord’s cross was the devil’s mousetrap: the bait which caught him was the death of the Lord.” (St. Augustine of Hippo, c. 354-430, Sermon 261)

But there's some that insist that the devil was way too smart to fall for it, says the devil even tried to stop the crucifixion.

 

[JonC]

"Further, when we are on the way, and that not a way that lies through space, but through a change of affections, and one which the guilt of our past sins like a hedge of thorns barred against us, what could He, who was willing to lay Himself down as the way by which we should return, do that would be still gracious and more merciful, except to forgive us all our sins, and by being crucified for us to remove the stern decrees that barred the door against our return?" (Augustine, On Christian Doctrine ch 17)

 

[JonC]

But there's some that insist that the devil was way too smart to fall for it, says the devil even tried to stop the crucifixion.

Silly people. Satan is not omniscient.

I am not saying I agree with Augustine, BTW (although I agree with a lot of his views on the cross...he held my position).

I just wanted his writings gathered because a few here would dishonestly post snippets claiming he held penal substitution.

I think the first 3 posts pretty much dispel that idea.