On another thread I posted Anselm's Satisfaction Theory and Aquinas' modification of that theory into Substitution Theory.
Substitution Theory is the Roman Catholic understanding of the Atonement. Here Substitution is representative and addresses original sin. However specific sins committed by individuals were left to each individual to address (penance).
This system became the catalyst for the Reformation as Aquinas' Substitution Theory paved the way for a works based religious system.
Martin Luther observed abuses in the form of indulgences. John Calvin recognized and rejected the implications that men could merit individual forgiveness based on this penance system.
The major issue Calvin had with Aquinas' theory is that Substitution Theory did not address specific individual sins.
Calvin's solution was to revise Aquinas' theory to include paying a specific penalty for individual sins, thereby nullifying the Roman Catholic penance system.
This involved a few important changes to Aquinas' theory. Calvin changed representative substitution to individual substitution, satisfactory punishment to simple punishment, and applied this to specific sins committed by individual people (see Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion).
Calvin's view is called the Penal Substitution Theory of Atonement after its unique form of substitution.
TGC defines the Penal Substitution Theory of Atonement Penal as meaning that Christ died in the place of sinners, taking upon himself the penalty and punishment they deserved.
A major shift from traditional theories is that God, in the role of judge, became the one punishing Christ.
Where Aquinas viewed Christ as dying for original sin and individual sins being forgiven through penance, Calvin believed that actual sins cannot be forgiven. Instead sins must be punished, and it is only through punishment that sins can be forgive (this is based on Aquinas' work Summa Theologiae).
While the Christus Victor/ Ransom Theory is the primary theory within Christian history, the Penal Substitution Theory of Atonement is the most popular theory among evangelicals.
Substitution Theory is the Roman Catholic understanding of the Atonement. Here Substitution is representative and addresses original sin. However specific sins committed by individuals were left to each individual to address (penance).
This system became the catalyst for the Reformation as Aquinas' Substitution Theory paved the way for a works based religious system.
Martin Luther observed abuses in the form of indulgences. John Calvin recognized and rejected the implications that men could merit individual forgiveness based on this penance system.
The major issue Calvin had with Aquinas' theory is that Substitution Theory did not address specific individual sins.
Calvin's solution was to revise Aquinas' theory to include paying a specific penalty for individual sins, thereby nullifying the Roman Catholic penance system.
This involved a few important changes to Aquinas' theory. Calvin changed representative substitution to individual substitution, satisfactory punishment to simple punishment, and applied this to specific sins committed by individual people (see Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion).
Calvin's view is called the Penal Substitution Theory of Atonement after its unique form of substitution.
TGC defines the Penal Substitution Theory of Atonement Penal as meaning that Christ died in the place of sinners, taking upon himself the penalty and punishment they deserved.
A major shift from traditional theories is that God, in the role of judge, became the one punishing Christ.
Where Aquinas viewed Christ as dying for original sin and individual sins being forgiven through penance, Calvin believed that actual sins cannot be forgiven. Instead sins must be punished, and it is only through punishment that sins can be forgive (this is based on Aquinas' work Summa Theologiae).
While the Christus Victor/ Ransom Theory is the primary theory within Christian history, the Penal Substitution Theory of Atonement is the most popular theory among evangelicals.
