Dcn. Steven Hayes of Khanya has tagged me: Summarize the Bible in five statements, the first one word long, the second two, the third three, the fourth four and the last five words long. Or possibly you could do this in descending order. Tag five people.
Here’s my summary:
1. Beginning: The Word was God.
2. The Word became flesh.
3. Dwelt among us.
4. Defeated death.
5. Glory.
I tag: himcalledbean, Saakara, Sherine Goor, temsmail, and Michelle Collins.
The Hargrave Family 
Yours seems based on Christus Victor theology too – not that I have a problem with that.
Here’s mine (one Unitarian’s interpretation). I wasn’t tagged but found it an intriguing challenge.
I suspect that most Orthodox Christians will tend to the Christus Victor theology, while most Calvinists will opt for penal substitution.
That’d fly with me.
We’re sooo predictable aren’t we :).
Christus Victor theology is a much better way of looking at it than penal substitution. I had a quick look at your blog, but can’t work out which theology you subscribe to. If the latter, you should read Steve’s blog post about it.
Hi Yewtree,
I won’t lie to you, I’m a bit disappointed. I kind of hoped that what I believed dripped off my writing like honey dribbling off the honeycomb.
If you’d like a pointer to where I spell out my thoughts go check out The Gospel, So Mark, fundamentally, what do you believe? or Speed, fine, pay.
Feel free to vehemently disagree with me on any of those post :).
This is hard! I gave it my best shot.
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Why must we say Christus Victor is a “much better way of looking at it” than penal substitution? Aren’t both equally valid? Didn’t Christ accomplish both on the cross?
Hi Elliott,
Ransom Theory (aka Christus Victor), Penal Substitution and Subjective Theory all contend for the coveted welterweight champion of world title in the doctrine of the Atonement division.
This no-holds-barred slugfest is a winner takes all showdown.
There can be only one.
I’d say the penal substitution aspect of the Incarnation was accomplished almost exclusively on the Cross, where the victory over death was accomplished somewhat on the Cross but also in the Resurrection, the raising of Lazarus, etc…
What happened at the moment of the Crucifixion may be described to a degree by “ransom” or “satisfaction” or “example,” but the totality of God becoming man is a great deal more than the moment of his death (crucial though it is).
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