Jesus Cropped from the Picture

How Jesus Was Cropped from the Picture

After the work of Anselm and Abelard (see Appendix 5, Views of the Atonement), the church lost the multiple dimensions of the atonement (Christus Victor) and the devil was partially cropped from the picture. Webber said, “The missing link inWestern theology is a deep appreciation for the incarnation and subsequent Christus Victor theme of how God incarnate won a victory over sin and death.” 108

Uncropped

Cropped

Multiple aspects of Christ’s saving work Narrative and rational Christ ( SUBJECT ) Church ( OBJECT ) The whole Bible Transcendent scope/depth

One dimensional view of the atonement

At the Reformation, a Rationalistic and Individualistic view of the Bible emerged, cropping the Bible’s narrative quality:

One dimensional view of the atonement Rational only Cropped

Uncropped

Multiple aspects of Christ’s saving work Narrative and rational Christ ( SUBJECT ) Church ( OBJECT ) The whole Bible Transcendent scope/depth

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