Dogmatic Theology Vol 2 - Shedd - XXI - Chapter 2 Vicarious atonement commenced

Required reading  

Dogmatic Theology Vol 2 by William G.T. Shedd (Available from Amazon or here) - Commence Chapter 2 'Vicarious atonement' by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'It follows from this discussion, that atonement is objective in its essential nature.' (Page 393 of my edition).

My summary  

Today we start a discussion of vicarious atonement.

Firstly Shedd shows how the Greek preposition 'for' teaches substitution.

Then Shedd teaches us that vicarious atonement in the Christian system is made by the offended party.

Next Shedd begins to discuss the nature of the atonement, particularly expiation and propitiation.

What grabbed me

I appreciated Shedd's comments on the Father's pain in the son's atonement: 

'Though it was God the Son, and not God the Father, who became incarnate, and suffered, and died, it by no means follows that the first person of the Trinity made no self- sacrifice in this humiliation and crucifixion of the incarnate second person. He gave up to agony and death, his "dear," and "beloved" son. He passed the sword, as Zechariah (13 : 7) says, through " the man who was his fellow." Such scriptures imply that the redemption of sinful man caused God the Father a species of sorrow : the sorrow of 'bruising and patting to grief " (Isa. 53 : 10) the Son of his love ; the Son who is 'in the bosom of the Father' John 1 : 18. The self-sacrifice, therefore, that is made by the Son in giving himself to die for sinners, involves a self-sacrifice made by the Father in surrendering the Son for this purpose. No person of the Godhead, even when he works officially, works exclusively of the others. The unity of being and nature between Father and Son makes the act of self-sacrifice in the salvation of man common to both. 'He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. I and my Father are one," John 14 : 9 ; 10 : 30. " The Mediator," says Augustine (Trinity, IV. xix.), " was both the offerer and the offering ; and he was also one with him to whom the offering was made."' 

The mysterious love of God!

Next week's reading    

Continue Chapter 2 'Vicarious atonement' by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'Before leaving the subject of vicarious atonement, it is in place here to notice its relation to the soul of man' (Page 409 of my edition).

Now it's your turn

Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.