Preface To The First Edition
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION
WHEN THE PRESENT WRITER first began to read seriously on the atonement he discovered that some of the great theological words such as ‘redemption’, ‘propitiation’, and ‘justification’ are often used in a way which seems to indicate that they mean different things to different people. If we may take redemption, the subject of our opening chapter, as an example, some writers, as we there point out, practically equate it with deliverance; others see in it a reference to a substitutionary transaction; while others use it as a comprehensive term for the whole Christian salvation. For some it has a backward reference, pointing to the satisfaction for sin made on the cross, while for others it is essentially forward-looking and gives expression to the liberation from sin’s bondage which enables the believer to live the Christ-like life. There is similar uncertainty and ambiguity attaching to the use of some other terms.
Now it ought to be possible to discover what the characteristic Christian expressions mean. One line of inquiry starts from the fact that the New Testament writers were steeped in the language and ideas of the Old Testament. An examination of the relevant Old Testament passages will reveal to us one of the influences which moulded the thinking of our writers, and which must, therefore, help us as we seek to understand their language.
Again, since the New Testament was written in the ordinary speech of ordinary men (and not the classical language of the scholar or literary man), the flood of light which has been thrown on this type of speech by modern discoveries of papyri, ostraka and inscriptions must illuminate many New Testament expressions. This, then, is a further field for investigation.
A third source is ancient Jewish literature. While the Christians vigorously repudiated many Rabbinic conclusions they yet discussed many of the same problems, and made use of the same terminology. Therefore it will usually repay us to examine the way the Rabbis used any term we are investigating.
This book, then, is not a full-scale study of the atonement, but a necessary preliminary. It is an attempt to understand certain key words, words which are crucial to the New Testament picture of the atonement, by seeing them against the background of the Greek Old Testament, the papyri, and the Rabbinic writings. Armed with our discoveries, we then proceed to examine them in their New Testament setting, always bearing in mind the possibility that the early Christians may modify or enrich any terms they may borrow.
In this volume I have incorporated the substance, and sometimes the actual wording, of a number of articles written previously for various journals. These are as follows: ‘The Use of iλάσ
εσθα
etc. in Biblical Greek’ (The Expository Times, LXII, No.8); ‘The Wrath of God’ (The Expository Times, LXIII, No. 5); ‘The Biblical Use of the term “Blood” ’ (The Journal of Theological Studies, New Series, III, Pt. 2); ‘Justification by Faith: The Old Testament and Rabbinic Anticipation’ (The Evangelical Quarterly, XXIV, No. 1); ‘The Idea of Redemption in the Old Testament’ (The Reformed Theological Review, XI, No. 3); ‘The Biblical Idea of Atonement’ (The Australian Biblical Review, II, Nos. 3, 4).
εσθα etc. in Biblical Greek’ (The Expository Times, LXII, No.8); ‘The Wrath of God’ (The Expository Times, LXIII, No. 5); ‘The Biblical Use of the term “Blood” ’ (The Journal of Theological Studies, New Series, III, Pt. 2); ‘Justification by Faith: The Old Testament and Rabbinic Anticipation’ (The Evangelical Quarterly, XXIV, No. 1); ‘The Idea of Redemption in the Old Testament’ (The Reformed Theological Review, XI, No. 3); ‘The Biblical Idea of Atonement’ (The Australian Biblical Review, II, Nos. 3, 4).To the editors of these journals I would express my indebtedness for their ready permission to republish.
Many friends have assisted me at various points, and it is difficult to acknowledge all my indebtedness. But especially would I mention the Rev. Dr. Newton Flew, who discussed many of these chapters with me, the late Rev. H. W. Oldham, who advised me constantly during the earlier part of my labours, and also my colleague, Mr. F. I. Andersen, who has very kindly compiled the Index. Finally, I would like to place on record my gratitude to the publishers for all the help they have given during the various stages of production.