Beginning with the first accounts in Genesis to the ultimate final prophecies of Revelation, it is documented that God pursues reconciliation of His people to Himself. One way that reconciliation was established, was through the atonement. The word atonement in the Bible is deemed an Old Testament term; appearing only once in the New Testament, which is in the book of Romans 5:11. The meaning of atonement according to Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology is, “that God has provided a way for humankind to come back into harmonious relation with him….” Additionally, atonement is defined as the act of reconciliation to God by covering with the price, the blood of a substitute, so that no punishment is necessary. Simply put, atonement
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Therefore, a Christian cannot perceive this theory as viable or fully true. There are many reasons why the ransom theory is still considered a theory. To begin with, one must analyze the meaning of the word “ransom.” The word ransom merely means 'redemption-price; it does not imply a price paid to Satan. Several passages in the Bible, such as Ephesians 5:2, indicates that Christ's death was a ritual sacrifice to God, not to Satan. Ephesians 5:2, references, "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor." The next notion of the ransom theory that must be dispelled is the fact that Origen's version suggests that God acts in a deceitful and cunning manner. Cunning is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as having or showing skill in achieving one's ends by deceit or evasion. It can also be described as duplicity, or scheming to achieve one’s goals. By definition this is not true of the character of God. The ransom theory places God’s true nature of being just, faithful, and truthful into uncertainty and reduces Him to an untrustworthy …show more content…
Other versions paints Satan as being misled in his thinking, believing that he is more powerful than Jesus. Nevertheless, both ideas must be demystified, because the Bible portrays Satan as intelligent, and crafty; not as one who is oblivious to who Jesus is and what he is capable of. Satan is aware of God’s power, and he too is subject to God’s instructions and control. Supplementary insight into the restricted nature of Satan’s power is recorded in Job 1:7-12. God asked Satan where he had been and he answers Him. Then God asked him if he noticed Job and the fact that he was a great servant, and Satan once again responded to God by saying that Job was only a great servant because all that God has blessed him with. Satan then made the statement that if God took it all that Job had away, Job would curse God. God gave Satan permission to test Job, but instructed him not to physically harm Job. It is clear from this passage of scripture that Satan could do only what God had given him authorization to do, and nothing more. This Scripture illustrates who the true authority is; God, and the only reason that Satan has any authority at all is because God allows him
Therefore, a Christian cannot perceive this theory as viable or fully true. There are many reasons why the ransom theory is still considered a theory. To begin with, one must analyze the meaning of the word “ransom.” The word ransom merely means 'redemption-price; it does not imply a price paid to Satan. Several passages in the Bible, such as Ephesians 5:2, indicates that Christ's death was a ritual sacrifice to God, not to Satan. Ephesians 5:2, references, "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor." The next notion of the ransom theory that must be dispelled is the fact that Origen's version suggests that God acts in a deceitful and cunning manner. Cunning is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as having or showing skill in achieving one's ends by deceit or evasion. It can also be described as duplicity, or scheming to achieve one’s goals. By definition this is not true of the character of God. The ransom theory places God’s true nature of being just, faithful, and truthful into uncertainty and reduces Him to an untrustworthy …show more content…
Other versions paints Satan as being misled in his thinking, believing that he is more powerful than Jesus. Nevertheless, both ideas must be demystified, because the Bible portrays Satan as intelligent, and crafty; not as one who is oblivious to who Jesus is and what he is capable of. Satan is aware of God’s power, and he too is subject to God’s instructions and control. Supplementary insight into the restricted nature of Satan’s power is recorded in Job 1:7-12. God asked Satan where he had been and he answers Him. Then God asked him if he noticed Job and the fact that he was a great servant, and Satan once again responded to God by saying that Job was only a great servant because all that God has blessed him with. Satan then made the statement that if God took it all that Job had away, Job would curse God. God gave Satan permission to test Job, but instructed him not to physically harm Job. It is clear from this passage of scripture that Satan could do only what God had given him authorization to do, and nothing more. This Scripture illustrates who the true authority is; God, and the only reason that Satan has any authority at all is because God allows him