T&t Clark Companion to Atonement - (Bloomsbury Companions) by Adam J Johnson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The T&T Clark Companion to Atonement establishes a vision for the doctrine of the atonement as a unified yet extraordinarily rich event calling for the church's full appropriation. Most edited volumes on this doctrine focus on one aspect of the work of Christ (for example, Girard, Feminist thought, Penal Substitution or divine violence). The Companion is unique in that every essay seeks to both appropriate and stimulate the church's understanding of the manifold nature of Christ's death and resurrection.

The essays are divided into four main sections: 1) dogmatic location, 2) chapters on the Old and New Testaments, 3) major theologians and 4) contemporary developments. The first set of essays explore the inter-relationship between the atonement and other Christian doctrines (for example Trinity, Christology and Pneumatology), opening up yet further avenues of inquiry. Essays on key theologians eschew reductionism, striving to bring out the nuances and breadth of the contribution. The same is true of the biblical essays. The final section explores more recent developments within the doctrine (for example the work of Rene Girard, and the ongoing reflection on "Holy Saturday").

The book is comprised of 18 major essays, and an A-Z section containing shorter dictionary-length entries on a much broader range of topics. The result is a combination of in-depth analysis and breadth of scope, making this a benchmark work for further studies in the doctrine.

Review Quotes

"A valuable resource. [T&T Clark Companion to the Atonement] is now the most comprehensive, up-to-date, multi-author volume on the matter. ... Johnson has done everyone involved in the conversation around atonement a magnificent service. I'm sure I'll be returning to this volume time and time again." --Derek Rishmawy, Reformedish

"You will not agree with everything you read, but everything you read will inspire-if you let it." --Reading Religion

"Readers will find here a wonderful array of topics matched by a superb selection of contributors, largely Reformed or Evangelical but also including eminent Catholic and Orthodox scholars. Very few books are absolutely necessary, but this one is an exception. Adam Johnson has outdone himself by producing what is truly an absolutely necessary book for anyone studying the Atonement." --Matthew Levering, Mundelein Seminary, USA

"This is simply the most comprehensive single volume on the saving significance of the cross of Christ of which I am aware. The line-up of contributors is excellent, and in these one hundred chapters (yes you read that correctly) there is much understanding: of biblical texts, historical figures, and theological concepts. If the doctrine of the atonement is indeed the church's act of worship, as the editor suggests, then this Companion is a living and lively sacrifice of praise, what the King James Version calls a 'reasonable service' (Rom 12:1)." --Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, USA

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