Spectacular Atonement: Envisioning the Cross of Christ in an African Perspective

by Robert Falconer

Publisher:

Langham

, 2023

Overview

There are many books about the cross of Christ, but few are written from an African perspective or with an African context in mind. In this book, Dr. Robert Falconer offers the reader a holistic understanding of Jesus’s atoning work that powerfully addresses African realities and concerns. Grounded in Scripture and Christian theology, this book gives careful attention to the implications of the atonement for African traditional spirituality. Presenting a biblical perspective of the cross–one rooted in penal substitution and Christus Victor theology–Falconer demonstrates Christ’s power in all aspects of our lives, including over ancestors, evil spirits, witchcraft, and sin. This book provides a deeper understanding of contextual issues facing the African church, while also demonstrating the role of the atonement in addressing our cultural concerns and restoring the hope of liberty, reconciliation, redemption, and resurrection.

Key Features

• Offers the reader a holistic understanding of Jesus’s atoning work that powerfully addresses African realities and concerns
• Gives careful attention to the implications of the atonement for African traditional spirituality
• Provides a deeper understanding of contextual issues facing the African church

Contents

• Foreword
• Preface
• 1 Introduction

Part 1

• 2 Atonement in Scripture
• 3 Atonement in Christian Theology
• 4 Atonement in African Christianity

Part 2

• 5 African Spirituality
• 6 Atonement in African Traditional Ritual
• 7 The Problem of the African Idea of God
• 8 Christ and the Ancestors
• 9 The Cross of Christ and Evil Spirits
• 10 The Cross of Christ and Sin
• 11 The Cross of Christ and Witchcraft
• 12 The Cross of Christ and Suffering
• 13 A New African Humanity
• 14 Cosmic Harmony and an African Hope
• Bibliography

Praise for Spectacular Atonement

If there is any biblical or theological concept that needs all the attention that we can give it in Africa, it is Christ’s atoning death. Dr. Robert Falconer’s book, Spectacular Atonement, has made a significant contribution to our understanding of this key area of theology in Africa. This is a must-read book! I recommend it to Christians, Christian professionals and theological educators both in private and public institutions across Africa.

—Sunday Bobai Agang, PhD

Throughout this captivating book, Dr. Robert Falconer eloquently justifies his use of “spectacular” in the title. The author grew up in Africa where he has spent his professional life as a theological educator. This background is demonstrated in his multifaceted Scriptural exposition of the closely related themes of substitutionary atonement (the cross) and its divine-human agent, the victorious Christ. I highly commend this insightful, accessible study as one that all Christians in Africa will learn and benefit from.

—Ernst R. Wendland, PhD

Product Details

• Title: Spectacular Atonement: Envisioning the Cross of Christ in an African Perspective
• Author: Robert Falconer
• Publisher: Langham
• Print Publication Date: 2023
• Logos Release Date: 2024
• Pages: 147
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Africa; Atonement; Theology, Doctrinal; Theology, Doctrinal Africa
• ISBNs: 9781839737367, 9781839738173, 9781839738197, 1839737360, 1839738170, 1839738197
• Resource ID: LLS:SPCTCLRTPRSPCTV
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-09-30T19:20:22Z

About Robert Falconer

Robert Falconer holds degrees in architecture and theology. After practicing architecture in Scotland and South Africa, he and his wife were called to Kenya as missionaries, where he served as principal of a discipleship training school. Dr. Falconer currently works at South African Theological Seminary as the coordinator of student research. He lives in St. Francis Bay, South Africa, together with his wife and two sons.