From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective

by David Gibson; Jonathan Gibson

Publisher:

Crossway

, 2013

Overview

From Heaven He Came and Sought Her stands as the first comprehensive resource on definite atonement, examining the issue from historical, biblical, theological, and pastoral perspectives. There is a palpable sense of confusion—and sometimes even embarrassment—with regard to so-called limited atonement today, pointing to the need for thoughtful engagement with this controversial doctrine. In this volume, a host of respected theologians offer scholarly insights on the issue. This book will encourage charitable conversations as it winsomely defends this foundational tenet of Reformed theology.

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Key Features

• Examines the Reformed doctrine of definite atonement
• Includes contributions from respected Reformed scholars
• Presents responses to critiques of definite atonement

Contents

• “Sacred Theology and the Reading of the Divine Word: Mapping the Doctrine of Definite Atonement,” by David Gibson and Jonathan Gibson
• “‘We Trust in the Saving Blood’: Definite Atonement in the Ancient Church,” by Michael A.G. Haykin
• “‘Sufficient for All, Efficient for Some’: Definite Atonement in the Medieval Church,” by David S. Hogg
• “Calvin, Indefinite Language, and Definite Atonement,” by Paul Helm
• “Blaming Beza: The Development of Definite Atonement in the Reformed Tradition,” by Raymond A. Blacketer
• “The Synod of Dort and Definite Atonement,” by Lee Gatiss
• “‘Controversy on Universal Grace’: An Historical Survey of Moïse Amyraut’s Brief Traitté de la Predestination,” by Amar Djaballah
• “Atonement and the Covenant of Redemption: John Owen on the Nature of Christ’s Satisfaction,” by Carl R. Trueman
• “‘Because He Loved Your Forefathers’: Election, Atonement, and Intercession in the Pentateuch,” by Paul R. Williamson
• “‘Stricken for the Transgression of My People’: The Atoning Work of Isaiah’s Suffering Servant,” by J. Alec Motyer
• “For the Glory of the Father and the Salvation of His People: Definite Atonement in the Synoptics and Johannine Literature,” by Matthew S. Harmon
• “For Whom Did Christ Die? Particularism and Universalism in the Pauline Epistles,” by Jonathan Gibson
• “The Glorious, Indivisible, Trinitarian Work of God in Christ: Definite Atonement in Paul’s Theology of Salvation,” by Jonathan Gibson
• “‘Problematic Texts’ for Definite Atonement in the Pastoral and General Epistles,” by Thomas R. Schreiner
• “Definite Atonement and the Divine Decree,” by Donald Macleod
• “The Triune God, Incarnation, and Definite Atonement,” by Robert Letham
• “The Definite Intent of Penal Substitutionary Atonement,” by Garry J. Williams
• “Punishment God Cannot Twice Inflict: The Double Payment Argument Redivivus,” by Garry J. Williams
• “The New Covenant Work of Christ: Priesthood, Atonement, and Intercession,” by Stephen J. Wellum
• “Jesus Christ the Man: Toward a Theology of Definite Atonement,” by Henri A.G. Blocher
• “Slain for the World? The ‘Uncomfortability” of the ‘Unevangelized’ for a Universal Atonement,” by Daniel Strange
• “‘Blessèd Assurance, Jesus is Mine?’ Definite Atonement and the Cure of Souls,” by Sinclair B. Ferguson
• “‘My Glory I Will Not Give to Another’: Preaching the Fullness of Definite Atonement to the Glory of God,” by John Piper

Top Highlights

“Third, the saving work of God has its center in union with Christ.” (Page 47)

“Second, the saving work of God is circumscribed by God’s electing grace and purpose.” (Page 46)

“Between them they touch on four interrelated aspects of the doctrine: its controversies and nuances in church history, its presence or absence in the Bible, its theological implications, and its pastoral consequences.” (Page 37)

“We suggest that articulating definite atonement is similar to articulating doctrines like the Trinity or the two natures of Christ. The approach needs to be biblical, but not biblicist. No one text ‘proves’ definite atonement, any more than one text ‘proves’ the Trinity or the communion of attributes in christology. In the case of those doctrines, numerous texts are studied and their implications synthesized and their key terms explored in their biblical contexts and historical usage so that, taken as a whole, the doctrines of the Trinity or the two natures describe ‘a pattern of judgment present in the texts.” (Page 38)

“And he did not say ‘to give his life as a redemption for all,’ but ‘for many,’ that is, for those who wanted to believe’” (Page 70)

Contributors

• David Gibson
• Jonathan Gibson
• Michael A.G. Haykin
• David S. Hogg
• Paul Helm
• Raymond A. Blacketer
• Lee Gatiss
• Amar Djaballah
• Carl R. Trueman
• Paul R. Williamson
• J. Alec Motyer
• Matthew S. Harmon
• Thomas R. Schreiner
• Donald Macleod
• Robert Letham
• Garry J. Williams
• Stephen J. Wellum
• Henri A.G. Blocher
• Daniel Strange
• Sinclair B. Ferguson
• John Piper

Praise for the Print Edition

A massive product of exact and well-informed scholarship . . . I give this book top marks for its range of solid scholarship, cogency of argument, warmth of style, and zeal for the true glory of God. I recommend it most highly.

—J.I. Packer, board of governors’ professor of theology, Regent College

Whatever side you hold in this debate, henceforth you dare not venture into the discussion without thoughtfully reading this book, which, mercifully, makes argument by stereotype and reductionism a great deal more difficult. Above all, this book will elicit adoration as its readers ponder afresh what Jesus achieved on the cross.

—D.A. Carson, research professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

The topic is worthy enough. Yet the lineup of contributors to this volume makes this, in my view, the most impressive defense of definite atonement in over a century.

—Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary, CA

Product Details

• Title: From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective
• Authors: David Gibson, Jonathan Gibson
• Series: Doctrines of Grace
• Publisher: Crossway
• Print Publication Date: 2013
• Logos Release Date: 2015
• Pages: 704
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Atonement › Reformed Church; Reformed Church › Doctrines
• Resource ID: LLS:HVNHCMSGHTHR
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-12T15:07:19Z

About the Editors

David Gibson is minister of Trinity Church in Aberdeen, Scotland. Previously he served as a staff worker for the Religious and Theological Studies Fellowship and as an assistant minister at High Church, Hilton, Aberdeen. Gibson is also a widely published author of articles and books such as Rich: The Reality of Encountering Jesus and Reading the Decree: Exegesis, Election and Christology in Calvin and Barth

Jonathan Gibson is author of historical and biblical articles in Themelios and Journal of Biblical Literature, as well as Obadiah in the NIV Proclamation Bible. He is the coeditor with David Gibson of From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective.