Outline of Studies

1. Introduction: The Meaning of Atonement

It is probably known that theologians, and especially students of the text of Scriptures, are generally very precise about the use of words, especially theological terms. At the moment there is somewhat of a reaction to this precision. Nevertheless, defining of terms has always been helpful, and practical. It comes as no surprise to realise that the term 'atonement' is purely Anglo-Saxon, and is not a Biblical word, as such. It acts as an umbrella to cover a number of words such as reconciliation, expiation, propitiation, and the like. It means 'making at one', and can be divided into 'at-one-ment', which is an excellent word for reconciliation. In Romans 5:11- the only use of the word in the N.T.- the Greek word katallage is, in fact, reconciliation. In the O.T. it is used many times for the Hebrew noun and verbs meaning 'coverings' and 'to cover'.

For our purposes, we will use the word to cover not only the factual events of the Cross and the Resurrection, but the entire theme of the death and its effects.