Atonement (Satisfaction view)

The Satisfaction view of the atonement (also known as the penal or punishment theory) is a doctrine related to the meaning and effect of the death of Jesus Christ and has been traditionally taught in Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Calvinist circles. Drawing primarily from the works of Anselm of Canterbury and John Calvin, the satisfaction theory teaches that Christ was punished as a substitute on behalf of humankind so that the demands of divine justice could be met, and humans could thus be reconciled to God.

The classic Anselmian formulation of the Satisfaction View needs to be distinguished from Penal Substitution. Penal Substitution states that Christ bore the penalty (hence, penal) for sin, in place of those sinners united to him by faith (hence substitution). Anselm, by contrast, regards human sin as defrauding God of the honour he is due. Christ's death, the ultimate act of obedience, gives God great honour. As it was beyond the call of duty for Christ, it is more honour than he was obliged to give. Christ's surplus can therefore repay our deficit. Hence Christ's death is substitutionary; he pays the honour instead of us. But that substitution is not penal; his death pays our honour not our penalty.

Anselm & Catholicism

 * Anselm of Canterbury and Cur Deus Homo
 * Thomas Aquinas and the Summa Theologiae

Calvin & Calvinism

 * John Calvin and the Institutes of the Christian Religion

Opposing views

 * The Early Church and the Ransom view
 * Pierre Abélard and the Moral Influence view
 * Hugo Grotius, John Miley & the Governmental view

Con

 * The Incompatibility of Satisfaction theory with God's Government by J. Kenneth Grider
 * Substitution in Suffering by John Miley
 * Theory of Satisfaction by John Miley