Table of Contents
Introduction xi
Book I Wrestling with Anselm 1
1.1 The question on which Anselm's whole work rests 1
1.2 How feudalism shaped the satisfaction theory of atonement 3
1.3 Grim dilemma, gracious solution 8
1.4 How great and how just is God's compassion! 11
1.5 The flight of the satisfaction theory through history 12
1.6 Critical assessments of the satisfaction theory in our own day 14
1.7 The question on which this whole work rests 28
Book II The Creating God Who Saves 31
2.1 The historical context of Second Isaiah: exile and release from captivity 31
2.2 YHWH the Redeemer of Israel 34
2.3 What it means to redeem 43
2.4 Healed, forgiven, redeemed, restored 46
2.5 Even when you turn gray I will carry you 51
2.6 Partnering the redeeming work of God 54
2.7 Sin forgiven 57
2.8 The God of the Christian Old and New Testaments is the same God 60
Book III Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews 64
3.1 The importance of knowing the gospels are narratives of faith 64
3.2 Jesus the Jew under Roman rule 69
3.3 Three powerful ideas in circulation: kingdom of God, messiah, resurrection of the dead 74
3.4 A ministry that blazed like a meteor 80
3.5 Naming God 83
3.6 Facing death 86
3.7 Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried 89
3.8 "But God raised him up, having freed him from death" (Acts 2:24) 94
3.9 Resurrection: theological reflections 98
3.10 The cross revisited 103
3.11 Salvation: a double solidarity 106
Book IV Interpretations Blossom 113
4.1 "Those who loved him did not cease" 113
4.2 The power of metaphor: salvation 117
4.3 Military and diplomatic metaphors 122
4.4 Financial and legal metaphors 126
4.5 Cultic and sacrificial metaphors 132
4.6 Family metaphors 142
4.7 Metaphor of a new creation 146
4.8 "Your holy servant Jesus" (Acts 4:30) 147
4.9 Let the satisfaction theory retire 153
Book V God of All Flesh: Deep Incarnation 158
5.1 Solidarity in spades 158
5.2 The rainbow gives assurance 162
5.3 Flesh misunderstood and disrespected 165
5.4 She is more beautiful than the sun and the stars 169
5.5 Jesus the Wisdom of God 175
5.6 Deep incarnation 183
5.7 Deep cross and resurrection 187
Book VI Conversion of Heart and Mind: Us 195
6.1 Conversion in the spirit of the burning bush 195
6.2 Blue marble; the community of creation 199
6.3 From pyramid to circle 203
6.4 "A value of their own in God's eyes" (LS 69) 208
6.5 "You save humans and animals alike" (Ps 36:6) 211
6.6 Expanding the heart: us 216
6.7 Creation and the cross 221
Notes 227
Works Consulted 233
Acknowledgments 237
