Books by Stephen Finlan
Explores many alternative theories about Christian atonement theology, its origins, its usefulnes... more Explores many alternative theories about Christian atonement theology, its origins, its usefulness for today, its biblical antecedents, its problematic developments.
The Apostle Paul draws upon scapegoat, sacrifice, redemption, and justification (acquittal) image... more The Apostle Paul draws upon scapegoat, sacrifice, redemption, and justification (acquittal) imagery to illustrate what he believes the death of Jesus the Messiah accomplished. He mixes his metaphors to convey meaning, for instance, allowing a cultic category (sacrificial blood) to achieve a result in relationships (salvation and reconciliation) in Rom 5:9-10.
To Unite the Scattered Children of God: Hope for the Spiritual Uniting of Humanity, from Isaiah to the Present Day, 2022
Portion of chapter 1, on Isaiah passages concerning spiritual unity
Salvation Not Purchased: Overcoming the Ransom Idea to Rediscover the Original Gospel Teaching, 2020
Chapter 1 argument
The Family Metaphor in Jesus' Teaching: Gospel Imagery and Application, 2013
Looks at Jewish families, Roman families, Jesus' and Paul's radical sayings, the status of women ... more Looks at Jewish families, Roman families, Jesus' and Paul's radical sayings, the status of women and children in the early church. Takes a glance at Confucianism as another option on families.
Bullying in the Churches, 2015
Bullying is very common, even by a church's most dedicated volunteers. The gospel teaches respect... more Bullying is very common, even by a church's most dedicated volunteers. The gospel teaches respect and attentive listening. Jesus on reformers being treated “without honor.” Cases where Jesus defends the vulnerable against bullying. Discusses the near-impossibility of reasoning with a narcissist. Alternatively, looks at Kohut’s theory that everyone has “normal” narcissistic needs. Getting people to use “I statements” in communicating when they feel hurt.
Sacrifice and Atonement: Psychological Motives and Biblical Patterns, 2016
Looks at self-interested motives for sacrifice (in Psalms); S. Rado on self-punishment to reconci... more Looks at self-interested motives for sacrifice (in Psalms); S. Rado on self-punishment to reconcile with parents; at the prophetic critique of sacrifice; and at Jesus' own views
Theosis: Deification in Christian Theology, vol. 1, 2006
Excerpt from Intro, plus whole article on divine participation in 2 Peter
Problems with Atonement: The Origins of, and Controversy about, the Atonement Doctrine, 2005
Looks at the Incarnation as foundational, and at atonement as an attempt to communicate the Incar... more Looks at the Incarnation as foundational, and at atonement as an attempt to communicate the Incarnation. Examines sacrificial and scapegoat metaphors in the Apostle Paul, "noble death," and saving faith.
The Apostle Paul and the Pauline Tradition, 2008
Whole chapter on this letter, with significant attention to Paul's teachings on the afterlife and... more Whole chapter on this letter, with significant attention to Paul's teachings on the afterlife and the spiritual body
Papers by Stephen Finlan
The Catholic Biblical Quarterly
Theosis: Deification in Christian Theology, Feb 25, 2006
Explores Soloviev's Christology, Trinitarianism, philosophic categories, and teachings on theosis... more Explores Soloviev's Christology, Trinitarianism, philosophic categories, and teachings on theosis, with an emphasis on his expose of false Theosis in his War, Progress, and the End of HIstory.
Theosis: Deification in Christian Theology, 2006
Theosis: Deification in Christian Theology, vol 2 , 2011
Article looks at "kingdom of God is within you," "Be ye perfect," "I said 'you are gods,'" and de... more Article looks at "kingdom of God is within you," "Be ye perfect," "I said 'you are gods,'" and debate over these passages. Also looks at the Gospel of Thomas.
The Didache: A Missing Piece of the Puzzle in Early Christianity , 2015
Uses Social Identity Theory (SIT) to study the Didache community’s identity formation, including ... more Uses Social Identity Theory (SIT) to study the Didache community’s identity formation, including showing an instance of “group polarization.” The group holds on to a symbolic Jewish identity, but evinces its Christian identity in its practice of Eucharist, baptism in the name of the Trinity, and affirmation of Jesus as Messiah. Notably, however, there is no atonement teaching , nor any mention of Jesus’ death.
Svensk Exegetisk Arsbok 78, 2013
Examines sacrificial metaphors and images (including the Ransom Saying) in the Gospels, Paul, Heb... more Examines sacrificial metaphors and images (including the Ransom Saying) in the Gospels, Paul, Hebrews, and briefly in First Peter and First John
The Blackwell Companion to Jesus, 2011
Survey of atonement theories in Christian history
Oxford Bibliographies Online Datasets, 2023
Bibliographic article showing important works on many aspects of Atonement: theories about Hebrew... more Bibliographic article showing important works on many aspects of Atonement: theories about Hebrew sacrifice, Greek sacrifice, Paul's metaphors, classic theories of atonement, critics and defenders of these theories, and how atonement relates to other key themes (reconciliation, redemption, purity).
Ritual and Metaphor: Sacrifice in the Bible, 2011
Looks closely at Paul's and Hebrews's use of rationalization, internalization, sacrificial metaph... more Looks closely at Paul's and Hebrews's use of rationalization, internalization, sacrificial metaphors, and ideas of the spiritualization of reality.
Book Reviews by Stephen Finlan
Horizons, 2017
employs the critical lenses of biblical, theological, historical, and psychological inquiry to re... more employs the critical lenses of biblical, theological, historical, and psychological inquiry to reassess the classical Christian doctrine of atonement, held for centuries as a core Christian belief. The doctrine contends that the defining significance of Jesus of Nazareth lies not in his birth, life, teaching or ministry, but in his death on the cross. This death, in turn, is construed as a sacrifice required by God as the only payment adequate for ransoming errant humanity from eternal perdition. Finlan's work is rooted in extensive scholarly research, but his objective is not solely academic. It is also personal, theological, and pastoral. He writes: 'It may be that "atonement", for some believers, means no more than the saving outreach of God, the self-giving of Jesus and these insights must not be offended. What must be attacked is the cancerous doctrine that God needs to be paid off, that the death of Christ was a sort of legal bribe to God. Unfortunately, it is exactly this concept that has become the primary understanding of many Christians. As such, it can hardly be simply ignored. But must be critiqued ….' (p. 111). Chapter 1, 'Atonement as Purification', and Chapter 2, 'Atonement as Compensation or Reciprocity', take us to a seedbed for atonement thinking in which God is envisioned as a just and punitive deity. The first chapter focuses on atonement sacrifice in Levitical law established to protect the community from divine punishment through a cultic system aimed at creating a holy people, separate from the unclean, the profane, and the impure. Chapter 2 points to a second aspect of atonement thinking, namely, the need to render gifts, sacrifices, and guilt offerings to God in order to obtain God's blessing or forgiveness, or in some instances to placate God to avoid a plague or misfortune (p. 25). We read, 'If you follow my statutes and keep my commandments I will look with favor upon you … But if you will not obey me … I will bring terror upon you, consumption and fever that waste the eyes' (Lev. 26: 2-3, 9, 14, 16). Finlan concludes Chapters 1 and 2 with a coda that appears in all seven chapters. He tells his readers, 'I have finished each chapter with a word from the Gospel' (p. 145). His goal is to balance the sacrificial atonement portrait of God as judge and avenger, with the portrait of God in the teaching of Jesus, in the Psalms, and prophets, as one who desires mercy more than sacrifice (Mat. 9.12-13; Ps. 51.17; Micah 6.8). Chapter 3, 'Attachment, Cruelty, And Coping', turns to the psychological insights of 'attachment theory' in observing family patterns of children who resort to assuaging or soothing angry parents through a strategy of submitting to punishment.
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Books by Stephen Finlan
Papers by Stephen Finlan
Book Reviews by Stephen Finlan