The Cross in the New Testament

By Leon L. Morris

Book Overview

This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable.

From time to time in the study of theology it becomes necessary to evaluate what Scripture has to say on certain crucial doctrines of the faith. Leon Morris presents here a survey of the vast subject of atonement as it is considered in the New Testament, also taking into account the most significant work that has been written on the subject.

While Morris is concerned to emphasize the necessity of appreciating the many strands that are woven into the Christian doctrine of the atonement, he does not hesitate to criticize the views of modern scholars when those views are not wholly in accordance with the New Testament teaching. Here is a valuable apology, from an evangelical point of view, for the biblical doctrine of the atonement in the face of modern liberalism.

At the heart of this doctrine is the idea of substitution, Morris believes, and his thorough examination and defense of this view contribute to making this volume a theological treatise of great usefulness and significance.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802817300
• ISBN13: 9780802817303
• Release Date: June 1999
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
• Length: 454 Pages
• Weight: 1.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Precious Blood: The Total Witness Of Scripture

'The fact of the atonement underlies the whole.' p 13 Morris' extended reach included the key doctrines of justification, imputation, reconciliation, salvation, adoption - profitably making his contribution ineradicable to posterity. Showing remarkable interaction with the most important works of his day made the comparative study all the more valuable as a defense for the church. Morris declined to question the canonicity of the New Testament, stating ruggedly 'that I have of set purpose eschewed the discussion of such questions.' The subject matter is presented topically in the same arrangement as the NT books - beginning with the gospels, then the Pauline epistles, Hebrews, the catholic epistles and Revelation. I can only endeavour to concisely set out the synoptic gospels. 'The gospels are not biographies.' p 14 In keeping with convention, Morris believed that they revealed the truth of Christ crucified, and attempted to highlight the theological aspect of their narratives as centered on the cross, and sanctioned by the promises of the Father. Morris placed Mark and Matthew in the same chapter for reasons of similarity in structure and narration. Reflecting on the opening of Mark, Morris noted that 'The gospel of Jesus Christ signifies that it is mediated through Christ, and that His action is central to the content of the good news.' p 16 The immaculate conception is viewed as a real miracle wrought by God. As to repentance, 'But unless repentance is linked with a forgiving act of God it effects nothing, and can effect nothing. Nowhere do the gospels countenance any such view as that repentance is meritorious in itself.' p 17 The right ratio of mercy to judgment is also maintained by Morris. He brings to the fore impending judgment: 'An important feature of this part of the evangelists' message is their frequent warning of the peril in which the nation, the people of God, and more especially its religious leaders, stood.' p 24. Matthew 3:9, 'and do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father', for even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees.' Dispensationalism objectionably teaches that at a certain stage the Jews rejected Christ's offer of a kingdom, yet here, at a very early stage in the gospels we find scriptural evidence of the opposite occurrence: divine judgment spoken against the Jewish expectation rejects their designs outright, and strikes up the antithetical nature of Christ's mission. 'In some sense the mission inaugurates the kingdom.' p 36 Anticipating with remarkable foresight the modern views of Steve Chalke's 'cosmic child abuse', Morris avers 'Sometimes in the history of theology the atonement has been described in such a way as almost to imply that Jesus was saving men from the Father. This can only dismissed as a caricature. This is not the picture that is found in Scripture.' p 27, to which Morris obliges us with his correct view: 'He did not only suffer: He suffered vicariously, substitut