This paper argues that the anthropological extension of Christ’s human ontology strengthens the coherence of his penal substitutionary atonement (PSA). The traditional explanation of how the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ secures the eternal redemption of his people by effectively paying the penalty they deserve presents a central truth of the gospel as a warranted theological conclusion from Scripture. Yet the traditional statement of the doctrine contains an inherent weakness. More specifically, PSA is beset by an ontological asymmetry between the redeemer and the redeemed. This paper seeks to strengthen the doctrine at this point by considering the place of person on both sides of the atonement.
The first part of the paper briefly discusses the role of metaphysics in systematic theology in general and soteriology in particular. Making theological conclusions from Scripture requires extrabiblical language to understand and teach the biblical presentation of God and his creation, including certain ontological concepts and terms. In that sense, metaphysics is ministerial in both principle and practice. When applied to the atonement, this service means we should have an overarching concern that the mediation of Christ is supported by metaphysics that make it possible.
The second part establishes that the traditional articulation of PSA relies on a soul-body correspondence. The tradition has a robust theological framework that connects Christology, anthropology, and soteriology. Yet a consideration of Reformed orthodoxy and its contemporary heirs demonstrates that the human nature functions as an ontological linchpin, holding together the image of God in man, the incarnation of the Son, and the atonement of Christ. In short, PSA works metaphysically because “sin must be expiated in the same soul-body nature in which it was committed.”
The third part of the paper identifies the ontological asymmetry inherent in the doctrine. The tradition rightly teaches that the divine person of the Son who became a man by assuming the soul and body of a human nature is the same person who bears the guilt and sin of his people. So on the redeemer’s side of the atonement there is a person-nature human being. Yet the tradition also teaches that on the sinner’s side there is a soul-body human being. Thus, the atonement of Christ suffers from an ontological antinomy to the extent the person of the Son is made to correspond with the soul of sinful man.
The paper then concludes by offering a particular Christological model of human being that gives the mediation of Christ the desired ontological symmetry. Beginning with the Chalcedonian Definition, a “Chalcedonian anthropology” defines human being in Christ by extending his person-nature ontology as the man to find its analogue in a person-nature ontology of mere man. And this metaphysical move places a person-nature human being on both sides of the atonement, making a person-to-person correspondence between the one who sins and the one who bears that sin as a sacrificial substitute.
While it strengthens PSA, this paper should also contribute to the coherence of all doctrines at the intersection of Christology, anthropology, and soteriology.