Was the Cross not enough? Rethinking the atonement w/ David Moffitt and Jonathan Rowlands

What if Jesus’ saving work was not completed on the cross alone? New Testament scholar Professor David Moffitt and theologian Dr Jonathan Rowlands join John Nelson to challenge some deeply embedded assumptions about the cross, sacrifice and salvation. What did Jesus actually accomplish for us, and have Christians made the cross carry more theological weight than the Bible itself does? For many Christians, the atonement means something relatively straightforward: humanity deserved punishment for sin, and Jesus took that punishment in our place on the cross. But is that the whole biblical picture? This episode is sponsored by the University of St Andrews and its online **Bible and the Contemporary World** programme, a flexible part-time course engaging biblical and theological study in conversation with contemporary culture and major public issues. Learn more: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/divinity/bible-contemporary-world-online/ Chapters 00:00 What actually is the atonement? 02:01 Where did the word “atonement” come from? 05:02 What is penal substitution? 07:42 Is penal substitution actually biblical? 10:58 David Moffitt: Why Isaiah 53 matters 15:33 Is penal substitution morally problematic? 18:09 Atonement isn't just about forgiving sin and why Christians need multiple models of the atonement 23:46 Why did Jesus have to die? 29:32 Was the cross enough? 31:00 Have Christians misunderstood sacrifice? 36:08 Why Jesus' death alone doesn't complete the sacrifice 38:00 “You don't give God a sacrifice by taking it away from him” 40:35 What Leviticus changes about the cross 42:51 What was Jesus actually offering to God? 48:50 Why Jesus is our High Priest 51:15 If Jesus only died, would there be atonement? 52:08 But didn't Jesus say “It is finished”? 53:03 Paul: “If Christ is not raised, you are still in your sins” 57:49 Is the resurrection necessary for salvation? 59:43 Why does this change Christian life? 1:05:19 Can Christians lose their salvation? 1:11:30 Does this change how we understand Communion? 1:13:00 Jesus, suffering and victims of abuse 1:16:40 The significance of Jesus' wounded resurrected body 1:17:44 Have Christians misunderstood “sacrifice”? 1:19:46 Do Christians really need a theory of atonement? David's book Rethinking the Atonement: https://amzn.to/4xfehwo Jonathan's book The Metaphysics of Historical Jesus Research: https://amzn.to/4xMqWX8 Podcast Was the Cross not enough? Rethinking the atonement with two Bible Scholars David Moffitt and Jonathan Rowlands Description: What if Jesus’ atoning work wasn’t completed on the cross? Professor David Moffitt and Dr Jonathan Rowlands join John Nelson to rethink one of Christianity’s central doctrines: the atonement. Is penal substitution really the Bible’s main explanation of Calvary? Does sacrifice simply mean the killing of an animal? And what did the first Christians believe Jesus was doing after his resurrection and ascension? Drawing on Leviticus, Hebrews and Paul, Moffitt and Rowlands argue that the cross cannot be understood in isolation from Jesus’ resurrection, ascension and ongoing intercession before the Father. But that raises some big questions. Was Jesus’ work really “finished” on the cross? Can Christians lose their salvation? What might the atonement mean for victims of abuse and violence? And why should any of this theology matter for ordinary Christian life today? This episode is sponsored by the University of St Andrews and its online Bible and the Contemporary World programme, a flexible part-time course that engages biblical and theological study in conversation with contemporary culture and major public issues. Learn more: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/divinity/bible-contemporary-world-online/ Subscribe & Support 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🎧 Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast at www.premier.plus/unbelievable 🎙️ 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow us Instagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE)