Craig on Penal Substitution: A Critique
Open accessAbstract
Summary: The recent atonement literature reveals a growing trend accepting the thesis that the Reformer’s doctrine just is the biblical doctrine of penal substitution. This is the claim of William Lane Craig in his recent works on the atonement. In the present article, we challenge these set of claims in Craig’s recent works and advance an alternative theory of the atonement that has some significant footing in the Reformed theological tradition, most notably reflected in the theologian, William Ames. Finally, we lay out several reasons why Craig’s doctrine of the atonement fails to capture the biblical data on the atonement and fails to avoid the legal fiction problem parasitic on most, if not all, accounts of penal substitution.
AI snapshot
Written from the paper’s full text.
TL;DR
Farris and Hamilton critique William Lane Craig’s defense of penal substitution, arguing that Craig wrongly treats it as the biblical doctrine, the Reformers’ doctrine, and immune to the legal fiction objection. They counter with a Reformed alternative centered on William Ames’s satisfaction theory and a broader kingdom-of-God account of divine justice.
Key findings
- The authors identify and reject three claims in Craig: that penal substitution is the biblical account of atonement, that it is “the Reformer’s doctrine,” and that it is not seriously undermined by the legal fiction objection.
- They argue Craig’s five motifs—Sacrifice, Isaiah’s Suffering Servant, Divine Justice, Representation, and Redemption—omit the kingdom of God motif, which they say should govern how divine justice is understood; Scripture presents kingdom, justice, and salvation as intimately related, and divine justice is not exhausted by retributivism.
- They contend the Reformed tradition is not monolithic: William Ames (1576–1633) holds an Anselmian satisfaction theory involving a debt of honor, not merely a debt of punishment, and lays out a broader judicial structure including rectoral, distributive, emendative, commutative, and corrective justice, with punishment and restitution as distinct.
- They argue Craig’s appeals to divine command theory, consequentialism, and expressivism fail to overcome the legal fiction objection; Christ cannot metaphysically assume another’s individual debt of punishment, so either Christ is not a penal substitute or he does not satisfy all demands of the moral law for individual debts of punishment.
Methods
- Conceptual, systematic, and historical-theological critique structured in three parts corresponding to Craig’s three claims, with three objections and a positive alternative.
- Close reading of Craig’s *The Atonement* (2018) and *Atonement and the Death of Christ* (2020), alongside appeals to Francis Turretin, Hugo Grotius, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and especially William Ames.
- Biblical-theological survey of the kingdom of God, justice, and salvation, plus dogmatic exposition of Ames’s *Marrow of Theology*; no empirical data or quantitative analysis.
Limitations
- The paper states it is “admittedly ambitious,” cannot comprehensively answer all questions about the structure of divine justice, does not undertake technically focused exegesis of passages such as Romans 3 or Isaiah 53, and keeps direct quotes from Craig to a minimum.
- The paper states that “just how Christ meets all these demands is, of course, well beyond the constraints of this article,” so its positive alternative is not fully developed.
- Evident from the text: the argument is normative and theological rather than empirical, and its appeal to Ames as representative of Reformed plurality may not settle how broadly Ames’s view should be weighted against Craig’s chosen sources.
Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
0 of 31 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged
- Interpretationreasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of God
Retribution is but one part of the larger picture of God's judicial demands.
“Retribution is but one part the larger picture of God's judicial demands”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of God
Craig's development of the five motifs, Sacrifice, Isaiah's Suffering Servant, Divine Justice, Representation and Redemption, may simply not be sufficient to carry the explanatory payload required to make sense of what Scripture says about divine justice, much less atonement.
“Craig's development of the five motifs -Sacrifice, Isaiah's Suffering Servant, Divine Justice, Representation and Redemptionmay simply not be sufficient to carry explanatory payload required to make sense of what Scripture says about divine justice, much less atonement.”
- Also stated in: § First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of God · plain
“This is where we think Craig's five-motif proposal falls short.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Also stated in: § First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of God · plain
- Interpretationreasoning§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine Justice
If penal offenses are both criminal and punishable, they are not private or individual but public or societal and are punishable by the authority of laws, not an individual lawmaker.
“If penal offenses are both criminal and punishable, they are not, strictly speaking, private or individual so much as public or societal and are thus punishable by the authority of a laws, not an individual lawmaker.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning§ Craig's Third Claim: Penal Substitution and Legal Fiction
Christ cannot metaphysically assume the debt of punishment owed by another without hefty metaphysical assumptions about Christ's human nature and its relation to other human natures.
“For, Christ cannot metaphysically assume the debt of punishment owed by another, at least not without a set of hefty metaphysical assumptions about one's account of Christ's human nature and its relation to other human natures.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine Justice
Broad features of the structure of Ames' account of God's judicial economy also appear in the works of Jonathan Edwards, William Shedd, and Louis Berkhof.
“vestiges of which also appear, for example, in the works of such famed, albeit latter, Reformed theologians as Jonathan Edwards, William Shedd and Louis Berkhof.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Louis B BERKHOF ERKHOF, Systematic Theology
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Interpretationnone given§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine Justice
Unlike Turretin or Craig, Ames also makes sufficient sense of the other numerous demands of divine justice.
“But, unlike Turretin or Craig, Ames also makes sufficient sense of the other numerous demands of divine justice.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Interpretationnone given§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of God
Craig recasts Grotius' Moral Government theory in revisionist terms as penal substitution.
“For, he recasts Grotius' Moral Government theory in (revisionist) terms as penal substitution.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisenone given§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of God
Craig's assertion about penal substitution being the Reformer's doctrine extends to Turretin and then Grotius.
“if Craig's assertion about penal substitution being “the Reformer's doctrine” extends to Turretin and then Grotius, and clearly it does”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Interpretationreasoning§ Craig's Third Claim: Penal Substitution and Legal Fiction
For Christ to assume another's moral debt would presume that Christ is somehow metaphysically united to each individual human nature, or to some subset of collective humanity.
“For Christ to assume another's moral debt would presume that Christ is somehow metaphysically united to each individual human nature, or perhaps some subset of the collective of the human creation.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationnone given§ Abstract
Craig's appeal to a divine command theory does not supply him with the resources necessary to overcome the legal fiction objection.
“we argue that Craig's appeal to a divine command theory does not supply him with the resources necessary to overcome what has historically been a metaphysical problem for those wishing to stand behind a theologically consistent and honestly reasoned doctrine of the Christ's atoning work.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The legal fiction problem is parasitic on most, if not all, accounts of penal substitution.
- Interpretationreasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of God
Craig's reading of Turretin, however correct in interpretation, falls far short of being as representative among theologians of the Reformed tradition as Craig supposes.
“The effect of Craig's reading of Turretin, however correct in its interpretation, unfortunately falls far short of being as representative among theologians of the Reformed tradition as Craig supposes.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Interpretationreasoning§ Abstract
Craig's doctrine of atonement fails to capture the biblical data on the atonement.
“we lay out several reasons why Craig's doctrine of the atonement fails to capture the biblical data on the atonement”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationnone given§ Abstract
The article's alternative way of thinking about substitution, consistent with the Reformed theological tradition, alleviates the problem of legal fiction.
“positively suggest ways of thinking about substitution consistent with the Reformed theological tradition that alleviates the problem of legal fiction.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Interpretationreasoning§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine Justice
Craig's defense against the legal fiction objection falls short of delivering penal substitution's chief benefit: the issuance of a punishment that Christ absorbs for human agents that violate his law.
“Craig's attempt to shore up the challenges presented by the legal fiction objection to penal substitution appears to fall short of delivering penal substitution's chief benefit, namely, the issuance of a punishment that Christ absorbs for human agents that violate his law.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of God
Craig's use of Luther's doctrine of atonement as the means of establishing penal substitution as the Reformer's doctrine is overstated.
“Craig's use of Luther's doctrine of atonementa doctrine for which he, himself, never made a systematic defenseas the means of getting the Penal Substitution theory off the ground as 'the Reformer's doctrine' is a bit overstated.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning§ Abstract
Craig's two volumes contain at least three not inconsiderable claims that weaken his case that penal substitution should be regarded as the planetary fixture around which Christian soteriology has its proper orbit.
“Craig's two volumes contain (at least) three not inconsiderable claims that we think, and will argue here, weaken his case that penal substitution should be regarded as the planetary fixture, as it were, around which Christian soteriology has its proper orbit.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Interpretationnone given§ Abstract
Craig's doctrine of atonement fails to avoid the legal fiction problem parasitic on most, if not all, accounts of penal substitution.
“fails to avoid the legal fiction problem parasitic on most, if not all, accounts of penal substitution.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The legal fiction problem is parasitic on most, if not all, accounts of penal substitution.
- Interpretationreasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of God
Limiting attention to the punitive aspect of divine justice, thereby neglecting the larger picture of God's judicial demands, is at the heart of the authors' objection to Craig's overall defense for penal substitution.
“Limiting his attention to this one aspect of divine justice as he discusses the atonement, thereby neglecting the larger picture of God's judicial demandsa picture that we will explore in more detail in a momentis, once again, at the heart our objection to Craig's overall defense for penal substitution.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of God
Craig's thin divine justice is owing at least in part to his exclusion of the kingdom of God motif from that which bears essentially upon theologizing about divine justice and atonement.
“this, we argue is owing (at least in part) to Craig's exclusion of the kingdom of God motif from that which bears essentially upon theologizing about divine justice and atonement.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of God
There is strong evidence that supports the claim that the subject of divine justice is potentially a subordinate and critical constituent of the kingdom of God motif.
“there is similarly strong evidence that supports our thinking that the subject of divine justice is potentially a subordinate and critical constituent of the kingdom of God motif.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Interpretationnone given§ Abstract
The article advances an alternative theory of atonement that has significant footing in the Reformed theological tradition, most notably reflected in William Ames.
“we challenge these set of claims in Craig's recent works and advance an alternative theory of the atonement that has some significant footing in the Reformed theological tradition, most notably reflected in the theologian, William Ames.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Interpretationnone given§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine Justice
Ames' theory, like Turretin's and Craig's, makes sufficient sense of divine retribution.
“Ames' theory, like Turretin's (and Craig's), makes sufficient sense of divine retribution.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Interpretationreasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of God
There is an understanding among the people of God about divine kingship and justice that is far more than merely retributive.
“there is clearly an understanding among the people of God about divine kingship and justice that is far more than merely retributive.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationnone given§ Conclusion
Craig's theory of penal substitution tends to absorb all other theories and atonement metaphors so that all other theories lose their distinctions from penal substitution.
“Third, and finally, we showed that Craig's theory of penal substitution tends to absorb all the other theories and atonement metaphors in such a way that all other theories lose their various distinctions from penal substitution.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?
In both cases, Craig's interpretation of Grotius amounts to Christ assuming a public debt to the moral law.
“Yet, in both cases, his interpretation of Grotius, while out of sync with common interpretations, amounts to Christ assuming a public debt to the moral law.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?
It remains unclear that Christ experiencing the consequences of humanity's violation would eliminate or cancel out their individual debts of punishment.
“Of primary concern is the fact that it remains unclear that Christ experiencing the consequences of humanity's violation would in fact eliminate or cancel out their individual debts of punishment.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data§ Conclusion
There is weakness in Craig's assertion that there is a genetic connection between contemporary articulations of penal substitution and the historic Reformed tradition, as if there is one monolithic view of the atonement from Calvin onward.
“Second, we showed the weakness of Craig's assertion that there is genetic connection between contemporary articulations of penal substitution and that offered up by the historic Reformed tradition, as if there is one monolithic view of the atonement from Calvin onward.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?
Insofar as Christ is a global substitute for humanity, it is unclear how he is a substitute for individual debts of punishment logically connected to agent-violators of the moral law.
“Insofar as Christ is a global substitute for humanity, it is unclear how it is that he is a substitute for individual debts of punishment logically connected to agent-violators of the moral law.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?
It leaves unanswered how Christ actually solves the problem of individual debts of punishment.
“What is more, it leaves unanswered how it is that Christ actually solves the problem of individual debts of punishment.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?
Assuming expressivism, it is not clear that it provides a way to work out the penal substitutionary account because Christ is not actually absorbing a penalty for the debt humanity accrues, which is the promise penal substitution is supposed to hold out.
“Assuming expressivism, it is not clear that it actually provides a way to work out the penal substitutionary account because Christ is not actually absorbing a penalty for the debt that humanity accrues, which is precisely the promise that penal substitution is supposed to hold out.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: Penal substitution's promise is deliverance from owing a debt of punishment.
- Interpretationreasoning§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?
Christ's assuming this public debt does not clearly satisfy debts of punishment as commonly held penal substitution requires.
“Christ's assuming of this public debt, however, does not clearly satisfy debts of punishment, along the line of what is commonly (and accurately) held up as penal substitution.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?
The distinction between Christ as global substitute versus local substitute is important for distinguishing penal substitution from other atonement theories that equally recognize Christ as a general or global substitute for humanity.
“The distinction between Christ being a global substitute versus a local substitute is important for distinguishing penal substitution from other atonement theories that equally recognize that Christ serves as a substitute in some general or global sense for all of humanity.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
- Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 75
- May combine two claims. 14
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
Findingnone given§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine JusticeAmes' account of divine justice has many demands.
“For, clearly, Ames' account of divine justice has all sorts of demands.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
Premisenone given§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine JusticePenal substitution theorists make much of the fact that divine retribution for offenses against God are private legal affairs.
“Penal substitution theorists make much of the fact that divine retribution for offenses against God are private legal affairs.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisecitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodCraig lays out five necessary conditions that he says Christ meets to justify judicial relaxation: common nature, consent, authority over life, power to bear punishment, and innocence.
“These five necessary conditions include: 1) the common nature of Christ's humanity and ours, 2) the consent of Christ's will to perform this substitutionary act, 3) the authority Christ has over his life to do with it what he will, 4) the substitute's power to successfully bear the punishment for the sin of others, and 5) the innocence of Christ.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites C CRAIG RAIG, The Death of Christ, 134
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).
Interpretationreasoning§ Craig's First Claim-Penal Substitution is what the Scripture teaches.Craig's account of divine justice is reductionistic in the sense that bare retributivism does not suffice when one makes claims about a whole tradition of thinkers as Craig has.
“Craig's account of divine justice is reductionistic in the sense that bare retributivism simply doesn't cut it when you make claims about a whole tradition of thinkers as Craig has.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premiseown data§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine JusticeAmes describes God's moral government, established by the moral law, as something specific to his rational creatures.
“Strictly speaking, Ames describes God's moral government, which he says is established by the moral law, as something specific to his rational creatures.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premisecitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodTurretin offers, perhaps more than any other theologian of the period, a thoroughgoing exposition of Christ's death explicitly cast in terms of penal substitution.
“we can whole-heartedly agree with Craig that Turretin offers, perhaps more than any other theologian of the period, a thoroughgoing exposition of the work of Christ's death, explicitly cast in terms of what many contemporary theologians call penal substitution.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).
Interpretationreasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodThe obviousness of the relation between kingdom, justice and atonement has been lost on most contemporary theologians.
“the obviousness of the relation between kingdom, justice and atonement has somehow been lost on most contemporary theologians.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Interpretationreasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodAmes belongs uniquely to both the early and high periods of the Protestant scholastic tradition and must be regarded as representative of Reformed opinion at the time.
“our appeal to Ames, who belongs uniquely to both the early and high periods must be no less regarded as representative of Reformed opinion at the time.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: Ames is representative of Reformed opinion at the time.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Premisenone given§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine JusticeRetributive justice is subordinated to a subcategory of Distributive justice.
“Subordinated to a subcategory of Distributive justicesomething we saw Craig draw attention to while expositing Turretin's doctrine”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisecitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodCraig argues that Christ voluntarily bore the suffering that we were due as the punishment for our sins.
“That is to say, Christ voluntarily bore the suffering that we were due as the punishment for our sins.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites C CRAIG RAIG, The Atonement, 37 ff; The Death of Christ, 125-7
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).
Interpretationnone given§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodThere is a virtual mountain of scriptural evidence that warrants thinking that there is an intimate relationship between the kingdom of God, justice, and salvation.
“there is a virtual mountain of scriptural evidence that appears to warrant our thinking that there is an intimate relationship between the kingdom of God, justice, and salvation.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Premisenone given§ AbstractRecent atonement literature reveals a growing trend accepting the thesis that the Reformer's doctrine just is the biblical doctrine of penal substitution.
“The recent atonement literature reveals a growing trend accepting the thesis that the Reformer's doctrine just is the biblical doctrine of penal substitution.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premisecitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodCraig correctly states that the foundations of Turretin's atonement doctrine are laid in his treatment of divine justice.
“when he gets to Turretin's actual defense of penal substitution he clearly states that “the foundations of Turretin's atonement doctrine are laid in his treatment of divine justice.””
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Interpretationreasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodCraig returns to his singular interest in the punitive aspect of justice.
“So stated, Craig (almost dismissively) returns to his singular interest in the punitive aspect of justice.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Interpretationcitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodTurretin and Craig think that God can relax strict demands to make provision for a non-lawbreaker, Christ, to substitute himself for another and thereby be liable to punishment.
“Turretin (and Craig) thinks that God can relax these strict demands to make provision for a non-lawbreaker (i.e. Christ) to substitute himself for another and in so doing be liable to punishment.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premisereasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodCraig privileges Turretin's more systematically detailed account over Calvin's.
“This helps explains at least some of the reason Craig privileges his more systematically detailed account over Calvin's.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: Turretin is the go-to Reformed theologian for post-Reformation polemical defence of penal substitution.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone given§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?If realist penal substitution is not taken as a legitimate rationale for working around the legal fiction objection, then either Christ is not a penal substitute or he does not satisfy all the demands of divine justice related to individual debts of punishment.
“For, if something like realist penal substitution is not taken as one legitimate rationale for working around the legal fiction objection, then it seems to us that either Christ is not a penal substitute or he does not satisfy all the demands of divine justice related to individual debts of punishment.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Interpretationnone given§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodTurretin represents an argumentative backdrop for some of the mechanics of Craig's own view.
“So too does Turretin represents an argumentative backdrop for some the mechanics of Craig's own view.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Interpretationreasoning§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?Realist penal substitution is a recent alternative to standard penal substitution theory that is part of contemporary theological discussion and has answered one of the standard view's most significant liabilities with a legitimate, albeit exotic, metaphysical innovation.
“The point of highlighting it here is to show that a recent alternative to the standard penal substitution theory is part of the contemporary theological discussion and that this alternative has answered one of the most significant liabilities of the standard view with a legitimate, albeit exotic, metaphysical innovation.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [77]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites [78]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites [79]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted).
Premisecitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodCraig's second claim is that the doctrine of penal substitution is the Reformer's doctrine.
“Simply put, Craig's second claim is that the doctrine of penal substitution is “the Reformer's doctrine.””
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites C CRAIG RAIG, The Atonement, 37 ff; The Death of Christ, 125-7
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisecitation§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine JusticeAmes defines the kingdom of God as a polity or state in which God has supreme power and men are subject so that from him they may secure their own good or eternal felicity.
“Ames defines the kingdom of God, “as a polity or state in which God has supreme power, and men are thus subject so that from him they may secure their own good, or eternal felicity.””
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Ames, Marrow
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
Premisecitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodCraig says that Turretin's nature of atonement involves (1) payment of a debt, (2) appeasement of divine wrath, and (3) expiation of guilt.
“Regarding the nature of atonement, Craig likewise says of Turretin, Satisfaction for sin must therefore involve (1) payment of a debt, (2) appeasement of divine wrath, and (3) expiation of our guilt.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites C CRAIG RAIG, The Death of Christ, 133
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted).
Premisecitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodCraig argues that the Protestant Reformers interpreted the satisfaction of God's justice in terms of penal substitution.
“The Protestant Reformers, while appreciative of Anselm's satisfaction theory and recognizing Christ's death as satisfying God's justice, interpreted the satisfaction of God's justice in terms of penal substitution.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites C CRAIG RAIG, The Atonement, 37 ff; The Death of Christ, 125-7
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).
Interpretationreasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodScripture has a lot more to say about the kingdom of God and its peculiar judicial demands than many contemporary theologians, including Craig, are willing to make systematic or constructive room for.
“Scripture has a lot more to say about the kingdom of God and its peculiar judicial demands than many contemporary theologians, including Craig, are wont to make systematic or constructive room for”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Interpretationcitation§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine JusticeThere are other prominent voices in the Reformed tradition committed otherwise; William Ames is committed to some version of Anselm's Satisfaction theory of atonement.
“The first part is simply that there are other (prominent) voices in the Reformed tradition that are committed otherwise; case in point, William Ames, who is committed to some version of Anselm's Satisfaction theory of atonement.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Ames, Marrow
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).
Interpretationreasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodThe story of divine justice is far thicker than mere demands of retributivism.
“The story of divine justice is far thicker than mere demands of retributivism and neglecting it as such is much more than a mere crack in the argumentative fortress Craig thinks his appeal to Turretin aids him in building.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisecitation§ AbstractWilliam Lane Craig claims in recent works that the Reformer's doctrine just is the biblical doctrine of penal substitution.
“This is the claim of William Lane Craig in his recent works on the atonement.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites Craig, The Atonement
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites Craig, The Death of Christ
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premisenone given§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodThese doctrinal constituents are common to most Reformed arguments for penal substitution.
“In part, these doctrinal constituents are common to most Reformed arguments for penal substitution and we somewhat anticipated them.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted).
Premisecitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodCraig argues that there is no longer any punishment due to those who are the beneficiaries of Christ's death.
“There is therefore no longer any punishment due to those who are the beneficiaries of Christ's death.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites C CRAIG RAIG, The Atonement, 37 ff; The Death of Christ, 125-7
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
Premisecitation§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine JusticeThe Moral Law has two parts: Distributive Justice, a giving to each his own, and Emendative or Remunerative Justice, a restoring to each his own.
“The Moral law, says Ames, also has two parts: 1) Distributive Justice, which Ames says is a “giving to each his own” (2.16.307) and Emendative (i.e. Remunerative) Justice, which is a “restoring to each his own” and are “remote ends of the law” (2.16.307).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Ames, Marrow, 2.16.307
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premisecitation§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine JusticeAmes defines justice as an inseparable sign of true religion.
“Ames goes on to define justice as “an inseparable sign of true religion,””
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Ames, Marrow, 2.4.237
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
May combine two claims.
Interpretationcitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodLuther was at least committed to a theory of atonement far more nuanced than penal substitution and at most committed to something akin to a Christus Victor-heavy understanding of Anselmian Satisfaction.
“A close reading of the Augsburg confession relative to the articles on atonement (i.e. what they called [and we ought to henceforth call] “Satisfaction”), together with a cursory survey of Luther's sermons indicates that Luther was at least committed to a theory of atonement far more nuanced than what we are calling penal substitution theory here and at most committed to something more a kin to a”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites Defense of the Augsburg Confession, Article 6: Of Confessions and Satisfactions
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites Sermons of Martin Luther, Vol. 2, 344
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisecitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodLuther states that the death of Christ is a satisfaction not only for guilt, but also for eternal death.
“Luther himself states, “the death of Christ is a satisfaction not only for guilt, but also for eternal death””
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Defense of the Augsburg Confession, Article 6: Of Confessions and Satisfactions
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Interpretationnone given§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodScripture's account of the divine justice motif is by no means exhausted by retributivism.
“we observe that Scripture's account of the divine justice motif is by no means exhausted by retributivism.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Interpretationnone given§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodCraig's condemnation of Socinianism comes at the expense of any substantive engagement with Socinus on the subject of divine justice outside of retributivism.
“Craig's (rightful) condemnation of Socinianism comes at the expense of any substantive engagement with Socinus on the subject of divine justice outside of retributivism (i.e. punishment).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premisereasoning§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine JusticeAmes argues that the moral law is the means by which God displays the righteousness of his self-love, making his moral perfection and holiness comprehensible to rational creatures and threatening those who despise his general benevolence and authority.
“Here, he argues that it is the moral law that is the means by which God displays the righteousness (i.e. rectitude) of his self-lovemaking his moral perfection and holiness comprehensible to these rational creatures and threatening those who despise his general benevolence and authority.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisecitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodThe kingdom of God is a central motif in Scripture.
“there is strong evidence that supports Sailhamer's claim that the kingdom of God is, in fact, a central motif in Scripture.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Sailhamer
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
Interpretationreasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodThe judicial economy of the kingdom of God is governed by judicial demands for which the Scriptures indicate we must all account, and from which Christ's work, his death in particular, is said to deliver us.
“the judicial economy of the kingdom of God is governed by judicial demands for which the Scriptures indicate we must all account, and from which Christ's workhis death in particularis said to deliver us.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).
Interpretationreasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodThe judicial economy of the divine kingdom may equally and directly impact how we make sense of the economy of salvation.
“consider that the judicial economy of this divine kingdom may equally and directly impact how we make sense of the economy of salvation.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Interpretationreasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodGiving focused attention to retributivism, Craig takes little interest in developing the larger picture of divine justice.
“giving such focused attention to the subject of retributivism, Craig takes little interest in developing the larger picture of divine justice.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premisecitation§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine JusticeFrom relative rectitude issues the Moral Law.
“From this relative rectitude issues the Moral Lawwhat Ames calls “the revealed will of God, which is the rule for the moral life” (1.10.110-11).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Ames, Marrow, 1.10.110-11
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premisecitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodTurretin argues that Christ endured the punishment of desertion, involving suspension of the favorable presence of grace and the sense of divine wrath, but not a privation of righteousness.
“Defending the idea that Christ's endured what he calls the “punishment of desertion,” Turretin argues, for example, that, “But as to a participation of joy and felicity, God suspending for a little while the favorable presence of grace and the influx of consolation and happiness that he might be able to suffer all the punishment due to us”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Institutes of Elenctic Theology, 14, i, vi
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisecitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodIn Luther's sermon on Luke 24:36-47, Luther states that God cannot remit punishment and wrath unless payment and satisfaction be made.
“if God's wrath is to be taken away from me and I am to obtain grace and forgiveness, some one must merit this; for God cannot be a friend of sin nor gracious to it, nor can he remit the punishment and wrath, unless payment and satisfaction be made.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Sermons of Martin Luther, Vol. 2, 344
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premisecitation§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine JusticeAccording to Ames, Rectoral Justice has two parts: Absolute Rectitude (Honor ad intra) and Relative Rectitude (Honor ad extra).
“According to Ames, Rectoral Justice (Divine Rectitude and Holiness) has two parts: 1) Absolute Rectitude (Honor ad intra) and 2) Relative Rectitude (Honor ad extra).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisecitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodThe kingdom of God has a thematic relation to justice and salvation.
“So too is the kingdom of God's thematic relation to justice and salvation, according to Sailhamer.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Sailhamer
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).
Interpretationnone given§ Craig's First Claim-Penal Substitution is what the Scripture teaches.The divine justice motif in Scripture is far more nuanced than can be reduced to a discussion of God's righteousness and retributivism.
“the divine justice motif in Scripture is, as we shall see in a moment, far more nuanced than can be reduced to a discussion of God's righteousness and retributivism.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Interpretationreasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodCraig's argument is that Socinus has no room for God as judge in the sense that he makes provision for God to relax the strict demands of the law requiring lawbreakers to be liable to punishment.
“In other words, Craig's argument is that Socinus has no room for God as judge in the sense that he makes provision for God to relax the strict demands of the law that require lawbreakers be liable to punishment for offenses against the law.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisereasoning§ Craig's Third Claim: Penal Substitution and Legal FictionFor simple debts, the representative is not absorbing a debt of punishment but paying a credit to satisfy the debt.
“For simple debts, the representative is not absorbing a debt of punishment but paying a credit to satisfy the debt.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisecitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodCraig says that in God's role as judge, a certain forbearance can be admitted in relation to time, degree, or person by substitution.
“Craig says precisely this, explaining that, “[i]n God's role as judge a certain forbearance can be admitted, either in relation to the time by the delay of punishment or in relation to the degree by mitigation of the punishment or in relation to the person by a substitution.””
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites C CRAIG RAIG, The Death of Christ, 134
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisecitation§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine JusticeOn the satisfaction theory, Christ gives up his life to restore honor to God by paying a debt of honor, not a debt of punishment.
“Roughly, on the satisfaction theory, Christ gives up his life in order to restore honor to God by paying a debtnot of debt of punishment, mind you (as in the case of penal substitution), but of debt of honor.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Interpretationreasoning§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine JusticeCraig's account opens the door to consider alternative theories of atonement under the auspices of the judicial economy laid out in the paper.
“Craig's account appears to open the door to consider alternative theories of atonement under the auspices of the judicial economy we have just laid it out here.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premisecitation§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine JusticeAccording to Ames, the Lord demands two things from the servant: religion and justice.
“the Lord demands two things from the servant: 1) religion and 2) justice.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted).
Premisecitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodCraig argues that God's wrath is propitiated by Christ's substitutionary death because the demands of divine justice have been met.
“God's wrath is propitiated by Christ's substitutionary death, for the demands of divine justice have been met.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites C CRAIG RAIG, The Atonement, 37 ff; The Death of Christ, 125-7
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premisecitation§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?Consequentialism is a term of art Craig appropriated from ethical theory to parse out his moral variation of legal fiction.
“Consequentialism is a term of art that Craig appears to have appropriated from ethical theory as a way to parse out his moral variation of legal fiction.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [85]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
Interpretationreasoning§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodAccording to Craig and his reading of Turretin, because God can do whatsoever he pleases, he can as judge modify strict legal demands to justifiably treat one person as if he were another, without moral protestation of the creature.
“In other words, according to Craig (and his reading of Turretin), because God can do whatsoever he pleases, he can (as judge) modify the strict legal demands of various legislation of which he himself is the author in order to justifiably treat one person as if he were another (i.e. legal fiction), and all this without worry of any sort of moral protestation of the creature.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premisecitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodCraig correctly observes that divine retribution is a dogmatic subcategory of Distributive justice.
“Craig also correctly (albeit only momentarily) observes that divine retribution is a dogmatic subcategory of what theologians of the period once commonly referred to as “Distributive justice.””
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
Interpretationreasoning§ Second Objection: A Larger Picture of Divine JusticeReligion begins with honor because God's chief design for his moral creature is that they honor him, from which follows his command to honor one another.
“Religion begins with honor because God's chief design for his moral creature is that they honor him, from which follows his command to honor one another.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premisecitation§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodAccording to Garry Williams and Oliver Crisp, Grotius' claims about the penal nature of the atonement find their most thorough explanation in terms of a broader Anselmian satisfaction theory.
“according to Garry Williams' unpublished and quite illuminating Oxford DPhil thesis, together with Oliver Crisp's recent exposition of the atonement theology of the younger Jonathan Edwards (and what he calls Edwards Jr.'s commitment to a Penal non-Substitution theory in JTS), Grotius' claims about the penal nature of the atonement find their most thorough explanation in terms of a broader Anselm”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites Garry W WILLIAMS ILLIAMS, "A Critical Exposition of Hugo Grotius's Doctrine of the Atonement in De Satisfactione Christi"
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites Oliver D. C CRISP RISP, "Penal Non-Substitution"
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Interpretationnone given§ First Objection: Scripture, Divine Justice, and the Kingdom of GodTurretin represents a strong source of historical leverage for Craig's proposal that penal substitution is the Reformer's doctrine.
“In the end, Turretin represents a strong source of historical leverage, as it were, for Craig's proposal that penal substitution is “the Reformer's doctrine.””
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Interpretationnone given§ Craig's First Claim-Penal Substitution is what the Scripture teaches.Divine justice is intimately related, if not altogether inseparable, from Scripture's kingdom of God motif.
“divine justice is a motif intimately related, if not, altogether inseparable from Scripture's kingdom of God motif.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Premisenone given§ Craig's Third Claim: Penal Substitution and Legal FictionDebts of punishment are logically tied to the individual(s) that accrue that specific debt.
“debts of punishment are logically tied to the individual(s) that accrue that specific debt in question.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
Premisenone given§ Craig's Third Claim: Penal Substitution and Legal FictionRepresentationalism is a doctrine advanced by most federal or covenant theologians of the Reformed tradition.
“Representationalism is a doctrine advanced by most (federal or covenant) theologians of the Reformed tradition.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premisecitation§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?Craig attempts to avoid the legal fiction objection by limiting his attention to divine justice in terms of retributivism and Consequentialism.
“One of the ways that Craig attempts to avoid the legal fiction objection is, as we have already suggested, by limiting his attention to divine justice in terms of retributivism and what he calls Consequentialism.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [85]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisereasoning§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?On this way of thinking, Christ experiences suffering as a suitable equivalent to punishment rather than the actual punishment for specific sins due to actual, specific sinners.
“On this way of thinking, Christ experiences suffering as a suitable equivalent, as it were, to punishment rather than the actual punishment for specific sins that due to actual, specific sinners.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Interpretationreasoning§ ConclusionThe legal fiction objection developed in the paper shows that either Christ is not truly a penal substitute, though he may be a global substitute satisfying simple debts or a public debt, or Christ does not satisfy all the demands of the moral law for individual debts of punishment.
“And in the final analysis, the legal fiction objection we developed above shows that either Christ is not truly a penal substitute (although he may be a global substitute that satisfies various simple debts or a public debt) or Christ does not satisfy all the demands of the moral law for individual debts of punishment.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The moral law knows no partiality.
- Rests on an assumption: Penal substitution's promise is deliverance from owing a debt of punishment.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).
Premisenone given§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?Mere consequences are not synonymous with debts of punishment logically or lawfully connected to the agent-violator.
“Mere consequences are not synonymous with debts of punishment logically or lawfully connected to the agent-violator.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
Premisereasoning§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?Taking the consequentialist cue, Craig argues that Christ is actually able to make atonement as a penal substitute, though it seems oddly inaccurate to classify penal substitution apart from a fundamentally retributive understanding of substituting oneself for debts of punishment.
“Taking this consequentialist cue, Craig argues that Christ is then actually able to make atonement as a penal substitute, however much it seems oddly inaccurate to classify penal substitution apart from a fundamentally retributive understanding of how one might substitute oneself for debts of punishment.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Premisenone given§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?On nearly all atonement theories, Christ is a global substitute for humanity in that he takes their place in this world to satisfy some moral demand unmet by the rest of humanity.
“For on nearly all atonement theories, Christ is a global substitute for humanity in that he is taking their place (somehow) in this world to satisfy some moral demand unmet by the rest of humanity.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).
Interpretationnone given§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?It is not clear what it would mean for a single individual to experience a spiritual death of every human being or even some number of human beings.
“Neither is it clear what would it mean for a single individual to experience a spiritual death of every human being or even some number of human beings.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Premisenone given§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?On penal substitution, what needs satisfying are the debts of punishment logically connected to agent-violators of the moral law.
“This becomes important when we consider that on penal substitution what needs satisfying are the debts of punishment logically connected to agent-violators of the moral law.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
Premisenone given§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?Expressivism is a term of art in meta-ethics that measures states of affairs with language that functions to expose an evaluative state.
“Expressivism, like consequentialsim, is also a term of art in meta-ethics that measures states of affairs with language that functions to expose an evaluative state.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Interpretationnone given§ ConclusionCraig conflates penal substitution as the biblical theory of the atonement, as if there is a theory of the atonement that falls right off the pages of Scripture.
“we showed first that Craig conflates penal substitution as the biblical theory of the atonement, as if there is a theory of the atonement that falls right off the pages of Scripture.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
Premisenone given§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?On Craig's expressivist proposal, Christ gives exposure to the public offense against the moral law and satisfies that public offense by his death.
“On Craig's expressivist proposal, Christ gives exposure to the public offense that is against the moral law and satisfies that public offense by his death.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisecitation§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?This move is how Craig thinks he can rebrand Grotius's theory of atonement as penal substitution rather than penal non-substitution (moral government) or penal example theory.
“This move is how Craig thinks he can simply rebrand Grotius's theory of atonement as penal substitution rather than what is commonly accepted as penal non-substitution (i.e. moral government) or what some have called the penal example theory.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [88]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisereasoning§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?Craig suggests Christ could assume the penal consequences of sin by taking on suffering that would otherwise be due to the lawful violator.
“He suggests that Christ could assume the penal consequences of sin by taking on the suffering that would otherwise be due to the lawful violator.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).
Interpretationnone given§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?It is not clear that a singular individual could experience the cumulative weight of the debt of punishment of all individuals.
“For, it is not clear to us that a singular individual could experience the cumulative weight of the debt of punishment of all individuals.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone given§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?Separating the agent causing the offense from the agent taking the offense to the agent-cause introduces ambiguity and provokes the question whether Christ can assume individual debts of punishment.
“By separating the agent causing the offense from the agent taking the offense to the agent-cause introduces a certain ambiguity and provokes the question of whether it is even possible that Christ can assume individual debts of punishment.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisenone given§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?The second way Craig thinks he can avoid the legal fiction objection is by an expressivist view of penal substitution.
“The second way that Craig thinks he can avoid the legal fiction objection is by what he calls an expressivist view of penal substitution.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Interpretationnone given§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?How this is distinct from penal non-substitution as outlined earlier, reflected prominently in Crisp and Williams, remains unclear.
“But how this is distinct from penal non-substitution as outlined earlier (reflected prominently in Crisp and Williams) remains unclear.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisereasoning§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?In Craig's view, the logic of penal debts found in retributive accounts of penal substitution is replaced with a theory that separates the satisfying of the effects of the agents from the causes.
“In this way, the logic of penal debts found in retributive accounts of penal substitution is replaced with a theory that separates the satisfying of the effects of the agents from the causes.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Interpretationreasoning§ Third Objection: One-Size-Fits-All Legal Fiction?Rather than eschewing legal fictions, Craig thinks expressivism is a way to make good use of them to explain the significance of Christ's death, at the expense of humanity's deliverance from owing a debt of punishment.
“Rather than eschewing legal fictions, Craig actually seems to think that expressivism is a way to actually make good use of them to explain the significance of Christ's death-and all this, at the expence of the very thing that advocates of penal substitution make so much noise about, namely, humanity's deliverance from owing a debt of punishment.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
The paper relies on this without support.
The legal fiction problem is parasitic on most, if not all, accounts of penal substitution.
“the legal fiction problem parasitic on most, if not all, accounts of penal substitution.”
The authors state this as an assumption.
God is a Perfect Being in the Anselmian sense.
“beginning with the premise that God is a Perfect Being a la St Anselm and other medieval schoolman.”
“as far as assumptions go for doing constructive theology, this is one that no less of an important assumption for Ames as it is for Craig”
The paper relies on this without support.
Turretin is the go-to Reformed theologian for post-Reformation polemical defence of penal substitution.
“Francis Turretin (1623-87) is the go-to Reformed theologian for post-Reformation polemical defence of penal substitution.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Ames is representative of Reformed opinion at the time.
“our appeal to Ames, who belongs uniquely to both the early and high periods must be no less regarded as representative of Reformed opinion at the time.”
The paper relies on this without support.
The scriptural authors consistently point to God as king and judge and to humans as servants in relation to him.
“a thing to which the scriptural authors consistently point.”
The paper relies on this without support.
The moral law knows no partiality.
“For, the law itself knows no partiality.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Penal substitution's promise is deliverance from owing a debt of punishment.
“which is precisely the promise that penal substitution is supposed to hold out.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Craig's proposal is representative of the contemporary consensus view of the atonement among Reformed theologians today.
“there is warrant for reconsidering Craig's proposal as representative as the contemporary consensus view of the atonement among Reformed theologians today.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Ames is not a small voice within the Reformed tradition.
“again, not a small voice within the Reformed tradition”
The paper relies on this without support.
The law doles out its demands in a manner lawfully connected to the agent who violated it.
“Instead, the law doles out its various demands in a manner that is lawfully connected to the agent who violated it.”
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.
Emendative justice occupies two different positions in the taxonomy
MinorThe prose presents distributive and emendative justice as the two parts of the moral law. The figure instead places emendative justice under distributive justice.
“The Moral law, says Ames, also has two parts: 1) Distributive Justice, which Ames says is a "giving to each his own" (2.16.307) and Emendative (i.e. Remunerative) Justice, which is a "restoring to each his own" and are "remote ends of the law" (2.16.307).”
“1. Distributive Justice a. Remuneration (i.e. emendative justice) b.Retribution”
- Authors
- Farris, J. R., & Hamilton, S. M.
- Affiliations
- Auburn University (US)
- Research Associate at www.JESociety.org, Montgomery , United States of America
- Corresponding author
- Farris, Joshua R.
- Venue
- Neue Zeitschrift für Systematische Theologie und Religionsphilosophie
- Publisher
- Walter de Gruyter GmbH
- Published
- 2021-06-01
- Volume
- 63
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 237-269
- ISSN
- 0028-3517 (ISSN-L)
- 1612-9520
- OpenAlex
- W3170729901
- Cited by
- 0
- References
- 0
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Neue Zeitschrift für Systematische Theologie und Religionsphilosophie (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Karl Barth and Christian Theology
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Violence, Religion, and Philosophy
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Theology and Philosophy of Evil
- Keywords
- penal substitution, atonement, William Lane Craig, Reformed theology, William Ames, Reformation theology
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-28.
Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-28.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review