Table Of ContentT H E O L O G Y F OR T H E T W E N T Y - F I R S T C E N T U R Y
KING, PRIEST,
AND PROPHET
A Trinitarian Theology of Atonement
KING, PRIEST,
AND PROPHET
T H E O L O G Y F O R T H E T W E N T Y - F I R S T C E N T U R Y
Theology for the Twenty-first Century is a series sponsored by die Center of
Theological Inquiry (CTI), an institute, located in Princeton, New Jersey, dedi
cated to the advanced study of theology. This series is one of its many initiatives
and projects.
The goal of the series is to publish inquiries of contemporary scholars into the
nature of the Christian faith and its witness and practice in the church, society,
and culture. The series will include investigations into the uniqueness of the
Christian faith, but it will also offer studies that relate the Christian faith to the
major cultural, social, and practical issues of our time.
Monographs and symposia will result from research by scholars in residence
at the Center of Theological Inquiry or other vise associated with it. In some
cases, publications will come from group research projects sponsored by CTI. It
is our intention that the b joks selected for this series will constitute a major
contribution to renewing theology in its service to church and society.
W allace M. A lston Jr., Robert Jenson,
and Don S. BROWNING
Series Editor s
What Dare We Hope?
by Gerhard Sauter
The End of the World and the Ends of God
edited by John Polkinghome and Michael Welker
God and Globalization, Volume 1:
Religion and the Powers of the Common f.ife
edited by Via* T.. Stackhouse with Peter J. Paris
God and Globalization, Volume 2:
The Spirit and the Modern Authorities
edited by Max L. Stackhouse with Don S. Browning
God and Globalization, Volume 3:
Christ and the Dominions of Civilization
edited by Max L. Stackhouse with Diane B. Obenchain
Redemptive Change:
Atonement and the Christian Cure of the Soul
by R. R. Reno
King, Priest, and Prophet:
A Trintf/jri/jn 'I'htology of At.ftne.mpnt.
by Robert Sherman
KING, PRIEST,
AND PROPHET
A Trinitarian Theology of Atonement
Robert Sherman
"V T & T Cl .ARK INTERNATIONAL
A Continuum imprint
9 1 V N [ W Y O R K · 1 0 N D 0 N
Copyright © 2004 by Robert Sherman
AH rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission
of the publisher, T 3cT Clark International.
T öcT Clark international
Madison Square Park, 15 East 26th Street, New York, NY 10010
T <ScT Clark International
The Tower Building, 11 York Road, London SEI 7NX
T & T Clark International is a Continuum imprint.
Design: Corey Kent
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Sherman, Robert J.
King, priest, and prophet : a Trinitarian theology of atonement /
Robert J. Sherman.
p. cm. — (Theology for the twenty-first ccntury)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-567-02560-8 (pbk.)
1. Trinity. I Title. II. Series.
BT111.3.S53 2004
232’.3—dc22
2003022129
Printed in the United States of America
04 05 06 07 08 09 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For Carol
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Contents
Preface ix
1. Why Bother with a Trinitarian Theology of Atonement? 1
2.
Theological Underpinnings: A Brief Summary 47
3. Scripture’s Threefold Witness: Tracing the Theological Roots 77
4. Christ the King: Achieving the Fathers Victory 116
5. Christ the Priest: The Son’s Sacrificial Offering 169
6. Christ the Prophet: The Spirit s Living» Life-Giving Word 219
7. Some Integrating and Concluding Remarks 262
Index 281
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Préfacé
Books are written for multiple and sometimes competing reasons. This
book intends to serve the church and its mission of communicating the
good news of Christ's atoning work to the world. So its primary and
intended audience is Christian ministers, whether they be ordained
clergy,
seminary students seeking to become such, or lay leaders. To be
sure, I am an “academic theologian” and the book exhibits a number of
standard academic trappings (about which more below), but my moti
vation for writing is pastoral. I am convinced that theology written for
the academy—or, more pointedly, just for other academic theologians—
misses its original and true calling. That calling is to serve the church
by helping it better understand the Rill meaning and implications of the
gospel it proclaims in its preaching, liturgy, counseling, catechesis, and
evangelism. I offer this book in hopes that it may make certain biblical
themes and theological traditions more accessible and powerfully pres
ent for ministers in their diverse pastoral work, to the end that the
church's work may be faithfully enriched and strengthened.
That said, one of the book’s academic trappings is that it spends a
considerable amount of time setting the stage before starting the show.
To begin with, chapters 1 and 2 concern themselves with presenting a
thesis, surveying some theological literature, establishing the theological
method to be used, and offering some historical background. Necessary
material all, but not yet dealing with the heart of the matter. To further
