Images of God and the Imitation of God: Problems with Atonement

Abstract

Overly logical applications of some of Paul's metaphors have led to widely accepted atonement theories that, because they project human legalistic and transactional thinking onto the image of God, have been egregiously contradictory to an authentic trinitarian and incarnational view of sacrifice and atonement. The Eastern emphasis on apophatic theology and theosis coupled with the Western development of and confidence in historical critical analysis suggest ways in which theologians can come to a better understanding of these issues.