Moral Influence Theory (Atonement)
The cross saves by melting hard hearts into repentance and love
The moral influence theory holds that Christ's passion saves chiefly by its power to move humanity, drawing people to repentance and love through the supreme example of self-giving. It is often associated with Peter Abelard. The traditions differ over its sufficiency: theologians in the satisfaction and penal-substitution streams have disputed it, arguing that example alone does not account for how sin is dealt with before God.
Key passages(14)
Each passage is tagged by what it does with the idea: explains it, applies it in practice, redefines it with a new meaning, or challenges it. Relevance shows how directly the passage is about this idea.
Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
I answer that, Among means to an end that one is the more suitable whereby the various concurring means employed are themselves helpful to such end. But in this that man was delivered by Christ's Pass
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A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts · Jonathan Edwards
If we ought ever to exercise our affections at all, and if the Creator has not unwisely constituted the human nature in making these principles a part of it, then they ought to be exercised about thos
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The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great · Pope Leo the Great
But O ungodliest of men, “thou seed of Chanaan and not of JudaLord’s promises were to be believed, what reason was there for preferring so small a sum of money to what thou hadst already received? Tho
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XIV Five discourses on the soul's eternal salvation · Jonathan Edwards
2. What is there that you can desire should be in a Saviour, that is not in Christ? Or, wherein should you desire a Saviour should be otherwise than Christ is? What excellency is there wanting? What i
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For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,
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Expositions on the Book of Psalms · Augustine of Hippo
Psalm CIX. Lat. CVIII. 1. Every one who faithfully readeth the Acts of the Apostles, acknowledgeth that this Psalm containeth a prophecy of Christ; for it evidently appeareth that what is here writt
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Homilies on First Corinthians · John Chrysostom
[9.] Let this, I say, be our way of overpowering them, and of conducting our warfare against them; and let us astound them by our way of life rather than by words. For this is the main battle, this is
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On Christian Doctrine · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 14.—How the Wisdom of God Healed Man. 13. Moreover, as the use of remedies is the way to health, so this remedy took up sinners to heal and restore them. And just as surgeons, when they bind
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For I myself, when I discovered the wicked disguise which the evil spirits had thrown around the divine doctrines of the Christians, to turn aside others from joining them, laughed both at those who f
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Chapter XVII. But it will be said that the objection which has been brought against us has not yet been solved, and that what unbelievers have urged has been rather strengthened by all we have said.
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Who, when he was cursed, didn’t curse back. When he suffered, didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously;
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Commentary on Galatians · Martin Luther
Faith must of course be sincere. It must be a faith that performs good works through love. If faith lacks love it is not true faith. Thus the Apostle bars the way of hypocrites to the kingdom of Chris
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For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved, and in those who perish;
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Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
9. For mark, I beseech you, the words of James: “Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: and they are informed of thee, that thou
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