Ransom Theory (Atonement)
A price is paid to set the captives free
The ransom theory reads Christ's death as a ransom that frees humanity from bondage to sin, to death, or to the devil. It draws on the Gospel saying that the Son of Man came to give his life as a ransom (lytron) for many, and was developed by early Fathers such as Origen and Gregory of Nyssa. The image is one of liberation: captives bought back and released.
How it traveled
- MatthewAntioch · c. 80 CEexplains
- The Great CatechismNyssa · c. 395 CEexplains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the HebrewsConstantinople (Istanbul) · c. 407 CEexplains
- On the Holy TrinityHippo Regius · c. 430 CEexplains
- Anselm's Cur Deus HomoCanterbury · c. 1109 CEexplains
- Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59)Paris · c. 1274 CEexplains
- Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the GospelGeneva · c. 1564 CEexplains
- A History of the Work of RedemptionNorthampton, Massachusetts · c. 1758 CEexplains
Key passages(20)
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.
Anselm's Cur Deus Homo · Anselm of Canterbury
How great and how just is God’s compassion. NOW we have found the compassion of God which appeared lost to you when we were considering God’s holiness and man’s sin; we have found it, I say, so great
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Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the Gospel · John Calvin
Hence it appears that these triflers, with whom I am disputing, presume to talk of what they know not, never having seriously considered what is meant and implied by ransoming us from the justice of G
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For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
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even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
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Section XXXI. [1] even as the Son of man also came not to be served, but to serve, and [6] to give himself a ransom in place of the many. [15, 16] man also is a [25] [36] man reign over us.
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Chapter XXIII. What, then, was it likely that the master of the slave would choose to receive in his stead? It is possible in the way of inference to make a guess as to his wishes in the matter, if,
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Objection 3: Further, whoever buys or redeems an object pays the price to the holder. But it was not to the devil, who held us in bondage, that Christ paid His blood as the price of our redemption. Th
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Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the Gospel · John Calvin
5. The Apostles also plainly declare that he paid a price to ransom us from death: “Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption Rom. 3:24, 25). Paul commends the grace of God, in that
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The Life of Constantine with Orations of Constantine and Eusebius · Eusebius of Caesarea
Chapter XV. 1. What now remains, but to account for those which are the crowning facts of all; I mean his death, so far and widely known, the manner of his passion, and the mighty miracle of his resu
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A History of the Work of Redemption · Jonathan Edwards
The next thing that we have an account of, after God had pronounced sentence on the serpent, on the woman, and on the man, was, that God made them coats of skins, and clothed them; which, by the gener
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A History of the Work of Redemption · Jonathan Edwards
Scriptural representations of this period. Not but that there were great effects and glorious success of Christ’s purchase of redemption before, even from the beginning of the generations of men. But
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Anselm's Cur Deus Homo · Anselm of Canterbury
How infidels find fault with us for saying that God has redeemed us by his death, and thus has shown his love towards us, and that he came to overcome the devil for us. Boso. This they greatly wonder
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Expositions on the Book of Psalms · Augustine of Hippo
10. “The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again” (ver. 20). He receiveth, and will not repay. What is it he will not repay? Thanksgiving. For what is it that God would have of thee, what doth He requi
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The Commentary and Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Galatians and Ephesians · John Chrysostom
Chapter V. Verse 1 “With freedom did Christ set us free; stand fast therefore.” [The text of this verse is not settled. The textus receptus has τῇ ἐλευθερί& 139· οὖν ἧ χριστὸς ἡμᾶς ἠλευθέρωσε στήκε
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The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews · John Chrysostom
“For,” he says, “in that He hath put all things in subjection under Him, He left nothing not put under Him: but now we see not yet all things put under Him.” What he means is this:—since he had said,
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Book Third. the Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ. the Benefits It Confers, and the Effects Resulting from It · John Calvin
28. Here they take refuge in the absurd distinction that some sins are venial and others mortal; that for the latter a weighty satisfaction is due, but that the former are purged by easier remedies; b
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Ephraim Syrus: Nineteen Hymns on the Nativity of Christ in the Flesh · Ephrem the Syrian
Hymn V. At the birth of the Son, there was a great shouting in Bethlehem; for the Angels came down, and gave praise there. Their voices were a great thunder: at that voice of praise the silent ones c
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On the Holy Trinity · Augustine of Hippo
12. Whether human nature can receive this, which yet it confesses to be desirable, is no small question. But if faith be present, which is in those to whom Jesus has given power to become the sons of
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The Harmony of the Gospels · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter LXIV.—Of the Occasions on Which He Foretold His Passion in Private to His Disciples; And of the Time When the Mother of Zebedee’s Children Came with Her Sons, Requesting that One of Them Shoul
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Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John · Augustine of Hippo
5. “I know whence I came and whither I go.” He who speaks to you in person has what He has not left, and yet He came; for by coming He departed not thence, nor has He forsaken us by returning thither.
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