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# Mere Fidelity: Atonement
- URL: https://mereorthodoxy.com/mere-fidelity-atonement/
- Published: 2014-12-18T15:46:02.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-20T20:32:23.000Z
- Description: Mere Fidelity: Atonement
- Author: Mere Orthodoxy
- Tags: Matthew Lee Anderson, Mere Fidelity

What shape should the atonement take as a doctrine? Is penal substitutionary atonement an appropriate account of the doctrine? Derek and I are joined by not one, but *two* guests for a conversation about the doctrine of the atonement.

Adam Johnson is a professor at Biola University's [Torrey Honors Institute](academics.biola.edu/torrey/) (my alma mater), and is the author of [God's Being in Reconciliation](http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Being-Reconciliation-Theological-Systematic/dp/0567123456?ref=mereorthodoxy.com) and [The Atonement: A Guide for the Perplexed](http://www.amazon.com/Atonement-Guide-Perplexed-Guides/dp/056725402X/ref=sr%5F1%5F2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418917461&sr=1-2&keywords=atonement+a+guide+for+the+perplexed&ref=mereorthodoxy.com) (forthcoming). He also [gave this interesting lecture on angels and the atonement, for those who are interested](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikL6CUddKHM&ref=mereorthodoxy.com).

Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry is (among other things) a writer and cultural critic. He writes [regularly at Patheos](http://www.patheos.com/blogs/inebriateme?ref=mereorthodoxy.com) and has a column at [The Week](http://theweek.com/author/pascal-emmanuel-gobry?ref=mereorthodoxy.com) as well (which I highly recommend).

During the show, [we talked a little about this post by Pascal](http://www.patheos.com/blogs/inebriateme/2014/11/thoughts-against-penal-substitutionary-atonement/?ref=mereorthodoxy.com). See his [follow-up as well](http://www.patheos.com/blogs/inebriateme/2014/11/why-we-need-to-recover-the-classical-doctrine-of-sin/?ref=mereorthodoxy.com). And if you're looking for a post [that's way too long on the subject, check out this missive by Derek](http://derekzrishmawy.com/2014/10/23/the-beauty-of-the-cross-19-objections-and-answers-on-penal-substitutionary-atonement-500th-post/?ref=mereorthodoxy.com).

Special thanks to [MK Creative Arts](http://www.mkcreativearts.com/?ref=mereorthodoxy.com) for the audio editing.

If you enjoyed the show (AND ONLY IF), leave [us a review at iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mere-fidelity/id885758537?mt=2&ref=mereorthodoxy.com). If you didn’t enjoy the show, let us know and we’ll work to make it better. Or we’ll ignore you. And if you want to [subscribe by RSS, you can do that here](http://feeds.podtrac.com/9Q4MSGuK6Gj1?ref=mereorthodoxy.com).

Finally, as always, follow [Derek](https://twitter.com/DZRishmawy?ref=mereorthodoxy.com) for more tweet-sized brilliance.