book review: Atonement and the New Perspective

Title: Atonement and the New Perspective

Author: Stephen Burnhope
Publisher: Pickwick Publications
Date: 2018

Over the last few years, there has been a revisiting of the theology of the atonement. One of these recent books is Stephen Burnhope’s “Atonement and the New Perspective: The God of Israel, Covenant and the Cross”.

Debate within Reformed Evangelicalism has been characterized by claims for supremacy to be granted to penal substitution, versus arguments for a kaleidoscopic, multi-model understanding. An important consideration that is often lacking from the discussion is any positive theological reflection on God’s pre-existing relationship with Israel (often, this gets reduced to providing the negative side of law-versus-grace and works-versus-faith, as the 'dark' background against which the light of Christ may shine more brightly).

Scholarship centred on the “New Perspective on Paul” has dismantled the old stereotypes around first-century Judaism. Burnhope’s book asks how we can think about the atonement when it is brought into conversation with the new scholarship. It concludes by proposing a “new perspective” on atonement in which Christ is central, Israel and Torah are affirmed, and the traditional metaphors find new relevance.

Burnhope writes from an Evangelical perspective with Evangelical concerns about atonement in mind and is well aware of the history of the doctrine before and after the Reformation as well as current Evangelical movements. Burnhope’s book offers a helpful outline of not only the new perspective on Paul but also on the main points in the Evangelical conversation about penal substitutionary atonement. 

There is an excellent discussion of the issue of supersessionism in relation to atonement. Burnhope doesn’t dodge the difficulties. He does a nice job of reframing the debate with an examination of the religious background of Paul and a reminder of the inaccuracies of our lazy contemporary readings of first-century Jewish and Christian religion. 

Those who are wedded to the penal substitution model of the atonement probably won’t like Burnhope’s approach. However, I think he raises some excellent points around the covenant-making motif that causes us to consider a plurality of ways about the cross.

Burnhope’s work is quite technical so it may not be for the average reader. Pastors who consider theology a vital component of their work will find it helpful. You may not agree with all of Burnhope’s conclusions. He helpfully presents an excellent overview of numerous contributors to the discussion of atonement.

Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from the publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review.
The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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