A theological appraisal of the satisfaction theory of atonement: Implications for the Ghanaian context

Boaheng, Isaac

dc.contributor.author	Boaheng, Isaac
dc.date.accessioned	2025-02-13T14:20:28Z
dc.date.available	2025-02-13T14:20:28Z
dc.date.issued	2024
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Washington DC: World Bank.	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	2413-9467 \| Print ISSN 2413-9459
dc.identifier.uri	http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/30632
dc.description	FACULTY/STAFF PUBLICATION	en_US
dc.description.abstract	Abstract The doctrine of atonement is central to the logic of the Christian faith. As a core part of Christian theology, the subject of atonement has received much scholarly attention since the emergence of the Christian church. Different scholars have interpreted Christ’s atoning sacrifice in different ways based on their socio-political milieu. One of such interpretations is Anselm’s satisfaction theory which considers the atonement as a supererogatory act that provided satisfaction for humankind’s disobedience of God. Like any other model of atonement, Anselm’s model has its strengths and limitations. The lack of literature on the contextual application of Anselm’s satisfaction theory to the Ghanaian context has prompted this study which appraises the theory and then discusses how it might address selected challenges facing the contemporary Ghanaian society. The methodology used for the first task comprised a synchronic historical review and conceptual analysis of existing literature on the satisfaction theory. Among other things, the study found that the satisfaction theory rightly considers God as the receiver of the atonement but fails to address pertinent issues regarding God’s redemptive and covenantal nature. This was followed by a comparative study between Anselm’s socioeconomic and political contexts and those of contemporary Ghana. Based on this, contextual applications of the theory were deduced for contemporary Ghana. The article contributes to the contemporary Christian discourse on the doctrine of soteriology and its relevance to human society. 2 Boaheng • STJ 2024, Vol 10, No 1, 1–27 Keywords Anselm; eco-theology; God; satisfaction theory; sin; sociopolitical	en_US
dc.description.sponsorship	CHRISTIAN SERVICE UNIVERSITY	en_US
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.publisher	CHRISTIAN SERVICE UNIVERSITY	en_US
dc.relation.ispartofseries	Vol 10, No 1, 1–27;No 1, 1–27
dc.subject	Anselm; eco-theology; God; satisfaction theory; sin; sociopolitical	en_US
dc.title	A theological appraisal of the satisfaction theory of atonement: Implications for the Ghanaian context	en_US
dc.title.alternative	Stellenbosch Theological Journal	en_US
dc.type	Article	en_US