Post-Enlightenment theology has frequently rejected the historic Christian doctrine of substitutionary atonement. For theologians standing in the tradition of the Lutheran Confessions, rejection of substitutionary atonement is particularly problematic because it endangers the unconditional nature of the justification through faith. If one rejects vicarious satisfaction, then the only alternative is to make redemption dependent on what sinners do for themselves. In this study, Jack Kilcrease argues for substitutionary atonement within the perspective of what he calls the "Confessional Lutheran Paradigm." The author also critiques a wide variety of modern Lutheran theologians' understandings of atonement: Werner Elert, Gustaf Aulen, Gustaf Wingren, Robert Jenson, Eberhard Jungel, Wolfhart Pannenberg, and Gerhard Forde. As Kilcrease demonstrates, although these authors often give many fine theological insights, their distortion or misrepresentation of the doctrine of atonement carriers over to a problematic understanding of law, gospel, and justification through faith.

"Jack D. Kilcrease lays out the Lutheran teaching of the atonement beginning with the Reformer and discusses how his views on Christ's death have been adjusted by leading theologians, most recently Gerhard Forde. Those aware of the current controversy will want to give careful attention to Kilcrease's The Doctrine of Atonement. Hardly a peripheral issue, this is a 'must' read, especially for those who are new to the issue."
--David P. Scaer, Chairman of the Department of Systematic Theology, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN

"Kilcrease offers a helpful survey, succinct yet insightful, of historic Lutheran positions on the atonement as well as a walk through later revisions and challenges. Accessibly written, this is a good introduction for the uninitiated as well as a springboard for further study for those well-versed in theology."
--Wade Johnston, Assistant Professor of Theology, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, WI

Jack D. Kilcrease is Associate Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology at the Institute of Lutheran Theology in Brookings, South Dakota. His articles have appeared in the academic journals: Logia, Lutheran Quarterly, Pro Ecclesia, Theofilos, The Journal of Ecclesiastical History, Concordia Theological Quarterly, and Testamentum Imperium. He is also the author of the books: The Self-Donation of God: A Contemporary Lutheran approach to Christ and His Benefits (2013), Martin Luther in His Own Words (2016), and Confessional Lutheran Dogmatics: The Doctrine of Holy Scripture (forthcoming).