Did Paul teach Penal
Substitution?
Modern Christians rely primarily on Paul’s
writings for their understanding of forgiveness of sins. The Bible tells us that Paul’s writings are
difficult to properly understand and Christians who read his writings without a
proper understanding of the rest of Scriptures tend to misinterpret him and
create false doctrines.
2 Peter 3:15-18
15 And account
that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother
Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in
all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard
to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do
also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye
therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also,
being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in
grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be
glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Peter tells Christians that Paul’s writings are difficult to properly
understand and many Christians, even in his day were misinterpreting Paul and
creating false doctrines. Peter says
that, instead, they should focus on what Jesus taught. If any of your doctrines relies almost
entirely on Paul’s writings, then you should probably reexamine it. That is why I occasionally quote Paul, but I
try to always try to form the key components of my understanding of a
particular doctrine from other parts of the Bible.
Now that we have had a chance to look at what Jesus actually taught, we
will briefly survey Paul’s writings. A
proper examination of his writings will be way beyond what I am prepared to do
here, but we will look at a few passages that will serve as prime examples.
Most people assume that Romans 3:25 clearly teaches penal substitution.
Romans 3:25 ASV
25
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whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through
faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of
the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God;
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ον προεθετο ο θεος ιλαστηριον δια πιστεως εν τω
αυτου αιματι εις ενδειξιν της δικαιοσυνης αυτου δια την παρεσιν των
προγεγονοτων αμαρτηματων
|
The word translated “propitiation” is ιλαστηριον
(hilastérion). Propitiation does carry
the idea of appeasing a deity’s wrath.
But, is this the way Paul used it?
The only other place in the New Testament where this Hebrews 9:5.
Hebrews 9:5 ASV
5
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and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat;
of which things we cannot now speak severally.
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υπερανω δε αυτης χερουβιν δοξης κατασκιαζοντα το ιλαστηριον
περι ων ουκ εστιν νυν λεγειν κατα μερος
|
Here, it irrefutably refers to the mercy-seat on top of the Ark of
the Covenant. It also appears in the
Septuagint. There it is also
consistently used to refer to the mercy-seat.
The thing about the mercy-seat is that the only ceremony that
involves placing blood on it is the Day of Attonement. Of the three animals in that ceremony, two
have their blood sprinkled on the mercy-seat.
However, only one has the transgressions and iniquities of the people
placed on it, and that is also the only animal whose blood is NOT sprinkled on
the mercy-seat. The fact that Paul links
ιλαστηριον to Jesus’s blood would make anyone familiar with
the Sanctuary service doubt that he is trying to day that God was punishing
Jesus for our sins.
It becomes even more doubtful that Paul meant this when we read
Romans chapter 6. Paul goes into great
depth on how our sins are forgiven when we die to sin, like Jesus, thereby
PARTICIPATING in Jesus’s death. Paul
doesn’t portray Jesus as our substitute.
Instead, Jesus is our example that we must follow.
Romans
6
1 What shall
we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God
forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?
3 Or
are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized
into his death?
4 We
were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ
was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk
in newness of life.
5 For
if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be
also in the likeness of his resurrection;
6 knowing
this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be
done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;
7 for
he that hath died is justified from sin.
8 But
if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him;
9 knowing
that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death no more hath
dominion over him.
10 For
the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he liveth, he
liveth unto God.
11 Even
so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ
Jesus.
12 Let
not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts
thereof:
13 neither
present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present
yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of
righteousness unto God.
14 For
sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under
grace.
15 What
then? shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know
ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his
servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto
righteousness?
17 But
thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient
from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered;
18 and
being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.
19 I
speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye
presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto
iniquity, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness unto
sanctification.
20 For
when ye were servants of sin, ye were free in regard of righteousness.
21 What
fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for
the end of those things is death.
22 But
now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit
unto sanctification, and the end eternal life.
23 For
the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
Paul takes this even further in chapter 8
where he says that we must put the deeds of the body to death and suffer with
Christ in order to become heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ and join
Christ in the resurrection.
Romans 8:12-17 ASV
12 So
then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh:
13 for
if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death
the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For
as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15 For
ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the
spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The
Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God:
17 and
if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be
that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him.
Paul is very difficult to properly
understand, as Peter said. A definitive
understanding of what he taught is way beyond the scope of what I am prepared
to do here. He says a few things that,
on the surface, seem to support the idea of Penal Substitution. But, when you look at the larger context, he
seems to actually be saying that Christ is our example. And he also makes plenty of statements that
suggest we must suffer and die to sin with Christ, which completely contradicts
Penal Substitution.
