Lamb of the Free: Recovering the Varied Sacrificial Understandings of Jesus’s Death

Lamb of the Free: Recovering the Varied Sacrificial Understandings of Jesus’s Death
by: Andrew Remington Rillera (Author),Douglas A. Campbell(Contributor)
Publication Date: 13 Mar. 2024
Language:English
Print Length:356 pages
ISBN-10:1666703044
ISBN-13:9781666703047
Book Description
Lamb of the Free analyzes the different sacrificial imagery applied to Jesus in the NT in light of the facts that (a) there is no such thing as substitutionary death sacrifice in the Torah—neither death nor suffering nor punishment of the animal has any place in the sacrificial system—and (b) there are both atoning and non-atoning sacrifices. Surprisingly, the earliest and most common sacrifices associated with Jesus’s death are the non-atoning ones. Nevertheless, when considering the whole NT, Jesus is said to accomplish all the benefits of the entire Levitical system, from both atoning and non-atoning sacrifices and purification. Moreover, all sacrificial interpretations of Jesus’s death in the NT operate within the paradigm of participation, which is antithetical to notions of substitution. The sacrificial imagery in the NT is aimed at grounding the exhortation for the audience to be conformed to the cruciform image of Jesus by sharing in his death. The consistent message throughout the entire NT is not that Jesus died instead of us, rather, Jesus dies ahead of us so that we can unite with him and be conformed to the image of his death.
About the Author
Review “Drawing especially on important insights from Jacob Milgrom, Andrew Rillera relentlessly critiques faulty assumptions about sacrifice, substitution, and atonement that (mis)inform certain prevalent interpretations of Jesus’s death. Anyone interested in these matters will need to grapple with Rillera’s stimulating and provocative work.”–David M. Moffitt, reader in New Testament Studies, University of St. Andrews”PSA for all Christians: PSA is dead, and Andrew Rillera just killed it. Christians who have been troubled by the implications of penal substitutionary atonement will want to read Lamb of the Free, while those who subscribe to PSA might not want to read it, but absolutely must!”–Matthew Thiessen, associate professor of religious studies, McMaster University”Andrew Rillera provides an essential primer to sacrifices and ritual purity situated within a compelling argument about various misreadings of New Testament texts. It is a great resource for anyone interested in Jewish rituals and concepts of ‘atonement.'”–Madison N. Pierce, associate professor of New Testament, Western Theological Seminary”Beware! Don’t read this book if you aren’t ready for a head-exploding, previous-theology-mashing, and page-turning exposition of the saving significance of Jesus! Put it down and walk away if you’d rather hang on to penal substitutionary atonement (PSA) or something else similarly unbiblical. This is a book that will satisfy the academic as well as call the Christian into profound discipleship. You will end up using the words ‘union’ and ‘participation’ with more joy and depth than ever before as you think about the saving significance of Jesus.”–Chris Tilling, head of research and senior lecturer in New Testament, St. Mellitus College”With this book, Andrew Rillera has given readers the best gift a scholar can give: a thoughtful, thorough, clearly written argument that demands attention. Those already familiar with the complex world of Jewish sacrifice will find yet more to explore due to Rillera’s judicious and animated exposition, and due to his precision, any who disagree will be required to articulate a well-defended response. If matters about atonement in the Old or New Testament at all interest (or vex) you, read this book.”–Paul T. Sloan, associate professor of early Christianity, Houston Christian University”Andrew Rillera’s Lamb of the Free shows cogently that penal substitutionary atonement is not a New Testament teaching. Quite the opposite: Christ didn’t suffer and die so that we don’t have to; rather Christ enacted radical solidarity with us in our suffering and death so that, vanquished by the resurrection, these might no longer prevent us from truly loving even now. This is a work of considerable exegetical and theological significance.”–Jordan Daniel Wood, author of The Whole Mystery of Christ: Creation as Incarnation in Maximus Confessor About the Author Andrew Remington Rillera is assistant professor of biblical studies and theology at The King’s University in Edmonton, Alberta, in Canada.