Discussion 19: Ransom to Satan Theory of the Atonement

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THE ATONEMENT SERIES: PART 2

[Click here for the companion YouTube video]

QUESTION: Mt 20:28, which reads, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” What do you think that this verse is trying to communicate by referring to Christ’s life as a ransom?

ORIGEN OF ALEXANDRIA (c.185–253) was the original person to present a developed form of the Ransom-to Satan theory of the Atonement. Origen founded the Christian School of Caesarea, where he taught logic, cosmology, natural history, and theology, and became regarded by the churches of Palestine and Arabia as the ultimate authority on all matters of theology. He was tortured for his faith during the Decian persecution in 250 and died three to four years later from his injuries. One of Origen’s masterpieces is his Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew. It consists of 25 books, but only Books 10-17 exist today in the original Greek. Luckily, Origen’s Ransom-to-Satan theory is in Book 16, and so we have it in Origen’s original Greek writing. His Ransom-to-Satan theory appears here because it is here that he addresses Mt 20:28.

READING: ‘[Jesus] gave his soul as a ransom for many’ who believe in him. To whom did he give ‘his soul a ransom for many?’ It is not fitting to say to God, is it? Perhaps then to the evil one, for he was ruling in us until the soul to Jesus was given to him as a ‘ransom’ for us.

He was deceived, of course, and supposed that he could have power over him, and did not see that he could not maintain tortures in holding him. For this reason, also ‘death,’ thinking it had power over him, did not have power because he alone was ‘free’ among all ‘the dead’ and stronger than every power of death, and so much stronger that he set free from death all who wished to follow him who were held by death, death having no power at all in them afterwards, for no one who follows Jesus can be seized by death. And when his soul had been given as a ‘ransom for many’ it did not remain with him to whom it had been given. For this reason, the prophet says, ‘You will not leave my soul in the underworld.’ (Ps 15:10) [Origen, The Gospel According to Matthew, Book 16, §8]

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3 responses to “Discussion 19: Ransom to Satan Theory of the Atonement”

  1. Kraig Stanforth Avatar
    Kraig Stanforth

    The Ransom Theory is an erroneous view that makes it seem like God is forced to negotiate with Satan or to satisfy a demand from him, Satan draws up the conditions of the ransom. This is in opposition to the plain interpretation of scripture which states that God acting freely out of love and justice punishes the his own Son on the cross which pays the entire price of humanities sin.

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  2. Nicholas Villarreal Avatar
    Nicholas Villarreal

    I realize that I am somewhat late the the discussion. However, what I mostly have to contribute is a modern illustration as to how, mechanically, one might consider the Ransom to Satan perspective on the Atonement to function. Bear in mind, this is only an allegory to interpret how a modern illustration seems to understand this theory of the Atonement.

    A loan shark has debts for a large portion of individuals. While the debts should have been serviced by banks, the people in debt to the loan shark had no standing before the banks, and went to the loan shark instead. This debt gives the loan shark authority over those who owe this money to the loan shark. Since there is nothing legally binding, the loan shark controls the terms of the loan, and as the loan itself was taken illegally, the debtors can’t go to the authorities without also incriminating themselves.

    Eventually, though, the loan shark gets arrogant, and suddenly, he attracts interest from law enforcement. A RICO case is built against the loan shark in secret – including an undercover agent. The agent moves to the neighborhood, acts like he’s on the verge of being broke, and eventually attracts the “services” of the loan shark. Eventually, the undercover agent gets the loan shark to engage in various sundry methods to extract payment, right up to making death threats – and then promises to pay the loan shark in full, with extra on top. The loan shark accepts the deal. Then, when the undercover agent shows up with what’s supposed to be the payment, the moment the loan shark accepts it, cops descend upon the place, raid all of the files, and lock away the loan shark and his associates.

    With no loan shark present to collect on all of the debt, those in debt to the loan shark are freed from the financial burden of making payments that were probably being extracted unjustly. Local authorities, led by the undercover agent, then come in to help those that the loan shark terrorized out of the situations that put them in a position to be in debt to the loan shark.

    Bear in mind that I am not trying to trivialize the Atonement; I am trying to describe what seems to be a similar process to the Ransom To Satan theory of the Atonement.

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    1. Richard Avatar
      Richard

      I like it! I think that this captures the essence of Ransom-to-Satan well, especially as it progressed and increasingly focused on Satan being deceives. This, in my opinion, is one of its major drawbacks. With Origen, Satan deceives himself. Later, God is understood to deliberately deceive Satan, like your illustration. I much prefer the idea of Satan being deceives to God being a deliberate deceiver.

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