Book Review
Pierced for our Transgressions: Recovering the glory of penal substitution By Steve Jeffery, Mike Ovey and Andrew Sach (IVP 2007)
This book has three aims: firstly to bring together key biblical passages, theological and doctrinal issues and a historical survey of the church's teaching on penal substitution; secondly to provide a middle ground between the simple and the scholarly on this issue and finally to answer the criticisms which have abounded of the classical evangelical position on atonement. It achieves all three.
While Pierced for our Transgressions is not easy reading, it is enjoyable, fascinating and rewarding. I have been taking notes and I cannot begin to explain all the things I have learned, but it is one of those "Aha" kind of books which help lots of things that previously existed in separate compartments to fit together in a much neater theological jigsaw puzzle, and in doing so enriches rather than diminishes each piece.
In one volume it is a library of references about substitutionary atonement-the Biblical foundations, theological framework, pastoral importance and historical pedigree. Then part two goes on to refute 26 objections to penal substitution relating to the Bible, culture, violence, justice, our understanding of God and issues of the Christian life.
Summarising the Biblical foundations, page 99 of Pierced for our Transgressions says, "The Bible speaks with a clear and united witness. Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. The Servant was pierced for our transgressions. He died, as Caiaphas prophesied, in the place of the people. He was set forth as a propitiation for our sins. He became a curse for us, bearing our sins in his body on the tree, drinking for us the cup of God's wrath, giving his life as a ransom for many." It comes highly recommended.