Rethinking Atonement: From Leviticus to the Heavenly High Priest
Rethinking Atonement: From Leviticus to the Heavenly High Priest Introduction “Atonement” lies at the heart of both Jewish and Christian theology. In the Hebrew Scriptures, especially Leviticus, atonement is not merely a ritual but a divine process of restoring relationship between God and humanity. The New Testament takes this foundation and expands it through the person and work of Jesus Christ. David M. Moffitt, in his influential work Rethinking the Atonement , challenges the traditional Western reduction of atonement to Jesus’ death alone, calling us to consider the full arc of death, resurrection, ascension, and heavenly priesthood. This article explores the theology of atonement as it unfolds: From Levitical sacrifice, To New Testament fulfillment, To Moffitt’s theological insights, And concludes with a comparison of both sacrificial flows and key Greek terms that support this heavenly perspective. I. Atonement in Leviticus: The Work of the Priest 1. The Hebrew Root – כָּפ...