What is the Orthodox Christian view on the atonement and is Penal Substitutionary Atonement Orthodox?

The patristic and biblical quotes in this collection reveal what Orthodox Christians actually teach about the atonement, debunking prevailing myths. The quotes show multiple biblical and patristic perspectives: Christ as 'ransom for all' (1 Tim 2:6), 'triumphing over' principalities and powers (Col 2:15), and the 'sweet exchange' where 'the iniquity of many should be concealed in One Righteous Man, and the righteousness of One should justify many that are iniquitous' (St. Athanasius). Rather than modern theories, the Church Fathers emphasize Christ taking 'upon Himself our sins' as 'a ransom for us, holy for lawless, guileless for evil, just for the unjust' (St. Athanasius). These truthful quotes help debunk misconceptions about what the Orthodox Church has historically taught about the atonement.

The quotes in this collection help debunk myths by showing the actual range of patristic and biblical teaching on atonement. Some emphasize Christ bearing our sins ('he made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin' - 2 Cor 5:21), others focus on propitiation ('he is propitiation for our sins' - 1 John 2:2), while others highlight Christ as a ransom or victory over death. By presenting both substitutionary language and themes of divine wrath directly from the sources, this collection helps readers distinguish between prevailing myths and what the Church Fathers actually teach.

TIKHON OF ZADONSK on the Atonement

Once upon a time David, the king of Israel, wished to die instead of his son Absalom (O ardent love!) and, weeping for him, he said this: O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! Oh, would that I could die instead of thee, O Absalom my son, O my son! (2 Kngdms. 18:33). So Christ the Son of God and the Son of David according to the flesh, seeing us dead and lost, wept for us, and wished to die and suffer for us, and actually died and suffered in order to revive us dead.

TIKHON OF ZADONSK

ibid., Chapter 108

Eighteenth Century