Toward a More Trinitarian Understanding of Atonement

Abstract

While atonement theology has recently been taking a trinitarian turn, Calvin scholars have not caught on to this newly developing trend. Regrettably, most of their attention has been given to Calvin’s view on the extent of the atonement. Even when interpreters of Calvin address the person of the Holy Spirit in relation to atonement, they simply consider him to be the applier of the atoning work of Christ. In this context, the author will argue that the Holy Spirit plays an essential role in Calvin’s atonement theology itself. The author will show that, for Calvin, the Spirit is an indispensable component of Christ’s atoning work.