Atonement in the Apocalypse: an Exposé of the Defeat
of Evil by Robert W.
Canoy is a reasonably short and focused work, which narrows the topic of the
atonement to its relation to the book of Revelation. It does not deal with the
atonement in ways that many typical books on the atonement will – e.g., limited
atonement, general atonement, etc.. It only delves lightly into the eschatology
of Revelation, in places in might be pertinent to the main topic.
Robert W. Canoy, the author of Atonement
in the Apocalypse, is Dean and Professor of Christian Theology at the
School of Divinity of Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North
Carolina.
I was excited when I saw an advertisement for Atonement in the Apocalypse in my inbox. I am interested in this
subject, and am not aware of another book that focuses so particularly on it.
Canoy's and the book's connections to Smyth & Helwys and the Cooperative
Baptist Fellowship put a slight damper on the excitement. I knew it would come
out of the moderate to liberal field. Because of its particular focus I
nevertheless wanted to read it and purchased it. I wasn’t aware of another book
like it.[i] This is a topic I wish to
explore further and appreciate Canoy’s contribution.
In the beginning Canoy writes on the subject of the atonement and
how that fits within the genre of Revelation (Apocalyptic, Prophesy, Epistle).
In chapters 2 and 3 he deals with atonement language and metaphors used in
Revelation (such as Temple, altar, Lamb, etc.). Chapter 5 might be called the
heart of the book, the defeat of the Great Red Dragon as the exposé of evil. In
the final chapter Canoy offers theological conclusions with implications for
Christian living.
view of atonement?
Danny West says Atonement in
the Apocalypse is “written with clarity for both scholars and laypersons in
mind.” I believe that is a fair assessment. For example, Canoy’s placement of the
Greek text in sentences following the English translation can be read by those
who can do so, or simply ignored by those who cannot.[ii] Mitchell Reddish writes, “Canoy’s
work in the result of informed exegesis, critical dialogue with other scholars,
and theological reflection on the significance of John’s understanding of the
redemptive work of God.” To my taste there was far too much interaction with/quoting
of other scholars, which to me became tiresome after a point.
My overall assessment is “somewhat disappointing.” The uniqueness
of the topic gets the book a recommendation I might not otherwise give. Canoy’s
atonement view gets the reader a warning. Be aware. I guess I was naïve and not
expecting the so-called “Christus Victor” view of the atonement to be promoted
in the book.[iii]
This aspect left me confused in the beginning until I realized what he was
saying. Be careful. I actually have no problem with “Christus Victor” other
than when it is used to deny and substitute for penal and substitutionary
aspects of the atonement.
Finally, I was disappointed that this book coming out of the
academic field included no index. This is a deficiency that should be corrected
in future printings.
[i] There are many things of
which I am not aware, so there may be other books, even many, of this genre.
Searching around the World Wide Web yields evidence that Loren L. Johns’s
chapter on “Atonement and Sacrifice in the Book of Revelation” in The
Work of Jesus Christ in Anabaptist Perspective: Essays in Honor of J. Denny
Weaver (edited by Alain Epp Weaver and Gerald J. Mast, Telford, PA:
Cascadia Publishing House, 2008) and Weaver’s own The
Nonviolent Atonement (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001) deal with this
topic.
[ii]
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition,
Michael W. Holmes, editor, Lexham Press, 2011-13
[iii] For more information,
see Christus
Victor: The Salvation of God and the Cross of Christ and The
Problem with Christus Victor.
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