Enacting Atonement: The Narrative Logic of Sacrifice and Sonship in Leviticus

Discover the story of salvation in Christ through Levitical rituals

Atonement lies at the heart of the Christian faith. In Christ’s work of atonement, we are reconciled to God, enabled to draw near to him, and can see his glory. Through studying the Levitical burnt offering, Roy McDaniel takes readers on a deep exploration of Leviticus 1:1-9 in this thought-provoking volume, part of the Studies in Christian Doctrine and Scripture series from IVP Academic. Using elements of narrative analysis like setting, plot, and hero, McDaniel shows how the Levitical burnt offering is a ritual recapitulation of the narrative of Israel’s election and deliverance as depicted in Genesis and Exodus, and how in doing so, it proclaims the atoning work of Christ.

At the heart of this work lies the ＂logic＂ of atonement, present in the Levitical burnt offering, an idea that contributes to the doctrine of atonement by demonstrating how Christ’s incarnate sacrifice is rooted in his eternal identity as God the Son.

In Enacting Atonement, Roy McDaniel:

• Provides a coherent account of atonement centered on the eternal identity of the Son,
• Shows how Levitical sacrifice can inform the church’s doctrine of atonement by modeling a careful theological exegesis of Leviticus, and
• Explores questions about the meaning of sacrifice and its relationship to the being and attributes of God.

Whether you’re a scholar, student, pastor-theologian, or a layperson seeking deeper understanding, Enacting Atonement invites you to uncover the rich tapestry of God’s redemptive narrative in the Levitical ritual.

Rev. Dr. Roy McDaniel (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is an assistant pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. He also holds faculty positions at Westminster Christian Academy and Birmingham Theological Seminary. Roy and his wife, Becky, have three children.