A Biblical Evaluation of O. R. L. Crosier’s View of Atonement
Keywords:
atonement, O. R. L. Crosier, sanctuary, Day of Atonement, Adventist pioneersAbstract
The idea of when Jesus does His atonement has been a discussion between Protestants and Seventh-day Adventists. Evangelicals have thought that Adventists do not believe that the cross is a complete atonement of God. This question was raised in 1957 and Adventists answered it through Questions on Doctrine. This question, once believed by some Adventist pioneers, has its foundation in the writing of O.R.L. Crosier. This article aims to answer biblically why Crosier’s idea is rejected in this denomination. Using the word study of “atonement,” this work argues that the biblical idea of atonement involves the sacrifice and the application of the high priest in the sanctuary. The Old and New Testaments embrace the concept that Jesus died on Calvary and His application ministry in the heavenly sanctuary as atonement. The reason for Crosier’s limited perception of atonement since he focused on the work of the priest and was not on the overall idea of atonement in the Bible.
References
Andrews, J. N. “The Cleansing of the Sanctuary. Review and Herald, February 21, 1856, 165.
_________. “The Sanctuary.” Review and Herald, February 3, 1853, 146.
Averbeck, Richard E. “כפר,” New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis. Edited by Willem. A. Van Gemeren. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1997. 2: 689-710.
Branderburger, E. “σταυρός.” New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. Edited by Colin Brown. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1986. 1: 391-403
Bates, Joseph. A Vindication of the Seventh-Day Sabbath and the Commandments of God: With a Further History of God's Peculiar People from 1847 to 1848. New Bedford, MA: Benjamin Lindsey, 1848.
Bavinck, Herman. Reformed Dogmatics. Edited by John Bolt. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2011.
Bliss, Sylvester. Memoirs of William Miller. Boston: Joshua V. Himes, 1853.
Burt, Merlin D. Adventist Pioneer Places: New York and New England. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald, 2011.
_________. Development of Seventh-day Adventist Theology. Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University, 2013.
_________. “The Day-Dawn of Canandaigua, New York: Reprint of a Significant Millerite Adventist Journal,” Andrews University Seminary Studies 44, no. 2(Autumn 2006): 317-330.
_________. “The Extended Atonement View in the Day-Dawn and the Emergence of Sabbatarian Adventism,” Andrews University Seminary Studies 44, no. 2(Autumn 2006): 331-339.
Crosier, Owen Russel Loomis. “The Law of Moses.” The Day- Star Extra, January 9, 1846, 37-44.
Erickson, M. J. “Theories of Atonement.” Dictionary of Christianity in America. Edited by Daniel G. Reid. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1990.
Fitch, Charles. “Letter to the Presbytery of Newark,” in Guide to Christian Perfection,Vol. 1, No. 10, April 1840, 217-218.
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Ministerial Association. Seventh-day Adventist Believe: A Biblical Exposition of Fundamental Doctrines. Boise, ID: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 2005.
Godfrey, W. R. “Extent of Atonement.” New Dictionary of Theology. Leicester, UK: InterVarsity, 1988.
Gordon, Paul A. Pioneer Articles on the Sanctuary, the Judgment, 2300 Days Year-Day Principle, Atonement. Washington, DC: Ellen G. White Estate, 1983.
_________. The Sanctuary, 1844, and the Pioneers. Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1983.
Green, Joel B. “Atonement.” The New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible. Edited by Katharine Doob Sakenfeld. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 2006. 1: 344-348.
Gunton. Colin E. “Atonement,” in The Encyclopedia of Christianity. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1999.
Hartley, John E. Leviticus. Word Biblical Commentary 4. Dallas, TX: Word Books, 1992.
Kelley, H. M. “The Spirit of 1844.” Review and Herald, June 23, 1921, 4-5.
Land, Gary. Historical Dictionary of Seventh-day Adventists. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow, 2005.
Litch, Josiah. An address to the Public and Especially the Clergy. Boston, MA: Joshua V. Himes, 1841.
________. Prophetic Expositions; or A Connected View of the Testimony of the Prophets Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Time of Its Establishment. Boston, MA: Joshua V. Himes, 1842.
________. The Probability of the Second Coming of Christ About A.D. 1843. Boston, MA: David H. Ela, 1838.
Loughborough, J. N. The Great Second Advent Movement. Nashville, TN: Southern Publishing, 1905.
Louw, Johannes P. and Eugene A. Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. Edited by Rondal B. Smith. New York, NY: United Bible Societies, 1989.
Maxwell, C. Mervyn. “Sanctuary and Atonement in SDA Theology.” The Sanctuary and the Atonement: Biblical, Historical, and Theological Studies. Edited by Arnold W. Wallenkampf and W. Richard Lesser. Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1981.
McDonald, H. D. The Atonement of the Death of Christ. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book, 1985.
Miller, William. “Letter from Bro. Miller.” Western Midnight Cry, December 21, 1844, 26.
_________. Letter to Joshua V. Himes, on the Cleansing of the Sanctuary. Boston: Joshua V. Himes, 1842.
Paul, Robert S. The Atonement and the Sacraments. Nashville, New York: Abingdon, 1960.
Peterson, Robert A. Salvation Accomplished by the Son: The Work of Christ. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012.
Quinn, Philip L. “Theories of Atonement.” The Oxford Companion to Christian Thought. New York : Oxford University, 2000.
Representative Group of Seventh-day Adventist leaders, Bible Teachers, and Editors. Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine: An Explanation of Certain Major Aspects of Seventh-day Adventist belief. Washington, DC: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1957.
Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia. Vol. 10, rev. ed., (1996), s.v. “Atonement.”
_________. Vol. 11, rev. ed., (1996), s.v. “Seventh-Month Movement.”
Smith, Uriah. “The Santuary,” Review and Herald, March 28, 1854, 78.
_________. “The Sanctuary of the New Covenant.” Review and Herald, October 2, 1856, 172.
Snow, Samuel S. “Behold, the Bridgroom Cometh; Go Ye Out to Meet Him,” The True Midnight Cry, 22 August 1844, 1-4.
Storrs, George. Six Sermons on the Inquiry Is There Immortality in Sin and Suffering?Also, A Sermon on Christ the Life Giver: or, the Faith of the Gospel. New York, NY: Bible Examiner Office, 1856.
Strong, Augustus Hopkins. Systematic Theology: A Compendium Designed for the Use of Theological Students, vol. 2. Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell, 1907.
Timm, Alberto R. “Owen Russell Loomis Crosier (or Crozier).” The Ellen G. White Encyclopedia. Edited by Denis Fortin and Jerry Moon. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald, 2013.
________. “O. R. L. Crosier: A Biographical Introduction.” Term paper, Andrews University, Michigan, United States, 1991.
Tornalejo, Remwil R. “The Doctrine of Atonement as it Relates to the Humanity of Christ: A Comparative Study and Analysis of the Views of Irving, Barth and Sequeira.” PhD diss, AIIAS, Silang, Cavite, Philippines, 2013.
Treiyer, Alberto R. The Day of Atonement and the Heavenly Judgment from the Pentateuch to Revelation. Siloam Springs, AR: Creation Enterprises International, 1992.
White, Ellen G. The Spirit of Prophecy. Vol. 4. Battle Creek, MI: Review and Herald, 1884.
_________. “To Bro. Eli Curtis, New York City,” in A Word to the “Little Flock.” Edited by James White. Gorham, ME: n.p., 1847.
White, James “The Sanctuary,” Review and Herald. December 1, 1863, 4- 5.
Zurcher, Jean Rudolf. Touched with our Feelings: A Historical Survey of Adventist Thought on the Human Nature of Christ. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald, 1999.
