Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 36:142 (Apr 1879)
Article: A Defence Of The Catholic Faith Concerning The Satisfaction Of Christ Against Faustus Socinus Of Sienna Written By Hugo Grotius
Author: Frank Hugh Foster

BSac 36:142 (April 1879) p. 271

A Defence Of The Catholic Faith Concerning The Satisfaction
Of Christ Against Faustus Socinus Of Sienna Written By Hugo Grotius

Rev. Frank H. Foster

Chapter IV.
Whether It Was Unjust That Christ Should Be Punished For Our Sins;
And It Is Shown That It Was Not

The arguments with which Socinus attempts to overthrow this doctrine are very poorly arranged by him. It seems best, therefore, for us to arrange them in the following classes: first, that what we defend, if done, was unjust; secondly, that there was no reason for doing it; thirdly, that what we assert was not done by God.

If the transaction was unjust, it is useless to look for its cause, since there can be no rational cause for that which is unjust; useless, also, to dispute whether it was done, as no injustice can be done by God. Again, the examination of the cause, since it naturally precedes the question of fact, must be treated before it.

To begin, therefore, with the question of justice or injustice, we must first make a distinction between the two following inquiries: whether it were just that Christ should be punished on account of our sins; and whether this could effect anything in obtaining pardon for us. The latter must be referred to the second class, which discusses the cause of the deed, but does not properly belong to the first. For even if there had been no such cause for punishment, it would not follow that injustice was involved in the punishment itself. But it would seem that there might be injustice either in the matter, that is, in the very severe sufferings and death, when compared with the innocency of him who suffered

BSac 36:142 (April 1879) p. 272

these things, or in the form, that is, in the punishment when compared with the sins of others, as a meritorious cause. We shall therefore show that there is no injustice in either of these.

First, therefore, Socinus confesses1 that it was not unjust that Christ, though perfectly innocent, should suffer from God the severest tortures, and death itself; so that no aid to his cause can come from this quarter. The simple occurrence manifestly proves the same thing. For sacred history shows that Christ suffered the severest things, and also died. Scripture says, no less clearly, that this was done by God. But we cannot say, without insult to the divine majesty, that God can act unjustly.

Passing, therefore, to the second part, I affirm2 that it is not unjust simply, or contrary to the nature of punishment, that one should be punished for another’s sins. When I say unjust it is manifest that I speak of...