Kultmetaphorik und Christologie

What are the Christological and soteriological contents of the metaphor of the sacrifice of Jesus and the concept of atonement in the New Testament? Do they communicate the vicarious death of Jesus, as many suggest today? These metaphors and concepts, however, are not only difficult to comprehend; they are often considered offensive due to alleged implications such as violent killing and the image of a vengeful God. Christian A. Eberhart tackles this problem in his careful and detailed study of cult metaphors and concepts in the context of New Testament Christology. By relating them to Old Testament and early Jewish traditions of sacrificial rituals, he shows that the metaphor of the sacrifice of Jesus does not necessarily convey the violent death of Jesus, but his entire mission and life. Nor is the cultic concept of atonement based on vicarious killing; it expresses salvation through purification and consecration.