Gustaf Aulén

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Gustaf Aulén was the Bishop of Strängnäs in the Church of Sweden and the author of Christus Victor: An Historical Study of the Three Main Types of the Idea of Atonement in 1931. This work analyzes the doctrine of the atonement of Jesus, suggesting that the three main interpretations in Christian history are the Christus Victor theory, the Satisfaction theory, and the Moral Exemplar theory. Theology Today reports that most modern discussion of atonement theory harkens back to Aulen for its categories [1].

In this work, Aulen states that he is reintroducing the "classic idea of the atonement," the Christus Victor theory. He says it is the only authentically Christian view of the doctrine. He argued that the Satisfaction theory was only fully articulated by Anselm of Canterbury in the 11th century, and the Moral Exemplar theory finds its genesis in Peter Abelard has been popularized by 19th and 20th century liberal theologians. The Christus Victor theory is described as a battle. He writes: Its central theme is the idea of the Atonement as a Divine conflict and victory; Christ -- Christus Victor -- fights against and triumphs over the evil powers of the world, the 'tyrants' under which mankind is in bondage and suffering, and in Him God reconciles the world to Himself.

Aulen also authored The Faith of the Christian Church and Reformation And Catholicity.