Theories of Justification, Reflection on Romans 8:31-34

Paul wrote to the Romans that God has justified us, that Christ intercedes for us. In pondering the theological meaning of justification, I turned to Theology, A Very Short Introduction, by David F. Ford.

He describes three different theories of justification, each based within the time it was developed (pages 112-115):

• The military symbolism of victory over sin, death, and the devil--popular during the early centuries and resurgent during the Reformation
• The "satisfaction theory" worked out during the feudal system
• "Cross-dominated theory," taken from a law court image--Jesus takes the place of the one who deserves condemnation, at the heart of 16th century Reformation

Ford then describes newer theories of justification; e. g., liberation theology, which does not restrict salvation to life after death, and feminist theology, which contains a large liberation element.