Some good theological discussion from Duke Divinity's David C. Steinmetz regarding The Passion, in today's Raleigh News and Observer. After less important debates about history (see below) and fairly important debates about supposed anti-semitism (see evrywhere else), the meaningful discussion to be had after a Passionate night at the movies is theology. To wit, what theology did Mr. Gibson explore with his movie?
Steinmetz has some suggestions: "Christians have never agreed on a single meaning for the crucifixion of Jesus. Instead, they have offered over the centuries a number of theories, each of which has some support in the New Testament, but none of which was ever identified by church authorities as the sole official theory, displacing all others."
Three theories:

The oldest theory taught by Christians relies on a metaphor drawn from a battlefield. In this theory the accent falls on Easter rather than Good Friday. Christ is a liberator, who delivered humankind from the dark and oppressive powers of sin, death, and devil. Images of the cross show a savior who is hardly suffering at all. He is portrayed as a victorious general and his arms are outstretched, not in pain, but in triumph.

A second theory, associated with the name of St. Anselm of Canterbury (who died in 1109), works with a metaphor drawn from a courtroom and envisions fallen humanity as a guilty prisoner charged with a capital crime. God is a compassionate magistrate who does not want to condemn the guilty prisoner, but is compelled by his sense of justice to do so. In this theory Jesus Christ, who is innocent of all charges, takes the place and punishment of the guilty. By suffering death on the cross, he expiates human sin and upholds divine justice.

The third theory, proposed by the French theologian, Peter Abelard (died 1142), is more psychological in nature. God is not alienated from the human race, argued Abelard. Human beings are alienated from God. Indeed, God so loves wayward and erring humanity that he suffers humiliation and rejection at its hands. The cross is a stunning demonstration of a love that will not be turned aside, whatever the cost. The sight of the crucified Christ as the focal point of God's persistent love moves men and women to contrition and thus to the beginning of a new life.

Discuss...