Labor of God

In this wonderfully creative and astute work Tom Bennett recovers and extends a minority strand of Christian tradition in which the cross of Christ is understood as the labor of God. Bennett’s account of the metaphor of divine labor offers rich insight into what it means to confess that Christ’s death is a death for us and will surely help to reinvigorate the Church’s proclamation of the atonement and of the new life it brings.

~Murray Rae, Professor of Theology, University of Otago

In this insightful, eloquent work, Thomas Bennett expounds a significant but often overlooked interpretation of the atonement as divine labor: the violent cross paradoxically births children of God who together share the divine DNA. Bennett enriches our appreciation of the ultimate telos of the cross and its wonderfully shocking generativity. An important contribution in its own right, this volume will also engender ongoing conversation as well as new but faithful ways of proclaiming the gospel.

~Michael J. Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology, St. Mary’s Seminary & University

It is a long time since a book on atonement theology has surprised me. In an area where much of our thinking has become stale, Bennett offers us a fresh image of the 'work' of Christ as the 'labor' of childbirth. More familiar themes then fell into a provocative new shape around it.

~Richard Bauckham, Professor Emeritus at the University of St Andrews, Scotland

In the end, Bennett proffers a provocative argument. Its focus on a maternal metaphor definitely has possibilities to reinvigorate the stale arguments of much of contemporary atonement theologies...I strongly recommend this book for upper-level undergraduate and graduate level theology courses.

~Mark S. Medley, Reading Religion

This is an extraordinarily well-crafted work of theology, biblically informed in conversation with historical theology with an eye toward pastoral and practical implication and helps us understand the work of the cross in a biblical but refreshing way.

~Aaron Kink, Religious Studies Review

This beautifully produced, learned, and readable book retrieves and develops a theme espoused by St Anselm of Canterbury, Julian of Norwich, and other medieval authors: the crucified Jesus, in his atoning death, gave birth to God’s spiritual children.

~Gerald O’Collins, SJ, The Journal of Theological Studies

It is one thing to argue for the importance of reinvigorating atonement theology, something else to actually do so. Bennett succeeds at both. The theology is so rich and alive that the book will undoubtedly inspire many sermons

~Mark D. Baker, Interpretation: Journal of Bible and Theology

Bennett’s Labor of God makes a fascinating case for understanding the cross in terms of divine labor, even as it provides fresh language once again to capture the cross’s 'hideous splendor' (p. 89). I am grateful for his work.

~Wil Rogan, Biblical Theology Bulletin

Bennett's work has much to commend it. He has restored a biblical and historical model of atonement that can helpfully sit beside other interpretations of the work of Christ. Furthermore, his apologetic and missional motivation in presenting this model is praiseworthy, grounding theology in a ministry context and presenting a helpful ecclesiological emphasis.

~Andrew P. Campbell, Themelios