Skip to main content
substitutionary

substitutionary

9.1
Doing a job, duty, or punishment instead of someone else
  • adjective
  • /ˌsʌbstɪˈtuːʃənˌɛri/
  • Formal
translation icon : sustitucional
  • This defensible view could fittingly replace both the merely moral and the substitutionary (scapegoat) versions of that doctrine.
  • substitutionary atonement

But you can call it the substitutionary atonement, meaning that that Christ substitutes for what human beings can't provide.

Examples

  • But you can call it the substitutionary atonement, meaning that that Christ substitutes for what human beings can't provide.

  • And so it was a substitutionary death and he undoomed us.

  • Crucicentrism focuses on the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and the necessity of his substitutionary atonement.

    Blog text (18)
  • Cone linked substitutionary atonement specifically to defenses of slavery and colonial oppression.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Oh, sorry—and by that explanation, what we're being saved from by Jesus's substitutionary death is our state of sinfulness, which makes us unworthy of a relationship with God.

    Blog text (19)
  • The pastor explained the concept of substitutionary atonement during the Sunday service, emphasizing that Christ took upon himself the sins of humanity.

  • Many theologians have debated the implications of a substitutionary sacrifice, suggesting it embodies the principle of taking another's punishment.

  • The idea of a substitutionary role in legal contexts illustrates how one person can take the blame or responsibility for another's actions.

Synonyms

acting
vssubstitutionary
3 3.7

Temporarily doing the job of the usual person

refers to taking another's place often with legal or moral responsibility
substitutive
vssubstitutionary
7.2

Acting as a replacement for something else

is focused on replacing a person in legal or moral responsibility
substitutional
vssubstitutionary
7.6

Relating to replacing one thing with another in a material or system

emphasizes replacing people and their duties or punishments in formal contexts

Surface Forms

substitutionary positive

Morphology

substitutionary = substitution (transparent) = substitution + ary

Formed from the noun 'substitution' plus the adjectival suffix '-ary', giving 'pertaining to or serving as a substitute', which is directly inferable.

Etymology

Substitutionary comes from the parts sub- 'under' and a root that means 'place', the same idea in the common word substitute, which is someone 'put in' another person's place. So a substitutionary action is one that takes the place, punishment, or responsibility of someone else, like a substitute teacher who stands in for the regular teacher.