OVERVIEW

Adam Johnson is an Associate Professor in the Torrey Honors College at Biola University. Dr. Johnson is a theologian, and his work examines the Christian doctrine of atonement.

Questions for Reflection

• Dante’s meditation on justice in the previous canto continues on with his question: how can a just vendetta be justly punished (7.19-24). This leads Beatrice to give a discourse on the Christ’s atonement. How does Beatrice answer Dante’s question (7.25-51)?
• Why did God opt to save the world through the crucifixion of Christ than by other means (7.58-120)? How does this fulfill both justice and mercy?
• How is humanity different from all other created things (7.139-144)? How does this connect us to Purgatorio 25?
• Dante discussed Lady Fortune in Inferno 7 and Christian atonement in Paradiso What relation might we see Dante forging between these two topics? How might Christ’s redemptive work transform our understanding of Fortune?