The Death of Death in the Death of Christ - John Owen

This episode explores John Owen’s seminal theological work, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, which defends the doctrine of limited atonement. Published by the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, the book argues against universal redemption, asserting that Christ’s sacrifice was specifically designed to secure the salvation of the elect. Owen structures his defense around the sovereignty of God, the intentionality of the Trinity, and the effective power of the cross to actually save rather than merely make salvation possible. The sources include a detailed analysis of its four books, which cover the purposes of the Father, Son, and Spirit, while systematically refuting Arminian and Amyraldian viewpoints. Through rigorous Scriptural interpretation, Owen contends that separating the oblation of Christ from his intercession undermines the gospel's certainty. Ultimately, the text highlights the work's historical significance in Puritan theology and its enduring role as a definitive polemic on the extent of redemption.