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Examined Doctrine

Thomas Aquinas on Extent of the atonement

1225 – 1274 · SCHOLASTIC
STANDARD SCHOLARLY ACCOUNTAFFIRMS°
STANCE

Sufficient for all, efficient for the elect

THE POSITION

Christ's passion is sufficient for all and efficient for those who are joined to it — the formula both later camps would claim.

2 OTHERS HOLD THIS

CalvinCharles Haddon Spurgeon
Definite — for the elect, effectuallyVODDIE BAUCHAM · JONATHAN EDWARDS · SECOND LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION · JOHN MACARTHUR · JOHN OWEN · JOHN PIPER · R.C. SPROUL · WESTMINSTER CONFESSION
Universal — for all, applied on faithJACOBUS ARMINIUS · ATHANASIUS · CHRYSOSTOM · LUTHER · PHILIP MELANCHTHON · WESLEY
Never framed in these termsAUGUSTINE · JOSH HOWERTON · NICAEA I · ZWINGLI
See all 24 figures on extent of the atonement →

ABOUT THIS FIGURE

Dominican friar, author of the Summa Theologiae. Synthesized Aristotelian philosophy with Christian doctrine; the reference point for later Catholic theology.

1 OF 13 POSITIONS QUOTED
Everything Aquinas holds →
Cite this page

"Thomas Aquinas on Extent of the atonement", Examined Doctrine, July 2026 edition, https://examineddoctrine.com/position/aquinas/atonement-extent (archived at https://examineddoctrine.com/editions/2026-07/position/aquinas/atonement-extent).

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