Univeral Atonement?

When we don’t see something, we just don’t see it.  Like the arrow in the FedEx logo that I did not see until someone pointed it out, truth can be hiding in plain sight. There are many places that Early Church theologians addressed the universality of the atonement as if it was such a common assumption that it did not need to be addressed with emphasis.

Here is Cyril of Jerusalem, 4th Century bishop and theologian, offering advice about the Cross and it’s effectiveness for all humanity that he wanted his pastors and deacons to share as part of the catechism of those preparing for baptism.

... the glory of the Cross led those who were blind through ignorance in to light, loosed all those who were held fast by sin, and ransomed the whole world of mankind. And wonder not that the whole world was ransomed; for it was no mere man, but the only-begotten Son of God, who dies on its behalf. Moreover one man’s sin, even Adam’s, had the power to bring death to the world; but if by the trespass of the one death reigned over the world, how shall not life much rather reign by the life of the One? (Romans 5: 17-18) And if because of the tree of food they were then cast out of paradise, shall not believers now more easily enter into paradise because of the Tree of Jesus? If the first man formed out of the earth brought in universal death, shall not He who formed him out of the earth bring in eternal life, being Himself the Life? –  The Catechetical Lectures, Lecture 13, para. 1-2 (Emphasis mine)

Shamelessly adopted from my friends at The Adopted Life