Good synopsis. However, I think Christus Victor is older than Aulen--it is more in line with the early fathers and is basically what the Orthodox believe today (interestingly, the Eastern Orthodox never experienced Anselm).
You can recognize similarities with the Ransom View (RV). Although CV has some differences from the RV.
I would love to hear your synopsis upon the Scapegoat or Mimetic view of atonement by Renee Girard (I See Satan Fall Like Lightening, The Scapegoat, Violence and the Sacred, et al). I found the concept very powerful but a little difficult to summarize and articulate.
N. T. Wright is a fan of Christus Victor but concurs that perhaps it is just one facet of the atonement (that has been clearly neglected). Clearly the metaphors of all the “theories” are found within biblical text, so one has to ask if the atonement is such a deep concept that all metaphors break down and no one metaphor can articulate what happened fully. I think Fleming Rutledge would agree that one must not ignore the other views but recognize there is far more to the death of Jesus than just one or two of these so-called “theories”. (I’m not a fan of the term “theory” to describe these concepts).
For a great articulation of the patristic view I highly recommend Brian Zahnd’s “The Gospel in Chairs”. It isn’t original with him. He admits the presentation was original with Anthony Karbo (an Orthodox priest). But I find Brian’s is the most succinct version.
Zahnd doesn’t use the terminology of “Atonement Theory” but instead contrasts the “Restorative View of Salvation” with the “Legal View of Salvation.” But you’ll recognize them.
Youtube link:
