I have studied the scripture for years. I am very ardent about believing what it teaches. I don't pretend to hold all the answers especially about atonement. However, I ran into some problems with definitions of words. The definitions which are supplied by commentaries are writhe with errors. One bad corner stone leads to a bad structure. The word for "Forgiveness" is an action of "Washing" [To lift up off and send away" in the Greek], so this throws out the idea of a judge canceling out a punishment. Every place you read forgive or forgiveness it is a "washing or cleansing". Though your sins be scarlet... whiter than snow...This is why "Baptism" is used as an image of "Forgiveness". Now the question is, "what is being washed away?". The translators like to use a plural form "sins", but the original language is a singular "Sin". So we are being washed of a "Sin". What singular sin? It appears to be a Sin which Adam committed. I believe that sin was the Sin of "Rebellion". When John the Baptist says, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away [washes] the "Sin" of the world", it is a singular sin in the Greek and the world is washed according to John. By one man [Adam] all were made unrighteous [corrupt] and by one man [Christ] all were made righteous [clean or in right standing]. Now! I know this flies in the face of what the modern church teaches, but I have to go with what is written. You wanted theories. Well! This is what I see.