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Biblical Theology, Volume 1: The Common Grace Covenants
The first of two volumes, this study explores the two common grace covenants: the Adamic and Noahic. The second volume will examine the special grace covenants: the Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New covenants. The volumes present the covenant as an expression of the nature of God, and show a paradigm of activity by which God works in covenantal relations, first to create the world and then, through a redemptive program after the fall, to redeem what was lost.
- GenresTheologyBiblical Studies
364 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 14, 2015
You can read the whole review here: spoiledmilks dot wordpress dot com/2015/04/12/review-biblical-theology-the-common-grace-covenants/
Niehaus’ new work, volume one of two, is written on the common grace covenants of the Bible (the Adamic and Noahic covenants), Niehaus compares ANE covenants with those found in the first 11 chapters of Genesis, and shows how they are foundational to understanding the Bible's covenants.
Summary
Niehaus' major paradigm (outline) for God's covenants is as follows (with some variations considering the covenant)
1. God works
2. by his Spirit
3. through the Word/a prophet figure
4. to war against and defeat his foe(s).
5. God establishes a covenant with a people.
6. God's covenant establishes that people as God's people.
7. God establishes a temple among his people, because he will reside among them.
The Chocolate Milk
While I don't really know how the layout to covenant theology works, Niehaus makes sense. The covenant with Adam wasn't one of works, for God graciously gave him everything he needed. He simply had to have faith and obey God. For now, I'm convinced that Niehaus' plan works better than that of covenant theology.
The Spoiled Milk
Briefly, I did not find this book to be easy to read, and it took me a few chapters until I realized the structure of Niehaus' book. More often than not that I felt his topics were off base. Excursuses (yes, a real word) fill the book, and really aren’t as interesting as they might sound.
Despite wanting this book to flow in a poetry sort of way, I was confused for much of the book, not to mention I struggled a bit to make it to the end.
Three biblical theologies that have come out in just the last few ears aren't in Niehaus' bibliography (Hamilton's “God's Glory in Salvation through Judgment,” Schriener's “The King in His Beauty,” and Beale's “New Testament Biblical Theology”). No author should be expected to read every book that comes out, but many of his statements and conclusions could be found and are expressed better in these three books
Niehaus’ new work, volume one of two, is written on the common grace covenants of the Bible (the Adamic and Noahic covenants), Niehaus compares ANE covenants with those found in the first 11 chapters of Genesis, and shows how they are foundational to understanding the Bible's covenants.
Summary
Niehaus' major paradigm (outline) for God's covenants is as follows (with some variations considering the covenant)
1. God works
2. by his Spirit
3. through the Word/a prophet figure
4. to war against and defeat his foe(s).
5. God establishes a covenant with a people.
6. God's covenant establishes that people as God's people.
7. God establishes a temple among his people, because he will reside among them.
The Chocolate Milk
While I don't really know how the layout to covenant theology works, Niehaus makes sense. The covenant with Adam wasn't one of works, for God graciously gave him everything he needed. He simply had to have faith and obey God. For now, I'm convinced that Niehaus' plan works better than that of covenant theology.
The Spoiled Milk
Briefly, I did not find this book to be easy to read, and it took me a few chapters until I realized the structure of Niehaus' book. More often than not that I felt his topics were off base. Excursuses (yes, a real word) fill the book, and really aren’t as interesting as they might sound.
Despite wanting this book to flow in a poetry sort of way, I was confused for much of the book, not to mention I struggled a bit to make it to the end.
Three biblical theologies that have come out in just the last few ears aren't in Niehaus' bibliography (Hamilton's “God's Glory in Salvation through Judgment,” Schriener's “The King in His Beauty,” and Beale's “New Testament Biblical Theology”). No author should be expected to read every book that comes out, but many of his statements and conclusions could be found and are expressed better in these three books
Displaying 1 of 1 review