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Covenant Theology: Biblical, Theological, and Historical Perspectives
A Comprehensive Exploration of the Biblical Covenants
This book forms an overview of the biblical teaching on covenant as well as the practical significance of covenant for the Christian life. A host of 26 scholars shows how covenant is not only clearly taught from Scripture, but also that it lays the foundation for other key doctrines of salvation. The contributors, who engage variously in biblical, systematic, and historical theology, present covenant theology not as a theological abstract imposed on the Bible but as a doctrine that is organically presented throughout the biblical narrative. As students, pastors, and church leaders come to see the centrality of covenant to the Christian faith, the more the church will be strengthened with faith in the covenant-keeping God and encouraged in their understanding of the joy of covenant life.
This book forms an overview of the biblical teaching on covenant as well as the practical significance of covenant for the Christian life. A host of 26 scholars shows how covenant is not only clearly taught from Scripture, but also that it lays the foundation for other key doctrines of salvation. The contributors, who engage variously in biblical, systematic, and historical theology, present covenant theology not as a theological abstract imposed on the Bible but as a doctrine that is organically presented throughout the biblical narrative. As students, pastors, and church leaders come to see the centrality of covenant to the Christian faith, the more the church will be strengthened with faith in the covenant-keeping God and encouraged in their understanding of the joy of covenant life.
608 pages, Hardcover
Published October 27, 2020
56 people are currently reading
382 people want to read
About the author
Guy Prentiss Waters
38 books24 followersGuy Prentiss Waters (PhD, Duke University) is James M. Baird Jr. Professor of New Testament and academic dean at Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson. He is the author or editor of fifteen books and numerous chapters, articles, and reviews. He is a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 9, 2021
When Crossway publishes a book that is a collection of essays on a particular theme I'm usually interested. I think these are some of the best books they publish. This book isn't an exception.
Overall this is a solid work on Covenant Theology. Like most books that are a collection of essays, some essays are better than others. But, most of these essays are good and edifying. The Biblical section is by far the dryest section of the book. I think the historical and theological sections are where the best essays were found. And I wish there were one or two more essays in the Pastoral section.
My only other qualms were I wish they would have engaged with Michael Williams's book "Far as the Curse is Found" at least once and that they would have touched on Covenant Theology as epistemology.
I don't know if I'd recommend this book to everyone. But, it is a very good book.
Overall this is a solid work on Covenant Theology. Like most books that are a collection of essays, some essays are better than others. But, most of these essays are good and edifying. The Biblical section is by far the dryest section of the book. I think the historical and theological sections are where the best essays were found. And I wish there were one or two more essays in the Pastoral section.
My only other qualms were I wish they would have engaged with Michael Williams's book "Far as the Curse is Found" at least once and that they would have touched on Covenant Theology as epistemology.
I don't know if I'd recommend this book to everyone. But, it is a very good book.
October 13, 2022
A lengthy and mostly comprehensive volume on the titular topic, but is written very engagingly. At times can be repetitive, as you have a couple dozen authors all writing about the same theme, but the repetition helps to further establish the thought in the mind. The chapters on Israel, new covenant theologies, and sacraments were my personal favorites. A great resource that I will probably refer to again in the future.
January 27, 2021
Read my full review on my blog, SpoiledMilks (1/23/21)
This is a massive work with just under 600 pages of content. It is divided up into three sections: (1) Biblical Covenants, (2) Historical Theology, and (3) Collateral and Theological Studies. I’m not as intrigued in historical theology as I should be, but Parts One and Three were both very interesting. Authors in Part One look at the covenant of works in the OT and NT, each different OT covenant, and how covenant is viewed in the Gospels, Paul, Hebrews, and in John’s epistles and Revelation. Authors in Part Three compare the biblical covenants with other ancient Near Eastern covenants, they compare CT with both dispensationalism and new covenant theology, and ask how Israel and the nations relate (to name a few chapters).
However, having twenty-six different contributors means there will be clashing perspectives on covenant theology (though it could be a benefit, it can also be confusing). Ligon Duncan (p. 27) and Kevin DeYoung (p. 590) disagree on whether the Westminster Confession identifies the covenant of works as “grace” when it speaks of God’s “voluntary condescension” to man. Miles Van Pelt believes two covenants are given to Noah while John Scott Redd believes they are the same (134). Interestingly, for how big this volume is there is very little discussion on the Sabbath as well.
Recommended?
One of the main ways that the Bible teaches us about God and his saving acts toward us is through the covenants. Covenant is not the bible main theme, it is one of them. Covenant Theology is an impressive book, though it is neither a popular-level book nor an introduction to covenant theology. This is a very good book to help you understand CT and how works to explain the overall story of Scripture.
This is a massive work with just under 600 pages of content. It is divided up into three sections: (1) Biblical Covenants, (2) Historical Theology, and (3) Collateral and Theological Studies. I’m not as intrigued in historical theology as I should be, but Parts One and Three were both very interesting. Authors in Part One look at the covenant of works in the OT and NT, each different OT covenant, and how covenant is viewed in the Gospels, Paul, Hebrews, and in John’s epistles and Revelation. Authors in Part Three compare the biblical covenants with other ancient Near Eastern covenants, they compare CT with both dispensationalism and new covenant theology, and ask how Israel and the nations relate (to name a few chapters).
However, having twenty-six different contributors means there will be clashing perspectives on covenant theology (though it could be a benefit, it can also be confusing). Ligon Duncan (p. 27) and Kevin DeYoung (p. 590) disagree on whether the Westminster Confession identifies the covenant of works as “grace” when it speaks of God’s “voluntary condescension” to man. Miles Van Pelt believes two covenants are given to Noah while John Scott Redd believes they are the same (134). Interestingly, for how big this volume is there is very little discussion on the Sabbath as well.
Recommended?
One of the main ways that the Bible teaches us about God and his saving acts toward us is through the covenants. Covenant is not the bible main theme, it is one of them. Covenant Theology is an impressive book, though it is neither a popular-level book nor an introduction to covenant theology. This is a very good book to help you understand CT and how works to explain the overall story of Scripture.
February 10, 2024
The big, blue book! As tends to be the case with large edited volumes, some chapters are stronger and more enjoyable than others, some sections will prove more interesting, etc. But truly, for a 600-page work on Covenant Theology, this one will be hard to top. Makes me grateful to be a student at RTS, for it’s the RTS faculty (most of whom remain!) who’ve written what’s to be found here. I think, for those who want to learn about Covenant Theology in a manner both deep and wide, this is the place to go. Not to start, but ultimately to land and spend some time with. I’d read much of this volume a few years ago, but coming back a second time and going cover to cover was way better the second time around. I wonder if that’s not a reflection of how these types of discussions tend to work? They take time, and patience, and prayer. And when pursued this way, study tends to yield wonderful fruit.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
December 19, 2020
This collective volume will serve laymen and (I suspect) pastors well as a one-stop resource on covenant theology. It's beautifully formatted and well organized. Part 1 works progressively through the biblical covenants (Redemption, Works, Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, NC as prophesied in OT, covenant in the gospels, covenant in Paul, covenant in Hebrews, and covenant in the Johanine corpus). Part 2 surveys historical theology (early church, medieval, Reformation, post-Reformation, Dutch Reformed, Barth & the Torrances, modern thinking). Finally, Part 3 is a potpourri (ANE covenants, STJ, contemporary NT scholarship, Israel and the Nations, dispensationalism, NCT & progressive covenantalism, covenants & sacraments). [Side note: There is an afterword by KDY which is a fine sermon transcript but not at all what I'd call an "Afterword."]
The vast majority of contributors helpfully characterize the various senses in which the unified Covenant of Grace in its various administrations (a central tenet of CT) can be seen as unilateral & bilateral. In other words, there is not a fearful retreat from proclaiming that God sovereignly and graciously acts to save His people with perfect power, while also calling His people unto covenantal obedience.
My favorite chapters included Michael Kruger's "Covenant in the Gospels", D. Blair Smith's "Post-Reformation Developments", & Michael Allen's "Covenant in Recent Theology" [covers CT in John Webster and Michael Horton].
I'm quite confident this work will not satisfy our Reformed Baptist or New Perspective brethren. Some semblance of "there is not enough space to discuss..." makes it into nearly every essay, indicative of a certain superficiality necessary to a one volume compilation. These are not primarily polemical essays engaging critics, nor are they especially technical academic chapters. It barely scratches intramural debates within CT. But it would serve as a wonderful first stop exploring the scaffolding of covenant theology, which can subsequently be expanded via utilizing the included annotated bibliography.
The vast majority of contributors helpfully characterize the various senses in which the unified Covenant of Grace in its various administrations (a central tenet of CT) can be seen as unilateral & bilateral. In other words, there is not a fearful retreat from proclaiming that God sovereignly and graciously acts to save His people with perfect power, while also calling His people unto covenantal obedience.
My favorite chapters included Michael Kruger's "Covenant in the Gospels", D. Blair Smith's "Post-Reformation Developments", & Michael Allen's "Covenant in Recent Theology" [covers CT in John Webster and Michael Horton].
I'm quite confident this work will not satisfy our Reformed Baptist or New Perspective brethren. Some semblance of "there is not enough space to discuss..." makes it into nearly every essay, indicative of a certain superficiality necessary to a one volume compilation. These are not primarily polemical essays engaging critics, nor are they especially technical academic chapters. It barely scratches intramural debates within CT. But it would serve as a wonderful first stop exploring the scaffolding of covenant theology, which can subsequently be expanded via utilizing the included annotated bibliography.
April 19, 2025
The nick name “Big Blue” is apt. It’s dense and at times repetitive (but I feel like that’s expected with a collection of articles). Overall quite good.
November 20, 2022
Before giving my own review, I would like to point you all to a review written by Zachary Garris which I highly recommend because I find myself agreeing with most of the things he pointed out in his review.
https://knowingscripture.com/articles...
In addition, I benefited from Garris for giving his list of recommendations for other Covenant Theology books.
https://knowingscripture.com/articles...
Coming from a Baptist and somewhat dispensational charismatic background previously, Covenant Theology was certainly very foreign to me. It took me a long while to understand Covenant Theology properly with the help of multiple resources. I first begin with reading the Westminster Confession of Faith, then 3 forms of Unity, watching Matthew Everhard’s Covenant Theology video, then moving into reading Berkhof, Richard P. Belcher’s book and Jonty Rhode’s book before reading this volume that was produced by Crossway.
I have to say that this book is definitely not for beginners who are foreign to Covenant Theology. There are quite a lot of gaps and omissions in this book to be used as a primary textbook. So for people who are keen to learn Covenant Theology, my recommendation to them is that they should first read Covenant Made Simply by Jonty Rhodes because it is very well integrated with Systematic Theology. After that, they should read the chapters of Covenant and Sacraments in Berkhof’s Systematic Theology which isn’t too long. Then they should read Richard P. Belcher’s The Fulfillment of the Promises of God: An Explanation of Covenant Theology. In my opinion, reading these 3 books is more than sufficient and will help them to understand Covenant Theology more than just simply reading this volume from Crossway. But of course, I will still recommend reading this volume too because there are additional details in this volume that are always welcome to help strengthen and finetune our understanding of Covenant Theology. However, it seems like some of the authors presupposed their readers to have some understanding of systematic theology, thus because of that, I won’t recommend anyone to read this book unless they have some basic understanding of ST.
There are many things to appreciate in this book and it’s definitely well worth reading, and I appreciate seeing the different nuances and slight disagreements among the various contributors which help me see that there are other different interpretations we can take while still holding on to the WCF’s covenant theology framework.
Here are a few general weaknesses I found throughout the book:
1. I understand that this book is organized in a BT way instead of a ST way, however the way how this book integrates with ST in my opinion is quite disorganized and difficult to follow. Jonty Rhodes’ arranged his book in a BT way but his integration with ST is much superb!
2. Some concepts within the book are being repeated multiple times by different contributors which in a way takes away some of the positive reading experiences.
3. Many of the chapters are written in a Biblical Studies Survey style (something like Schreiner’s or Thielman’s New Testament Theology). Personally, I don’t like surveys. Sometimes I feel like some of the surveys are done for the sake of stating the obvious and most of the time I don’t see how these contribute to refuting other positions like NCT/PC or defending Covenant theology.
4. There is definitely an integration with systematic theology in this book. However, I wish that there include MORE ST integration, especially on how CT integrates with 5 points of predestination, the dual aspect of the covenant, amil eschatology, remnant theology, the ordo salutis of the OT elects/saints, and the differences between historia-salutis and ordo-salutis.
5. This book in my opinion could work on being more aggressive in defending CT and refuting other positions.
PART 1
Chapter 1 – I appreciate how Guy M. Richard made a compelling defense for the Covenant of Redemption. That being said, I don’t find his doctrine of God and the Trinity to be clear enough. I wish he would spend more time drawing out the distinction between ad intra and ad extra works of God, divine simplicity, indivisible work, and divine appropriation regarding the One Will of God. In addition, I don't agree with his exegetical conclusions on some of the passages he exegeted by saying that they have nothing to do with eternal generation.
Here is where I find Adonis Vidu to be helpful,
“It is not the personal will of the Father that lies at the foundation of the Son’s procession. Indeed, Koutloumousianos argues, there is no personal will (gnomic will) in the Trinity, but only essential will. The will of the Father to send the Son and the will of the Son to be sent are numerically the same will. The same goes for the love of the Father for the Son—it is the same as the Son’s love for the Father. The communion that exists between the persons is not predicated on the more basic personal attributes of will and love, but rather it is a “natural perichoresis” which is the “natural outcome of co-essentiality.”
We must then be clear about the meaning of the dictum, opera trinitatis ad intra sunt divisa. It does not indicate that within the immanent life of the Trinity there are three separate agents who each have a separate will, a separate knowledge, and a separate love for the others. Rather, it indicates that within the essential divine causality there obtain real and irreducible distinctions, that there are subsistent relations that distinguish and define the persons over against each other yet never against the substance.” Chapter 3, Unity and Distinction in Divine Action, Book: The Same God who works all things, Author: Adonis Vidu.
Chapter 2 – I find Richard P Belcher made a compelling case to show that there is a distinction between the relationship of God with Adam and Eve before the fall and after the fall, hence the need for two covenants.
Chapter 3 – I disagree with Waters’ exegetical conclusion for Romans 10:6-8 that “the word of faith that we proclaim” can be located in the text of Deuteronomy itself. I find Frank Thielman’s exegesis in his Romans Commentary, pg 491 to be sounder, which states “In its original context, that passage emphasized how easy the Mosaic Law was for Israel to access, understand, and do, but in Paul’s hands the passage becomes a witness to how easy God has made it for his people to attain righteousness through the gospel.” There is also a clash in understanding regarding Leviticus 18:5 with Bryan Estelle’s position on page 169. But it is a difference that I appreciate as it made me aware that there is another way to understand this issue. Despite these two issues, this chapter is actually well-written and enjoyable!
Chapter 4 – I appreciate how Currid tied in the offspring of the serpent with the Pharisees. This is definitely something new and eye-opening to me. My minor disagreement with him is that I think that in Gal 3:15-29, Paul is arguing in a BT sense instead of a grammatical sense that the seed is referring to Jesus.
Chapter 5 – Van Pelt’s take on the Noahic covenant seems to be different from most Covenant Theologians, as he sees that the covenant in Gen 6 and 9 are different.
Chapter 6 – I like how John Scott Redd put the nail into the coffin in refuting Kline’s work principle for being inconsistent with the New Covenant on pg 143. Compared to other authors, he is very clear about the relationship between faith and obedience.
Chapter 7 – J. Nicholas Reid integrates the 3 uses of the Law very well in this chapter. Personally, I agree with him that the Mosaic Covenant is a covenant of grace, however, I don’t think he provides a sufficient argument for this position. Nevertheless, he excels at spotting the differences between the Old and New Covenant on pg 154-155.
Chapter 8 – I like how Richard P. Belcher Jr. spells out the differences between 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17, and I also appreciate how he noted the priestly roles carried out by kings. While this doesn’t have much to do with ST and primarily has more to do with BT, nevertheless, I appreciate him for bringing out the things in this chapter in a way that’s straightforward, precise, and concise without any of the boring “survey” feeling I mentioned earlier.
Chapter 9 – I think McKelvey refuted Progressive Covenatalism and noted a major flaw in the Kingdom through Covenant’s book by Gentry and Wellum on pg 198-199.
Chapters 10-13 – These few chapters on the New Testament books are much drier and more boring because it’s primarily just a biblical studies survey which doesn’t contribute much to the overall argument to defend Covenant Theology. One thing that I do appreciate, however, is how Waters’ engagement with the Mosaic Law on pg 236-239.
PART 2
Historical Theology Chapters 14-20 – Some chapters are enjoyable and some aren’t. I was hoping for more analysis in Chapter 20 on why Covenant Theology isn’t so well received today.
PART 3
Chapters 21-22 These two chapters regarding Ancient Near East and 2nd Temple Judaism Literature tend to be more of a survey. I find them to be pretty boring myself. I wish the authors would highlight what the bearings of these studies have on Covenant Theology, and how other scholars have attempted to use these studies to refute Covenant Theology.
Chapter 23 – I like the engagement with NPP, but this chapter seems like doesn’t have much to do with Covenant Theology.
Chapter 24 – This chapter feels like a repetition and recap of Part 1.
Chapter 25 – This is ok.
Chapter 26 – This and chapter 27 are my favorite chapters in Part 3. I think Swain gave a very compelling argument for the Ten Commandments, and he also made a very convincing argument in refuting the position of “pure regenerated” community from Progressive Covenantalism.
Chapter 27 – I think Derek Thomas gave a pretty good defense for paedobaptism. If there’s going to be any 2nd edition of this book, I hope he will explain the meaning of sacramental union mentioned in WCF 27.2 which wasn’t covered in this chapter. WCF 27.2 – “There is in every sacrament a spiritual relation, or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signified; whence it comes to pass that the names and effects of the one are attributed to the other.”
https://knowingscripture.com/articles...
In addition, I benefited from Garris for giving his list of recommendations for other Covenant Theology books.
https://knowingscripture.com/articles...
Coming from a Baptist and somewhat dispensational charismatic background previously, Covenant Theology was certainly very foreign to me. It took me a long while to understand Covenant Theology properly with the help of multiple resources. I first begin with reading the Westminster Confession of Faith, then 3 forms of Unity, watching Matthew Everhard’s Covenant Theology video, then moving into reading Berkhof, Richard P. Belcher’s book and Jonty Rhode’s book before reading this volume that was produced by Crossway.
I have to say that this book is definitely not for beginners who are foreign to Covenant Theology. There are quite a lot of gaps and omissions in this book to be used as a primary textbook. So for people who are keen to learn Covenant Theology, my recommendation to them is that they should first read Covenant Made Simply by Jonty Rhodes because it is very well integrated with Systematic Theology. After that, they should read the chapters of Covenant and Sacraments in Berkhof’s Systematic Theology which isn’t too long. Then they should read Richard P. Belcher’s The Fulfillment of the Promises of God: An Explanation of Covenant Theology. In my opinion, reading these 3 books is more than sufficient and will help them to understand Covenant Theology more than just simply reading this volume from Crossway. But of course, I will still recommend reading this volume too because there are additional details in this volume that are always welcome to help strengthen and finetune our understanding of Covenant Theology. However, it seems like some of the authors presupposed their readers to have some understanding of systematic theology, thus because of that, I won’t recommend anyone to read this book unless they have some basic understanding of ST.
There are many things to appreciate in this book and it’s definitely well worth reading, and I appreciate seeing the different nuances and slight disagreements among the various contributors which help me see that there are other different interpretations we can take while still holding on to the WCF’s covenant theology framework.
Here are a few general weaknesses I found throughout the book:
1. I understand that this book is organized in a BT way instead of a ST way, however the way how this book integrates with ST in my opinion is quite disorganized and difficult to follow. Jonty Rhodes’ arranged his book in a BT way but his integration with ST is much superb!
2. Some concepts within the book are being repeated multiple times by different contributors which in a way takes away some of the positive reading experiences.
3. Many of the chapters are written in a Biblical Studies Survey style (something like Schreiner’s or Thielman’s New Testament Theology). Personally, I don’t like surveys. Sometimes I feel like some of the surveys are done for the sake of stating the obvious and most of the time I don’t see how these contribute to refuting other positions like NCT/PC or defending Covenant theology.
4. There is definitely an integration with systematic theology in this book. However, I wish that there include MORE ST integration, especially on how CT integrates with 5 points of predestination, the dual aspect of the covenant, amil eschatology, remnant theology, the ordo salutis of the OT elects/saints, and the differences between historia-salutis and ordo-salutis.
5. This book in my opinion could work on being more aggressive in defending CT and refuting other positions.
PART 1
Chapter 1 – I appreciate how Guy M. Richard made a compelling defense for the Covenant of Redemption. That being said, I don’t find his doctrine of God and the Trinity to be clear enough. I wish he would spend more time drawing out the distinction between ad intra and ad extra works of God, divine simplicity, indivisible work, and divine appropriation regarding the One Will of God. In addition, I don't agree with his exegetical conclusions on some of the passages he exegeted by saying that they have nothing to do with eternal generation.
Here is where I find Adonis Vidu to be helpful,
“It is not the personal will of the Father that lies at the foundation of the Son’s procession. Indeed, Koutloumousianos argues, there is no personal will (gnomic will) in the Trinity, but only essential will. The will of the Father to send the Son and the will of the Son to be sent are numerically the same will. The same goes for the love of the Father for the Son—it is the same as the Son’s love for the Father. The communion that exists between the persons is not predicated on the more basic personal attributes of will and love, but rather it is a “natural perichoresis” which is the “natural outcome of co-essentiality.”
We must then be clear about the meaning of the dictum, opera trinitatis ad intra sunt divisa. It does not indicate that within the immanent life of the Trinity there are three separate agents who each have a separate will, a separate knowledge, and a separate love for the others. Rather, it indicates that within the essential divine causality there obtain real and irreducible distinctions, that there are subsistent relations that distinguish and define the persons over against each other yet never against the substance.” Chapter 3, Unity and Distinction in Divine Action, Book: The Same God who works all things, Author: Adonis Vidu.
Chapter 2 – I find Richard P Belcher made a compelling case to show that there is a distinction between the relationship of God with Adam and Eve before the fall and after the fall, hence the need for two covenants.
Chapter 3 – I disagree with Waters’ exegetical conclusion for Romans 10:6-8 that “the word of faith that we proclaim” can be located in the text of Deuteronomy itself. I find Frank Thielman’s exegesis in his Romans Commentary, pg 491 to be sounder, which states “In its original context, that passage emphasized how easy the Mosaic Law was for Israel to access, understand, and do, but in Paul’s hands the passage becomes a witness to how easy God has made it for his people to attain righteousness through the gospel.” There is also a clash in understanding regarding Leviticus 18:5 with Bryan Estelle’s position on page 169. But it is a difference that I appreciate as it made me aware that there is another way to understand this issue. Despite these two issues, this chapter is actually well-written and enjoyable!
Chapter 4 – I appreciate how Currid tied in the offspring of the serpent with the Pharisees. This is definitely something new and eye-opening to me. My minor disagreement with him is that I think that in Gal 3:15-29, Paul is arguing in a BT sense instead of a grammatical sense that the seed is referring to Jesus.
Chapter 5 – Van Pelt’s take on the Noahic covenant seems to be different from most Covenant Theologians, as he sees that the covenant in Gen 6 and 9 are different.
Chapter 6 – I like how John Scott Redd put the nail into the coffin in refuting Kline’s work principle for being inconsistent with the New Covenant on pg 143. Compared to other authors, he is very clear about the relationship between faith and obedience.
Chapter 7 – J. Nicholas Reid integrates the 3 uses of the Law very well in this chapter. Personally, I agree with him that the Mosaic Covenant is a covenant of grace, however, I don’t think he provides a sufficient argument for this position. Nevertheless, he excels at spotting the differences between the Old and New Covenant on pg 154-155.
Chapter 8 – I like how Richard P. Belcher Jr. spells out the differences between 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17, and I also appreciate how he noted the priestly roles carried out by kings. While this doesn’t have much to do with ST and primarily has more to do with BT, nevertheless, I appreciate him for bringing out the things in this chapter in a way that’s straightforward, precise, and concise without any of the boring “survey” feeling I mentioned earlier.
Chapter 9 – I think McKelvey refuted Progressive Covenatalism and noted a major flaw in the Kingdom through Covenant’s book by Gentry and Wellum on pg 198-199.
Chapters 10-13 – These few chapters on the New Testament books are much drier and more boring because it’s primarily just a biblical studies survey which doesn’t contribute much to the overall argument to defend Covenant Theology. One thing that I do appreciate, however, is how Waters’ engagement with the Mosaic Law on pg 236-239.
PART 2
Historical Theology Chapters 14-20 – Some chapters are enjoyable and some aren’t. I was hoping for more analysis in Chapter 20 on why Covenant Theology isn’t so well received today.
PART 3
Chapters 21-22 These two chapters regarding Ancient Near East and 2nd Temple Judaism Literature tend to be more of a survey. I find them to be pretty boring myself. I wish the authors would highlight what the bearings of these studies have on Covenant Theology, and how other scholars have attempted to use these studies to refute Covenant Theology.
Chapter 23 – I like the engagement with NPP, but this chapter seems like doesn’t have much to do with Covenant Theology.
Chapter 24 – This chapter feels like a repetition and recap of Part 1.
Chapter 25 – This is ok.
Chapter 26 – This and chapter 27 are my favorite chapters in Part 3. I think Swain gave a very compelling argument for the Ten Commandments, and he also made a very convincing argument in refuting the position of “pure regenerated” community from Progressive Covenantalism.
Chapter 27 – I think Derek Thomas gave a pretty good defense for paedobaptism. If there’s going to be any 2nd edition of this book, I hope he will explain the meaning of sacramental union mentioned in WCF 27.2 which wasn’t covered in this chapter. WCF 27.2 – “There is in every sacrament a spiritual relation, or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signified; whence it comes to pass that the names and effects of the one are attributed to the other.”
August 9, 2025
Crossway sent me a copy of "Covenant Theology: Biblical, Theological, and Historical Perspectives" in exchange for an honest review.
Covenant is one of the central themes of the Bible. It's one of the most prominent through-lines that ties Genesis through Revelation together. This is a key biblical truth that has been most emphasized and explored by the Reformed tradition. This wonderful volume is a collection of essays written by the faculty of Reformed Theological Seminary. Each chapter takes a specific facet of covenant theology and plumbs the depths of that topic. I don't recommend this book IF you're completely new to covenant theology. The topical explorations are in-depth and academic to the point that you will have difficulty tracking if you have no grasp of the basic concepts. If, however, you've read an introductory volume and you're looking for a deeper study of covenant theology, this is hands-down the best book to get. It covers history, controversies, and applications related to covenant theology that are typically excluded or barely touched on in popular overviews of covenant theology. Everyone interested in Reformed theology should work their way up to this book at some point. Be sure to check it out!
Covenant is one of the central themes of the Bible. It's one of the most prominent through-lines that ties Genesis through Revelation together. This is a key biblical truth that has been most emphasized and explored by the Reformed tradition. This wonderful volume is a collection of essays written by the faculty of Reformed Theological Seminary. Each chapter takes a specific facet of covenant theology and plumbs the depths of that topic. I don't recommend this book IF you're completely new to covenant theology. The topical explorations are in-depth and academic to the point that you will have difficulty tracking if you have no grasp of the basic concepts. If, however, you've read an introductory volume and you're looking for a deeper study of covenant theology, this is hands-down the best book to get. It covers history, controversies, and applications related to covenant theology that are typically excluded or barely touched on in popular overviews of covenant theology. Everyone interested in Reformed theology should work their way up to this book at some point. Be sure to check it out!
January 3, 2023
The magnum opus of Covenant Theology. If you want to dive deeper into CT and explore it from every angle this is it. Part 3 may have been my favorite. The breakout topics were engaging and informative. Derek Thomas’ chapter on the sacraments was my favorite individual chapter.
Probably not the best for someone new to the subject. Covenants Made Simple by Rhodes would be better suited for that.
Probably not the best for someone new to the subject. Covenants Made Simple by Rhodes would be better suited for that.
January 30, 2021
Overall this was a really good book. It was very informative and definitely helpful in understanding covenant theology. It was quite comprehensive.
The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that some chapters essentially felt like I was reading lecture notes, which isn’t a bad thing, but it can get a little dry.
The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that some chapters essentially felt like I was reading lecture notes, which isn’t a bad thing, but it can get a little dry.
January 22, 2023
Fantastic.
At times redundant due to each ch. being an individual essay. At times the dif authors disagree at points (ex. Noahic covenant), which was surprising.
I would have appreciated a chapter addressing more Baptist cov theology. Specifically 20th century Baptists like Jewitt and Reformed / Particular Baptists from the 17th century like Nehemiah Coxe.
At times redundant due to each ch. being an individual essay. At times the dif authors disagree at points (ex. Noahic covenant), which was surprising.
I would have appreciated a chapter addressing more Baptist cov theology. Specifically 20th century Baptists like Jewitt and Reformed / Particular Baptists from the 17th century like Nehemiah Coxe.
September 28, 2020
Waters, Guy Prentiss, J. Nicholas Reid, and John R. Muether, eds. Covenant Theology: Biblical, Theological, and Historical Perspectives. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020. $60.00
The Reformed Theological Seminary faculty has produced a book that fills me with excitement. Any volume that requires three editors must be quite an undertaking, and that is certainly accurate of Covenant Theology. I have long awaited the publication of this collection of essays from the faculty of RTS, and it does not disappoint. The reader who picks up this 600 plus page book will be rewarded with scholarly articles covering as much covenant theology as is possible.
Three parts contain 27 chapters, each authored by an individual. I appreciate this aspect because many books co-authored tend to lose their flow. Authors write differently, and when styles compete, the reader loses. That is not the case with the present book. If you happen to struggle with one author, know only three authors wrote more than one chapter (Belcher, Reid, and Waters each wrote two chapters).
Before diving into the contents, I want to clarify and not pretend as though I read every word of each chapter. God has given me gifts; incredible speed reading comprehension is not one of them. I will be getting a physical copy, along with pen and paper, and reading through the entirety of the book at a later date. My eyes perused every chapter and some sections kept my attention for extended periods.
Part one begins with the biblical covenants. They proceed chronologically and do not skip even the most challenging of topics. Dr. Guy Richard kicks off with one of the more controversial teachings within covenant theology, that of the Covenant of Redemption. Dr. Richard summarizes the covenant as “a pretemporal agreement between the persons of the Trinity to plan and carry out the redemption of the elect.” The idea of covenant is not contrary to Scripture, and Dr. Richard provides the biblical and theological rationale for its existence and concludes with its relevance. Dr. Richard Belcher Jr. and Dr. Guy Waters work through the covenant of works in the Old and New Testaments, respectively. The Westminster Confession of Faith articulates a covenant of works (WCF 7.2). Dr. Belcher provides a short overview of some Reformed scholars who vary to different degrees from the WCF and their understanding of Genesis 1-3 before devoting a few paragraphs to the Federal Vision understanding. Dr. Waters shows from 1 Corinthians 15, Romans 5, 10, and Galatians 3 the evidence of Adam being in a covenant relationship with God.
The existence of the remaining covenants is not in question, but our understanding and their role need clarification. Ultimately, all remaining covenants fall underneath the umbrella of the covenant of grace (chapter 4) inaugurated in Genesis 3:14-19. The specific covenants between Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David each receive a chapter. Chapter 9 details the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31) as a “central concern of Prophetic Literature, as well as the whole Old Testaments.” The next four chapters cover how the various New Testament books use covenant theology, or specifically, how they approach the covenants and its language.
Part 2 begins the section looking at the history of covenant theology. Dr. Ligon Duncan starts with a brief study of covenants in the early church. Each successive chapter works its way through a period of history up to recent developments. The overall consensus is that covenant theology has continued to see development in each era. Dr. Douglas Kelly confesses the Medieval era offered little discussion on the matter in light of the expansive time frame (approximately 800-900 years). Some highlights include Dr. Mark McDowell covering Barth’s and the Torrances’ engagement with covenant theology and Dr. Michael Allen bringing the reader up to recent discourse while providing principles for future studies.
Part 3 covers “Collateral and Theological Studies,” otherwise stated as topics of study which help shed light on how we understand covenant theology. We get fantastic essays on ancient Near East backgrounds, Second Temple Judaism, and contemporary NT scholarship. I become gitty scanning through the chapters looking forward to spending a great deal of time in each. Dr. Mike Glodo offers an excellent engagement with Dispensationalism, and the same needs to be said of Dr. Scott Swain’s undertaking of new covenant theologies and progressive covenantalism. Dr. Derek Thomas’s closing chapter on the significance of covenant theology to assurance and sacraments provokes the reader to reconsider all the previous chapters as even more practical than they might have assumed before.
You read all 27 chapters and think you have finished? Nope. Kevin DeYoung provides what may be one of the most critical sections of the entire book: “Why Covenant Theology?”. If you happen to find yourself holding this book and do not know what you are getting into, read the afterward first. Even if you are not familiar with covenant theology, do not worry because the rest of the book will answer questions about what is covenant theology. It is imperative to understand why it is worth days, weeks, or even months of your time to study this area of theology, and DeYoung succinctly provides a reason.
Who should purchase this book? Seminary students and pastors. Interest lay Christians would benefit from reading the various chapters, but this volume is thoroughly academic. Not to dissuade the average Christian from getting this book, but if you are not the type to pick through a systematic theology book, you would not enjoy Covenant Theology.
It is not really within my skillset to engage with each section of the book; expect various scholars to do that in the coming months. I can say that the faculty of RTS provides a desperately needed resource and sets the bar for further studies and interaction on this topic. The authors and editors certainly deserve recognition for how well this volume flows. Covenant Theology will be a book I refer back to, and the book I ask people to engage with who disagree with the Reformed view of covenant theology.
This book challenges the reader to think about how they need to approach reading. It is not like many systematic theologies in which you read a section, perhaps lasting 2-5 pages. The flow is such you kind of want to start at the very beginning and make your way through Covenant Theology in its entirety. One can, without recourse, pick any chapter and start reading; however, I would suggest those with less experience studying covenant theology to start from the beginning and treat each chapter as a building block.
I highly recommend getting a copy of this book, though I wonder if that needs to be said. Covenant Theology is one of those books which interested readers already know about and want to get, and others do not desire to read. Also, while I have increasingly read digital versions of books, I would not recommend that for this book. It is an academic resource; it needs to be on your shelf. I only wish my review copy (which I am grateful for) was physical.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley for review purposes. My comments are independent and my own.
The Reformed Theological Seminary faculty has produced a book that fills me with excitement. Any volume that requires three editors must be quite an undertaking, and that is certainly accurate of Covenant Theology. I have long awaited the publication of this collection of essays from the faculty of RTS, and it does not disappoint. The reader who picks up this 600 plus page book will be rewarded with scholarly articles covering as much covenant theology as is possible.
Three parts contain 27 chapters, each authored by an individual. I appreciate this aspect because many books co-authored tend to lose their flow. Authors write differently, and when styles compete, the reader loses. That is not the case with the present book. If you happen to struggle with one author, know only three authors wrote more than one chapter (Belcher, Reid, and Waters each wrote two chapters).
Before diving into the contents, I want to clarify and not pretend as though I read every word of each chapter. God has given me gifts; incredible speed reading comprehension is not one of them. I will be getting a physical copy, along with pen and paper, and reading through the entirety of the book at a later date. My eyes perused every chapter and some sections kept my attention for extended periods.
Part one begins with the biblical covenants. They proceed chronologically and do not skip even the most challenging of topics. Dr. Guy Richard kicks off with one of the more controversial teachings within covenant theology, that of the Covenant of Redemption. Dr. Richard summarizes the covenant as “a pretemporal agreement between the persons of the Trinity to plan and carry out the redemption of the elect.” The idea of covenant is not contrary to Scripture, and Dr. Richard provides the biblical and theological rationale for its existence and concludes with its relevance. Dr. Richard Belcher Jr. and Dr. Guy Waters work through the covenant of works in the Old and New Testaments, respectively. The Westminster Confession of Faith articulates a covenant of works (WCF 7.2). Dr. Belcher provides a short overview of some Reformed scholars who vary to different degrees from the WCF and their understanding of Genesis 1-3 before devoting a few paragraphs to the Federal Vision understanding. Dr. Waters shows from 1 Corinthians 15, Romans 5, 10, and Galatians 3 the evidence of Adam being in a covenant relationship with God.
The existence of the remaining covenants is not in question, but our understanding and their role need clarification. Ultimately, all remaining covenants fall underneath the umbrella of the covenant of grace (chapter 4) inaugurated in Genesis 3:14-19. The specific covenants between Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David each receive a chapter. Chapter 9 details the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31) as a “central concern of Prophetic Literature, as well as the whole Old Testaments.” The next four chapters cover how the various New Testament books use covenant theology, or specifically, how they approach the covenants and its language.
Part 2 begins the section looking at the history of covenant theology. Dr. Ligon Duncan starts with a brief study of covenants in the early church. Each successive chapter works its way through a period of history up to recent developments. The overall consensus is that covenant theology has continued to see development in each era. Dr. Douglas Kelly confesses the Medieval era offered little discussion on the matter in light of the expansive time frame (approximately 800-900 years). Some highlights include Dr. Mark McDowell covering Barth’s and the Torrances’ engagement with covenant theology and Dr. Michael Allen bringing the reader up to recent discourse while providing principles for future studies.
Part 3 covers “Collateral and Theological Studies,” otherwise stated as topics of study which help shed light on how we understand covenant theology. We get fantastic essays on ancient Near East backgrounds, Second Temple Judaism, and contemporary NT scholarship. I become gitty scanning through the chapters looking forward to spending a great deal of time in each. Dr. Mike Glodo offers an excellent engagement with Dispensationalism, and the same needs to be said of Dr. Scott Swain’s undertaking of new covenant theologies and progressive covenantalism. Dr. Derek Thomas’s closing chapter on the significance of covenant theology to assurance and sacraments provokes the reader to reconsider all the previous chapters as even more practical than they might have assumed before.
You read all 27 chapters and think you have finished? Nope. Kevin DeYoung provides what may be one of the most critical sections of the entire book: “Why Covenant Theology?”. If you happen to find yourself holding this book and do not know what you are getting into, read the afterward first. Even if you are not familiar with covenant theology, do not worry because the rest of the book will answer questions about what is covenant theology. It is imperative to understand why it is worth days, weeks, or even months of your time to study this area of theology, and DeYoung succinctly provides a reason.
Who should purchase this book? Seminary students and pastors. Interest lay Christians would benefit from reading the various chapters, but this volume is thoroughly academic. Not to dissuade the average Christian from getting this book, but if you are not the type to pick through a systematic theology book, you would not enjoy Covenant Theology.
It is not really within my skillset to engage with each section of the book; expect various scholars to do that in the coming months. I can say that the faculty of RTS provides a desperately needed resource and sets the bar for further studies and interaction on this topic. The authors and editors certainly deserve recognition for how well this volume flows. Covenant Theology will be a book I refer back to, and the book I ask people to engage with who disagree with the Reformed view of covenant theology.
This book challenges the reader to think about how they need to approach reading. It is not like many systematic theologies in which you read a section, perhaps lasting 2-5 pages. The flow is such you kind of want to start at the very beginning and make your way through Covenant Theology in its entirety. One can, without recourse, pick any chapter and start reading; however, I would suggest those with less experience studying covenant theology to start from the beginning and treat each chapter as a building block.
I highly recommend getting a copy of this book, though I wonder if that needs to be said. Covenant Theology is one of those books which interested readers already know about and want to get, and others do not desire to read. Also, while I have increasingly read digital versions of books, I would not recommend that for this book. It is an academic resource; it needs to be on your shelf. I only wish my review copy (which I am grateful for) was physical.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley for review purposes. My comments are independent and my own.
January 19, 2021
Covenant Theology, a collaboration of Reformed Theological Seminary, is the most complete work to date on the theme of covenant that is found throughout Scripture. If you have heard the basics of covenant theology but want a deeper study how covenant is woven throughout Scripture, this book is for you. The theology throughout the book is reformed and thoroughly Biblical. The authors convincingly argue that Reformed theology has at its core covenant theology, and covenant theology rightly combines systematic and biblical theology.
"After the fall of our first parents, God promises that the seed of the woman will destroy the seed of the serpent. That promise is reinforced with the pledge to Noah that common grace will extend throughout redemptive history, guaranteeing the success of the seed. God promises that Abraham will be the father of a great family that will spread God’s blessings to the nations. The family is constituted a nation at Sinai, pointing to a new Moses who will lead a new exodus and a true Israel who will obey the Father. When the nation formally comes under the rule of David and his descendants, the promise takes the form of a triumphant Son and an anointed King."
Guy Prentiss Waters, et al. have produced a valuable resource for tracing the theme of covenant throughout Scripture and understanding its impact in the Christian's life. I particularly found the discussion about an intra-Trinitarian covenant and pre-fall Adamic covenant interesting. This book gave more attention to the subject than a Systematic Theology book who simply mention them in passing. The categories of a covenant of works and a covenant of grace confused me at first. Once I understood what the authors meant, it made me see the pre-fallen condition of Adam and Christ’s work as the second Adam in a completely different light. Covenant theology is not a new concept but has existed throughout church history, especially after the Reformation. I was surprised to see how much covenant theology there was within the Westminster Confession. At times, I felt like the authors wandered from the chapter subject and struggled to understand the connection to the current theme. Overall though, it was a readable work even though there was a lot of highly technical points.
"In the covenant of works, the conditions must be met to receive the blessings of the covenant. In the covenant of grace, the blessings are received, and then the conditions are to flow out of gratefulness for the received blessing. In traditional Reformed theology, the covenant of works never ended but remains a covenant unfulfilled by any who inherit the fallen nature from original sin, owing to their inherited unrighteousness through Adam and their own sinfulness. Christ, the second Adam (Rom. 5), took on flesh, fulfilled the covenant of works for his people, and paid the penalty for their sins. Thus, through his active and passive obedience, Christ justified a people for God in the covenant of grace. The Mosaic covenant belongs in essence to the covenant of grace, so the conditions in the covenant are to be kept out of gratitude rather than as a means to merit the fuller blessings of the covenant (see, e.g., Deut. 6: 10–15)."
The introduction sets the stage for the intent and desire of the book. The authors make the argument that covenant theology is found throughout Scripture and it is key to understanding its unifying message about atonement, assurance, the sacraments, and continuity of redemptive history. Part one of the book firmly establishes the Scriptural basis with a chapter devoted to each covenant. Following this there is a chapter on covenant within the Prophets, Gospels, Pauline Epistles, Hebrews, and Johannine writings. Part two of the book seeks to show how covenant has been an important theme throughout church history, even before the reformation. Part three is a grouping of collateral and theological studies, kind of a miscellaneous bucket of additional thoughts and competing theologies. Part one really should be read in order, at one time; while parts two and three may be used for further study and reference.
"In Christ, God has brought us into a second covenant with himself. This covenant, often called the covenant of grace, is characterized by the superabundance of God’s free grace in Christ to sinners. In this covenant, believing sinners’ justification is based wholly on Christ’s merits in his obedience and death. The life that they enjoy is not one that they have secured through their obedience but one that they have received through faith in the obedient last Adam."
This book is a little more than most Christians are ready to take on, at over 600 pages. The main audience for this book is seminary students. While I think all Christians would benefit from reading this book, it will mostly benefit seminary students and pastors. Covenant theology can be a complex subject with debates wading into deep waters of highly technical matters of difference with competing interpretive theories. This book does a great job of explaining covenant theology without getting tangled up in the weeds of academic thought.
"What is striking is that those who are justified in Christ are those who formerly stood condemned in Adam. But how can sinners be counted righteous or the condemned be justified, that is, declared righteous? Paul is clear— his multiple references to God’s 'free gift' and 'grace' in this passage help us see that it is the work of another, the second Adam, that exhaustively and exclusively grounds the verdict 'justified.'"
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review. The opinions I express are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.
"After the fall of our first parents, God promises that the seed of the woman will destroy the seed of the serpent. That promise is reinforced with the pledge to Noah that common grace will extend throughout redemptive history, guaranteeing the success of the seed. God promises that Abraham will be the father of a great family that will spread God’s blessings to the nations. The family is constituted a nation at Sinai, pointing to a new Moses who will lead a new exodus and a true Israel who will obey the Father. When the nation formally comes under the rule of David and his descendants, the promise takes the form of a triumphant Son and an anointed King."
Guy Prentiss Waters, et al. have produced a valuable resource for tracing the theme of covenant throughout Scripture and understanding its impact in the Christian's life. I particularly found the discussion about an intra-Trinitarian covenant and pre-fall Adamic covenant interesting. This book gave more attention to the subject than a Systematic Theology book who simply mention them in passing. The categories of a covenant of works and a covenant of grace confused me at first. Once I understood what the authors meant, it made me see the pre-fallen condition of Adam and Christ’s work as the second Adam in a completely different light. Covenant theology is not a new concept but has existed throughout church history, especially after the Reformation. I was surprised to see how much covenant theology there was within the Westminster Confession. At times, I felt like the authors wandered from the chapter subject and struggled to understand the connection to the current theme. Overall though, it was a readable work even though there was a lot of highly technical points.
"In the covenant of works, the conditions must be met to receive the blessings of the covenant. In the covenant of grace, the blessings are received, and then the conditions are to flow out of gratefulness for the received blessing. In traditional Reformed theology, the covenant of works never ended but remains a covenant unfulfilled by any who inherit the fallen nature from original sin, owing to their inherited unrighteousness through Adam and their own sinfulness. Christ, the second Adam (Rom. 5), took on flesh, fulfilled the covenant of works for his people, and paid the penalty for their sins. Thus, through his active and passive obedience, Christ justified a people for God in the covenant of grace. The Mosaic covenant belongs in essence to the covenant of grace, so the conditions in the covenant are to be kept out of gratitude rather than as a means to merit the fuller blessings of the covenant (see, e.g., Deut. 6: 10–15)."
The introduction sets the stage for the intent and desire of the book. The authors make the argument that covenant theology is found throughout Scripture and it is key to understanding its unifying message about atonement, assurance, the sacraments, and continuity of redemptive history. Part one of the book firmly establishes the Scriptural basis with a chapter devoted to each covenant. Following this there is a chapter on covenant within the Prophets, Gospels, Pauline Epistles, Hebrews, and Johannine writings. Part two of the book seeks to show how covenant has been an important theme throughout church history, even before the reformation. Part three is a grouping of collateral and theological studies, kind of a miscellaneous bucket of additional thoughts and competing theologies. Part one really should be read in order, at one time; while parts two and three may be used for further study and reference.
"In Christ, God has brought us into a second covenant with himself. This covenant, often called the covenant of grace, is characterized by the superabundance of God’s free grace in Christ to sinners. In this covenant, believing sinners’ justification is based wholly on Christ’s merits in his obedience and death. The life that they enjoy is not one that they have secured through their obedience but one that they have received through faith in the obedient last Adam."
This book is a little more than most Christians are ready to take on, at over 600 pages. The main audience for this book is seminary students. While I think all Christians would benefit from reading this book, it will mostly benefit seminary students and pastors. Covenant theology can be a complex subject with debates wading into deep waters of highly technical matters of difference with competing interpretive theories. This book does a great job of explaining covenant theology without getting tangled up in the weeds of academic thought.
"What is striking is that those who are justified in Christ are those who formerly stood condemned in Adam. But how can sinners be counted righteous or the condemned be justified, that is, declared righteous? Paul is clear— his multiple references to God’s 'free gift' and 'grace' in this passage help us see that it is the work of another, the second Adam, that exhaustively and exclusively grounds the verdict 'justified.'"
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review. The opinions I express are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.
December 30, 2020
The to-do list is a long paper trail when you are preparing to move overseas.
Meet with lawyers, accountants to plan and prepare; medical appointments, vaccinations; spending time with friends and family for the “see ya laters” along with the logistical issues of selling the car, the house and moving all the “stuff” somewhere.
The house seemed one of the more daunting tasks.
We advertised locally, and eventually were able to find a buyer. With sweet relief, we signed the contract, checked the box “sell house,” and set our sights on the next task.
The week before possession date, we moved out, cleaned, and left…but they never moved in.
It seems they changed their mind, and decided not to purchase our home. We were shocked, and panicking. How could they do this? What were we going to do? While we had a few more months to sort it all out, it reminds me how quickly agreements can be broken, and the great effort of fixing them.
When we think about business contracts, we think about each person fulfilling their end of the bargain, it’s not about the people on each side, it’s about what each person will give and gain from the agreement.
“Covenants in the Bible, however, are about more than contracts. They are about people. A covenant is a commitment that establishes a relationship between two or more persons.”
Scripture teaches us about three covenants: the covenant of works, the covenant of grace and the covenant of redemption. These commitments are between God and humankind, establishing relationship, restoring relationship and securing our relationship for the future.
Covenant of Works
The Westminster Confession of Faith states that, “the first covenant made with man was a covenant of works, wherein life was promised to Adam; and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience.”
This was a commitment between Adam and the Lord, to obey God’s command not to eat the fruit of the prohibited tree, and if he did, God would bless him with life. “Adam and Eve would be God’s treasured people, in paradise, in his presence – if they kept the covenant.”
Adam represented all of humanity, both in his covenant and in his fall. “All three gifts- people, paradise and presence were squandered by Adam in the garden. And so we see curse instead of blessing.”
Even now, “God still requires perfect obedience in order to receive the full blessings of the covenant. But on this side of the fall, none of us can meet these requirements, so now all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse.” Here we see the evidence of our broken relationship. Created by the Father, yet unable to follow in perfect obedience, we face hardship, work, and separation from him.
Covenant of Grace
“The stipulations of the covenant of works are still on us, but they no longer possess the ability to bless because we are no longer capable of fulfilling these obligations.” With our sinful nature, we cannot follow in perfect obedience. Our weakness and temptation with great pull draw us away from his perfect nature.
Yet, “the entire bible shows the unfolding of God’s plan and promise to bless his people through this one covenant of grace.” When we are dead in our sins, God made a way for us to live. It is not something we earn, or achieve, it is his gift and his accomplishment for us.
Covenant of Redemption
The work of redemption began with the Father, a salvation pact between the “father and the son to save a people chosen in Christ before the ages began.”
The covenant of grace makes the covenant of redemption possible. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection offers us restoration in our relationship with God. We receive by faith, forgiveness of our sin, clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and his presence with us in the Holy Spirit.
Practical Application
The covenants of scripture point us to the gospel. They invite us into relationship with our Creator, in our state of sin and weakness, in light of our disgruntled behaviors and meager strength.
Our walk with Jesus is about a relationship with the Almighty Father, the Wonderful Counsellor, and the Prince of Peace. He rescues us from a life of sin, into a life of his fullness and presence, by grace and through faith.
While we pursue this relationship by acts of obedience, and practice of spiritual disciplines, we remember that grace abounds to us, not as we continue on in our sin, but as we “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 3:18).
As we plan our goals for the coming year, we reflect on the grace of God who has brought us this far, and trust that as we draw near to him, he will draw near to us. “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37). His faithfulness to us is steadfast, even when ours is not, and he will satisfy us.
If you’re interested in a deeper study of the covenants of Scripture, “Covenant Theology: Biblical, Theological and Historical Perspectives” published by Crossway, is a great resource.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the Crossway Blog Review Program. I want to say a big thank you for that, and for the opportunity to post an honest review.
Meet with lawyers, accountants to plan and prepare; medical appointments, vaccinations; spending time with friends and family for the “see ya laters” along with the logistical issues of selling the car, the house and moving all the “stuff” somewhere.
The house seemed one of the more daunting tasks.
We advertised locally, and eventually were able to find a buyer. With sweet relief, we signed the contract, checked the box “sell house,” and set our sights on the next task.
The week before possession date, we moved out, cleaned, and left…but they never moved in.
It seems they changed their mind, and decided not to purchase our home. We were shocked, and panicking. How could they do this? What were we going to do? While we had a few more months to sort it all out, it reminds me how quickly agreements can be broken, and the great effort of fixing them.
When we think about business contracts, we think about each person fulfilling their end of the bargain, it’s not about the people on each side, it’s about what each person will give and gain from the agreement.
“Covenants in the Bible, however, are about more than contracts. They are about people. A covenant is a commitment that establishes a relationship between two or more persons.”
Scripture teaches us about three covenants: the covenant of works, the covenant of grace and the covenant of redemption. These commitments are between God and humankind, establishing relationship, restoring relationship and securing our relationship for the future.
Covenant of Works
The Westminster Confession of Faith states that, “the first covenant made with man was a covenant of works, wherein life was promised to Adam; and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience.”
This was a commitment between Adam and the Lord, to obey God’s command not to eat the fruit of the prohibited tree, and if he did, God would bless him with life. “Adam and Eve would be God’s treasured people, in paradise, in his presence – if they kept the covenant.”
Adam represented all of humanity, both in his covenant and in his fall. “All three gifts- people, paradise and presence were squandered by Adam in the garden. And so we see curse instead of blessing.”
Even now, “God still requires perfect obedience in order to receive the full blessings of the covenant. But on this side of the fall, none of us can meet these requirements, so now all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse.” Here we see the evidence of our broken relationship. Created by the Father, yet unable to follow in perfect obedience, we face hardship, work, and separation from him.
Covenant of Grace
“The stipulations of the covenant of works are still on us, but they no longer possess the ability to bless because we are no longer capable of fulfilling these obligations.” With our sinful nature, we cannot follow in perfect obedience. Our weakness and temptation with great pull draw us away from his perfect nature.
Yet, “the entire bible shows the unfolding of God’s plan and promise to bless his people through this one covenant of grace.” When we are dead in our sins, God made a way for us to live. It is not something we earn, or achieve, it is his gift and his accomplishment for us.
Covenant of Redemption
The work of redemption began with the Father, a salvation pact between the “father and the son to save a people chosen in Christ before the ages began.”
The covenant of grace makes the covenant of redemption possible. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection offers us restoration in our relationship with God. We receive by faith, forgiveness of our sin, clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and his presence with us in the Holy Spirit.
Practical Application
The covenants of scripture point us to the gospel. They invite us into relationship with our Creator, in our state of sin and weakness, in light of our disgruntled behaviors and meager strength.
Our walk with Jesus is about a relationship with the Almighty Father, the Wonderful Counsellor, and the Prince of Peace. He rescues us from a life of sin, into a life of his fullness and presence, by grace and through faith.
While we pursue this relationship by acts of obedience, and practice of spiritual disciplines, we remember that grace abounds to us, not as we continue on in our sin, but as we “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 3:18).
As we plan our goals for the coming year, we reflect on the grace of God who has brought us this far, and trust that as we draw near to him, he will draw near to us. “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37). His faithfulness to us is steadfast, even when ours is not, and he will satisfy us.
If you’re interested in a deeper study of the covenants of Scripture, “Covenant Theology: Biblical, Theological and Historical Perspectives” published by Crossway, is a great resource.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the Crossway Blog Review Program. I want to say a big thank you for that, and for the opportunity to post an honest review.
October 28, 2020
Covenant theology is usually a topic that is talked about a lot but rarely deepened about what it really is. Even among those who adhere to covenant theology, the subject seems to be somewhat unknown. I had been waiting many months for this book and since I saw the table of contents, I knew it would become a must read. This is a book that I would love to see translated into Spanish because it simply addresses a topic that we need so much to properly understand the depth and structure of the Reformed tradition. Even though it is an academic book, I believe that pastors can take advantage of each chapter and draw essential lessons about the way God reveals himself, through covenants.
However, this book is not merely a collection of essays in highly technical language and cultural analyses of symbolic implications, biblical quotations, etc., (although these are certainly essential elements). Rather, Covenant Theology is a book that allows us to encounter a God of faithfulness, a God of deep love who chooses a people for himself and keeps his promises (blessings and curses) above all the failings of his chosen ones. Every analysis of the covenants we see in the Bible is nothing more than the demonstration of God's love in different administrations, ratifications. But God, His Word and His plan remain the same. Therefore, a Covenant theologian can be assured of two things: 1) The God of love and perpetual faithfulness to His people and 2) The work of Christ manifested at all times.
One of the greatest challenges of this book has been having to read more than once some of the paragraphs Why? Because sometimes theological terms are used that may be unfamiliar to some, but you will really benefit from reading it calmly. This book is not to be read simply from day to day. It will be very useful to make a simple reading plan, I would recommend that you read one chapter per week in order to extract the best of the book, review the Bible quotes, note the important points (perhaps you will end up highlighting almost the entire chapter as I did).
Another benefit this book presents is a robust understanding of what God's plan involves. We can clearly see that under the structure God's plan and the main character from beginning to end is one: The Triune God. That is another great benefit, we can learn to see God as He is, the Triune God. The peaceful structure allows us to see the Triune God operating from eternity, in creation and in each of the covenants. Another benefit of reading it is that by understanding the covenantal structure we will also be able to understand faithfulness, promises, prophetic fulfillment, and resolve doubts about how to interpret the Bible correctly.
Covenant theology is not simply a lens through which we interpret the Bible. On the contrary, covenant theology is the lens through which God himself shows us his plan and his message. If we wish to better understand such a message, we will need covenant theology. The challenge is great, the subject is profound, and one thing that I am incredibly grateful to the authors for is the bibliography at the end of the book in order to be able to continue deepening the subject.
Finally, this book has been a call to humility and moderation. Even among peaceful theologians there are differences. Some hold a different interpretation. Therefore, I have concluded that we should never become dogmatic and discard completely the interpretations that differ at a certain point. The example of these scholars is that we should study with humility and patience the opposing positions. I am left with the words of Richard P. Belcher Jr. on the subject of the covenant of works, "The covenant of works is important, but a proper understanding of the gospel is more important and we should rejoice when people understand the gospel even if they reject the covenant of works. Therefore, covenant theology should lead us to humility and to understand that we have nothing to boast of, no knowledge that does not come from God, and if scholars like the authors of this book call us to rejoice with those who will not agree, what could some like us, students, sheep, shepherds, occasional readers, do? The answer is simple, covenant theology should lead us to love God in a profound way, the first and great commandment of his covenant, but also to love our neighbor, the second great commandment. Covenant theology is the love of God manifested in incredible ways that finds its consummation in the One who was able to fulfill all the requirements, Christ.
Crossway has provided a complimentary copy of this book through the Blog Review Program.
However, this book is not merely a collection of essays in highly technical language and cultural analyses of symbolic implications, biblical quotations, etc., (although these are certainly essential elements). Rather, Covenant Theology is a book that allows us to encounter a God of faithfulness, a God of deep love who chooses a people for himself and keeps his promises (blessings and curses) above all the failings of his chosen ones. Every analysis of the covenants we see in the Bible is nothing more than the demonstration of God's love in different administrations, ratifications. But God, His Word and His plan remain the same. Therefore, a Covenant theologian can be assured of two things: 1) The God of love and perpetual faithfulness to His people and 2) The work of Christ manifested at all times.
One of the greatest challenges of this book has been having to read more than once some of the paragraphs Why? Because sometimes theological terms are used that may be unfamiliar to some, but you will really benefit from reading it calmly. This book is not to be read simply from day to day. It will be very useful to make a simple reading plan, I would recommend that you read one chapter per week in order to extract the best of the book, review the Bible quotes, note the important points (perhaps you will end up highlighting almost the entire chapter as I did).
Another benefit this book presents is a robust understanding of what God's plan involves. We can clearly see that under the structure God's plan and the main character from beginning to end is one: The Triune God. That is another great benefit, we can learn to see God as He is, the Triune God. The peaceful structure allows us to see the Triune God operating from eternity, in creation and in each of the covenants. Another benefit of reading it is that by understanding the covenantal structure we will also be able to understand faithfulness, promises, prophetic fulfillment, and resolve doubts about how to interpret the Bible correctly.
Covenant theology is not simply a lens through which we interpret the Bible. On the contrary, covenant theology is the lens through which God himself shows us his plan and his message. If we wish to better understand such a message, we will need covenant theology. The challenge is great, the subject is profound, and one thing that I am incredibly grateful to the authors for is the bibliography at the end of the book in order to be able to continue deepening the subject.
Finally, this book has been a call to humility and moderation. Even among peaceful theologians there are differences. Some hold a different interpretation. Therefore, I have concluded that we should never become dogmatic and discard completely the interpretations that differ at a certain point. The example of these scholars is that we should study with humility and patience the opposing positions. I am left with the words of Richard P. Belcher Jr. on the subject of the covenant of works, "The covenant of works is important, but a proper understanding of the gospel is more important and we should rejoice when people understand the gospel even if they reject the covenant of works. Therefore, covenant theology should lead us to humility and to understand that we have nothing to boast of, no knowledge that does not come from God, and if scholars like the authors of this book call us to rejoice with those who will not agree, what could some like us, students, sheep, shepherds, occasional readers, do? The answer is simple, covenant theology should lead us to love God in a profound way, the first and great commandment of his covenant, but also to love our neighbor, the second great commandment. Covenant theology is the love of God manifested in incredible ways that finds its consummation in the One who was able to fulfill all the requirements, Christ.
Crossway has provided a complimentary copy of this book through the Blog Review Program.
March 11, 2021
They have done it again! The Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) faculty and Crossway have collaborated to publish this volume, being the third after the Biblical-Theological Introductions of the Old and New Testaments. And like its predecessors, this volume will not disappoint the reader.
From topics so basic to understanding Covenant Theology such as covenants of redemption, works, and grace to relevant details about the historical development and new aspects of these doctrines, and even a complete section of collateral studies surrounding Covenant Theology as its relation to the Ancient Near East, and Dispensationalism, it is difficult to find today a more complete work on this subject.
Granted, it's not a volume easy to read. Both the book's length and the depth with which it treats each topic presuppose that the audience has a general knowledge of Biblical and Systematic Theology. For this reason, the volume is ideal for bible college students, seminarians, and master's level academics. As with most of these volumes, the Spanish-speaking world will have to wait a while to see this work translated into Spanish. However, when it happens, it will be worth the wait.
I am grateful to Crossway for providing me with a review copy of this book.
From topics so basic to understanding Covenant Theology such as covenants of redemption, works, and grace to relevant details about the historical development and new aspects of these doctrines, and even a complete section of collateral studies surrounding Covenant Theology as its relation to the Ancient Near East, and Dispensationalism, it is difficult to find today a more complete work on this subject.
Granted, it's not a volume easy to read. Both the book's length and the depth with which it treats each topic presuppose that the audience has a general knowledge of Biblical and Systematic Theology. For this reason, the volume is ideal for bible college students, seminarians, and master's level academics. As with most of these volumes, the Spanish-speaking world will have to wait a while to see this work translated into Spanish. However, when it happens, it will be worth the wait.
I am grateful to Crossway for providing me with a review copy of this book.
January 16, 2024
This is a long book and is not intended for anyone without a significant background in protestant Christianity. It is divided into three parts: 13 chapters involving Biblical Covenants which covers both different covenants (Mosaic, Davidic, etc), and covenant in different sections of the Bible (Paul, gospels, Hebrews, etc). The second division is 7 chapters in Historical Theology following a historical timeline. The last segment is Collateral and Theological Studies and deals with various topics including comparing with other theological traditions.
I found the first part to be somewhat repetitive-kind of like to a man with a hammer, everything is a nail. The second and third segments I found more engaging, maybe because many do not understand Christianity in such a narrow covenantal fashion. There certainly shorter and more condensed versions of what Covenant Theology says.
This book is very, very nicely referenced and one could spend a near lifetime chasing down all the reference works-both in and outside covenant theology. Recommend to the right reader.
I found the first part to be somewhat repetitive-kind of like to a man with a hammer, everything is a nail. The second and third segments I found more engaging, maybe because many do not understand Christianity in such a narrow covenantal fashion. There certainly shorter and more condensed versions of what Covenant Theology says.
This book is very, very nicely referenced and one could spend a near lifetime chasing down all the reference works-both in and outside covenant theology. Recommend to the right reader.
March 16, 2021
A comprehensive treatment of covenant theology from the Reformed Presbyterian perspective (all the contributors are either past or current professors of Reformed Theological Seminary) It is divided into three parts. Part one covers the biblical theology. Part 2 covers historical theology. And part 3 covers a bit of everything, something like a clearly ground, addressing competing systems, noting developments in understanding of ancient Near Eastern background, etc. As with any edited volume with many contributors, some essays are better than others, but overall the quality of thought is clear and the arguments sound and sophisticated. Moreover, opposing viewpoints are treated fairly. Because of the comprehensiveness and clarify of this volume, it will likely be a standard reference work regarding the Presbyterian/Reformed perspective of covenant theology for many years to come and as such I highly recommend it.
July 9, 2022
Fantastic collection of essays on covenant theology. A one stop shop that gives an introduction on every aspect of how covenant theology interacts with Scripture and theology. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on covenant in the gospels and ancient near eastern backgrounds to covenants. Obviously with a book like this there is a wide range of views present. Therefore it can't be viewed as the final word on every single aspect, despite this it does a very good job at being a thorough over view. I'd recommend it to anyone looking to dive deeper into the essence of covenant theology, though it does assume a bit of knowledge before coming to it. It doesn't have to be read cover to cover which is fantastic and is something I will come back to as a stepping stone to further study.
November 18, 2020
This book is full of good information. But it is long. This is really more of a scholarly book and written for someone who is in seminary, or really studying theology. If I waited to review this book until I got done it would be a long time from now because it is extremely long.
However, it is full of solid information and I plan to continue reading it slowly and in small chunks. But if you are looking for some deep information into covenant theology, or to even learn about what that means then you might want to consider picking this book up.
A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
However, it is full of solid information and I plan to continue reading it slowly and in small chunks. But if you are looking for some deep information into covenant theology, or to even learn about what that means then you might want to consider picking this book up.
A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
May 28, 2021
I read this textbook for a covenant theology course at RTS taught by one of the editors; it is overall a well-written and comprehensive collection of scholarship both introductory and contemporary. As a Reformed Baptist, I found the chapter on sacraments charitable and fair, and the chapter on Dispensationalism by Mike Glodo especially helpful in evaluating the tradition I came from.
November 13, 2021
Excellent book. I only gave it 4 out of 5 stars because I’m a Baptist and I don’t prefer the view “one covenant of grace administered in different ways”. I would have given 5 stars if there was a chapter that specifically argued in favor of that articulation. However, excellent book and I wholeheartedly recommend this.
September 5, 2024
A very good and extensive walk through of covenant theology- the covenants we find in Scripture, the ways they have been viewed throughout history, as well as more recent stuides and considersations of this topic. For anyone who wants to dive deeper into the traditional covenant theology view- this book will do a good job. Written by well known scholars and experts in this topic.
June 12, 2021
Not necessary reading, but certainly enriching. Great essays by various very competent teachers and writers exploring and explaining covenant theology.
Also, an extremely attractive and well designed hardcover first edition.
Also, an extremely attractive and well designed hardcover first edition.
April 21, 2023
I really enjoyed this work. I found the section Covenant Theology and the Sacraments to be particularly helpful. I also enjoyed that it included varying voices from across the spectrum of Covenant theology.
My only slight against this work is that it wouldnt be accessible to a lay audience.
My only slight against this work is that it wouldnt be accessible to a lay audience.
May 2, 2022
Very helpful and informative.
July 5, 2022
This is an excellent book on covenant theology. It is good to read through but also as a reference book. It covers a wide range of topics related to covenant theology from a Reformed perspective.
December 30, 2022
This is an important book! Don’t let the size deter you…each chapter is a stand alone essay and easily accessible, especially for theology and history lovers. I am rather sad that it’s over, TBH.
January 3, 2024
An excellent resource. Probably more useful as a reference than a straight read through.
March 22, 2025
Very helpful collection of essays. Howard Griffith's on covenant in Reformational covenant theology and O. Palmer Robertson's essay on the nations were my personal favorites.
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