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A New Testament Biblical Theology #1
Christ of the Consummation, Volume 1: The Testimony of the Four Gospels
At the moment when Jesus entered the realm of redemptive history, God's people and the hurting world needed no further promises or prophecies. The one thing they lacked was fulfillment--they needed the promised Messiah and his consummate kingdom to come. Noted theologian O. Palmer Robertson's three-volume The Christ of the Consummation explores progressive revelation across the redemptive history of the New Testament. The first volume, The Testimony of the Four Gospels, emphasizes the eyewitness character of the four men who attest to the supernatural in-breaking of the Christ. In the rich tapestry of the Gospels, we see Christ overcome the powers of Satan, gradually unveil his identity by words and works, call and commission disciples, die on the cross, be raised, and ascend to heaven. By each witnessing distinctive aspects of the coming of the King and the establishment of his kingdom, the gospel writers boldly describe a new phase in redemptive revelation.
416 pages, Paperback
Published August 17, 2022
15 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
O. Palmer Robertson
28 books59 followersOwen Palmer Robertson (born August 31, 1937) is an American Christian theologian and biblical scholar. He taught at Reformed Theological Seminary, Westminster Theological Seminary, Covenant Theological Seminary, Knox Theological Seminary as well as at the African Bible Colleges of Malawi and Uganda. He also served as principal of the latter institution.
Robertson is perhaps best known for his book The Christ of the Covenants. His definition of a biblical covenant being "a bond in blood, sovereignly administered" has been widely discussed.
In 2008, a Festschrift was published in his honor. The Hope Fulfilled: Essays in Honor of O. Palmer Robertson included contributions by Bruce Waltke, Richard Gaffin, Robert L. Reymond and George W. Knight III.
Robertson is perhaps best known for his book The Christ of the Covenants. His definition of a biblical covenant being "a bond in blood, sovereignly administered" has been widely discussed.
In 2008, a Festschrift was published in his honor. The Hope Fulfilled: Essays in Honor of O. Palmer Robertson included contributions by Bruce Waltke, Richard Gaffin, Robert L. Reymond and George W. Knight III.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 19, 2022
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S CHRIST OF THE CONSUMMATION, VOLUME 1 ABOUT?
At some point when reading Vos' Biblical Theology most readers like me* start to wonder, "How is he doing to have time to cover the New Testament? While Vos doesn't give his readers the same kind of insight into the history of revelation of the NT as he does the OT, he does set out some principles. Robert's work is the first book-length attempt to apply Vos' directions to apply his method to the NT (actually, the first of three book-length attempts).
That'd be people who didn't know what was coming from pre-knowledge about the book or reading the Table of Contents.
He begins by stating the difference between the two works—there are centuries upon centuries of history of OT revelation, and a maximum of one from the announcement of Jesus' birth to Mary to the end of John's writing on Patmos. But that doesn't mean that there's no development, but how best to approach that? Robertson focuses on three distinctives in his approach:
Retracing the Historical Progression across the Various Phases of New Covenant Revelation as the Organizing Principle
The Foundational Role of the Old Covenant Scriptures
Contemporary [to their writing] Application of New Testament Biblical Theology
With these distinctives in mind, Robertson looks at material concerning Jesus' self-testimony; various phases of His life and work; the progressive revelation of the Kingdom during His life; His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension; and then he moves into closer looks at the various Gospels individually and corporately.
AN UNEXPECTED BONUS
A number of times throughout the text Robertson will hit pause on his exegetical work, the historical reflections, or the interpretative/theological conclusions from those, to offer application to the lives and hearts of the reader. Sometimes a broader or more general call and sometimes it's a narrow focus. I really didn't expect these at all, and I almost never saw them coming when he did pause for one. But I appreciated them all and found them to be a real enhancement to the work.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT CHRIST OF THE CONSUMMATION, VOLUME 1?
I'm clearly not qualified to evaluate Robertson's application of Vos, but people like D.A. Carson and Richard Gaffin are, so I'll take their word for it. Sure, they wrote the forward and a "further word" for this book, so it's not like we're talking about impartial evaluations.
Nor am I capable of—or willing to—give this a good and thorough review/evaluation. Although I do wish I could. So let me offer a few thoughts from my perspective as a lay reader. And I do think this is a book written with the layman in mind—it's not a casual read by any means, but it is not a book solely for scholars.
I'm not sure I've read a Christian book this year that has made me think more, read slower/closer, and pushed my thinking more. It's also been the most rewarding and I think it will prove the most fecund for my future reading, study, and devotion.
At the same time, the number of times that I read something I don't think I'd ever been exposed to, or that was wholly novel to me is so small as to be negligible. This is not to say that it was all review or that he didn't make me stop and think for a minute or ten to consider a point before moving on. But on the whole, it's a reframing and refocusing of many things I've read in lay-friendly works or heard in sermons/lectures. It's not "here's a whole new way to read/think about the Gospels"—and Robertson would be the last to want something like that. Instead, this is a "here's a way to profitably consider the way these things were revealed" and "here's how the Gospels build upon one another and build up each other."
I'm already trying to figure out when I can get in a re-read without ruining plans for next year—possibly in combination with a re-read of Vos' Biblical Theology so I can more directly see for myself the connections between the two works and Vos' influence.
This is the first in a trilogy—if the rest of the trilogy is as good as this one, the series will likely end up on shelves everywhere next to Vos. I know I'm already ready to dive into the next volume.
---
In these new phases of redemptive history, the heart of the revelation does not change, but it broadens and deepens in the realities of the truth. Jesus Christ is the same, but his church, his precious bride, is being built by the addition of nations being born in a day as a consequence of Christ’s pouring out the gifts of his Spirit on all flesh. The kingdom of God has come and continues to come. The kingdom of God is yet to come. It will arrive in all its fullness on that day, the great judgment day, the day of resurrection and restoration of all things. To God be the glory for the things he has done, is doing, and yet will do.
WHAT'S CHRIST OF THE CONSUMMATION, VOLUME 1 ABOUT?
At some point when reading Vos' Biblical Theology most readers like me* start to wonder, "How is he doing to have time to cover the New Testament? While Vos doesn't give his readers the same kind of insight into the history of revelation of the NT as he does the OT, he does set out some principles. Robert's work is the first book-length attempt to apply Vos' directions to apply his method to the NT (actually, the first of three book-length attempts).
That'd be people who didn't know what was coming from pre-knowledge about the book or reading the Table of Contents.
He begins by stating the difference between the two works—there are centuries upon centuries of history of OT revelation, and a maximum of one from the announcement of Jesus' birth to Mary to the end of John's writing on Patmos. But that doesn't mean that there's no development, but how best to approach that? Robertson focuses on three distinctives in his approach:
Retracing the Historical Progression across the Various Phases of New Covenant Revelation as the Organizing Principle
The Foundational Role of the Old Covenant Scriptures
Contemporary [to their writing] Application of New Testament Biblical Theology
With these distinctives in mind, Robertson looks at material concerning Jesus' self-testimony; various phases of His life and work; the progressive revelation of the Kingdom during His life; His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension; and then he moves into closer looks at the various Gospels individually and corporately.
AN UNEXPECTED BONUS
A number of times throughout the text Robertson will hit pause on his exegetical work, the historical reflections, or the interpretative/theological conclusions from those, to offer application to the lives and hearts of the reader. Sometimes a broader or more general call and sometimes it's a narrow focus. I really didn't expect these at all, and I almost never saw them coming when he did pause for one. But I appreciated them all and found them to be a real enhancement to the work.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT CHRIST OF THE CONSUMMATION, VOLUME 1?
I'm clearly not qualified to evaluate Robertson's application of Vos, but people like D.A. Carson and Richard Gaffin are, so I'll take their word for it. Sure, they wrote the forward and a "further word" for this book, so it's not like we're talking about impartial evaluations.
Nor am I capable of—or willing to—give this a good and thorough review/evaluation. Although I do wish I could. So let me offer a few thoughts from my perspective as a lay reader. And I do think this is a book written with the layman in mind—it's not a casual read by any means, but it is not a book solely for scholars.
I'm not sure I've read a Christian book this year that has made me think more, read slower/closer, and pushed my thinking more. It's also been the most rewarding and I think it will prove the most fecund for my future reading, study, and devotion.
At the same time, the number of times that I read something I don't think I'd ever been exposed to, or that was wholly novel to me is so small as to be negligible. This is not to say that it was all review or that he didn't make me stop and think for a minute or ten to consider a point before moving on. But on the whole, it's a reframing and refocusing of many things I've read in lay-friendly works or heard in sermons/lectures. It's not "here's a whole new way to read/think about the Gospels"—and Robertson would be the last to want something like that. Instead, this is a "here's a way to profitably consider the way these things were revealed" and "here's how the Gospels build upon one another and build up each other."
I'm already trying to figure out when I can get in a re-read without ruining plans for next year—possibly in combination with a re-read of Vos' Biblical Theology so I can more directly see for myself the connections between the two works and Vos' influence.
This is the first in a trilogy—if the rest of the trilogy is as good as this one, the series will likely end up on shelves everywhere next to Vos. I know I'm already ready to dive into the next volume.
December 31, 2022
Best introductory volume to studying the Gospels I’ve ever come across. Examines both the unified witness and distinctive testimonies of each of the four Gospels within a redemptive-historical perspective and presses the reader to believe their testimony, and so find abundant life in the Lord Jesus Christ.
August 5, 2025
Lots of exegetical insights into the four gospels, which were very helpful. Robertson does a good job situating the gospels in the flow of redemptive history. In his stated goal of picking up where Vos left off, I think he nailed it. The first few chapters of the book walk through the major events of Jesus’s life, explaining their importance and how they fit into the Grand Narrative of the whole of the Scriptures. Then, in the last chapter (which should have been four separate chapters, but alas) he unpacks the unique perspectives of each gospel. There are some phenomenal insights into the gospels here, especially the Synoptics. He closes with an extended discussion of John (almost as long as the three Synoptics combined), and offers some theological reflections on the importance of the Gospels.
However, the book got a bit repetitive toward the end (Robertson explains the dating of the gospel of John no less than four separate times).
However, the book got a bit repetitive toward the end (Robertson explains the dating of the gospel of John no less than four separate times).
September 23, 2025
Read this in conjunction with my devotional reading through the Greek text of the four gospels. Robertson's insightful survey deals with the gospel accounts from both a thematic and biblical-theological perspective, and is packed with astute textual observations and connections.
December 1, 2024
So pleased to have been introduced to this author's work in the last year (especially on the Psalms). I particularly appreciate the openly evangelistic/pastoral note that characterises them.
December 8, 2025
O. Palmer Robertson is a treasure among writers of Biblical theology. Building upon the work of Geerhardus Vos in his volumes on Old Testament Biblical theology (all of them excellent), he now begins providing an in-depth treatment of the New Testament, something that Vos only lightly covered.
Robertson begins by focusing on the nature, method, and distinctives of New Testament Biblical theology. He then moves on to cover Jesus' early life on earth and his self-testimony of himself as Son of Man, Messiah, and Son of God. Next he covers Jesus' adult life and ministry and the progressive revelation of the kingdom of God in the gospel accounts. He moves on to Jesus' death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
Then he turns his attention to the individual gospel books. First he looks at the united witness of the Synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke), then in turn individually looks at the gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John. In his brief conclusion he points forward to the next volume in his study, which will focus on Acts and the letters of Paul.
What I have always appreciated about Robertson's writing is still much in evidence here: his thoroughness, clarity, extensive documentation, and his devotional tone and evangelical focus. He never assumes that the reader must be a believer; he frequently directs questions at the reader to ask if he or she believes these things, if their trust is in Jesus the Messiah alone.
I am looking forward to Volume II of this study.
Robertson begins by focusing on the nature, method, and distinctives of New Testament Biblical theology. He then moves on to cover Jesus' early life on earth and his self-testimony of himself as Son of Man, Messiah, and Son of God. Next he covers Jesus' adult life and ministry and the progressive revelation of the kingdom of God in the gospel accounts. He moves on to Jesus' death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
Then he turns his attention to the individual gospel books. First he looks at the united witness of the Synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke), then in turn individually looks at the gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John. In his brief conclusion he points forward to the next volume in his study, which will focus on Acts and the letters of Paul.
What I have always appreciated about Robertson's writing is still much in evidence here: his thoroughness, clarity, extensive documentation, and his devotional tone and evangelical focus. He never assumes that the reader must be a believer; he frequently directs questions at the reader to ask if he or she believes these things, if their trust is in Jesus the Messiah alone.
I am looking forward to Volume II of this study.
January 28, 2023
Not my most thorough review, but a book worth mentioning. Robertson surveys the gospels in order to provide a primer that I’ll likely use for reference many times in the future.
The first half of the book zeroes in on the composite portrait of Jesus painted by the four evangelists. The second half takes each of the four gospels, and examines just about every area in which they are uniform, and every area in which they differ.
These two emphases make for what feels like two distinct books. The topical nature of the first half makes it a much easier read. The structured analysis of the second makes it more of a reference work to be consulted before/during a deep dive into one of the individual gospels.
What I most appreciate is Robertson’s emphasis on the distinctness between each evangelist’s theology. Mark is focused on the cross, suffering and atonement. Luke is almost always missiological. The Lord did not intend for us to smash the four gospels together into a narrative Frankenstein. He gave us four unique but complementary perspectives on his life and ministry, in flesh and on earth.
The other point of appreciation is Robertson’s tone and style. He’s easy to read. He’s concerned for the reader’s understanding and experience. I’ll be picking up more of his work.
The first half of the book zeroes in on the composite portrait of Jesus painted by the four evangelists. The second half takes each of the four gospels, and examines just about every area in which they are uniform, and every area in which they differ.
These two emphases make for what feels like two distinct books. The topical nature of the first half makes it a much easier read. The structured analysis of the second makes it more of a reference work to be consulted before/during a deep dive into one of the individual gospels.
What I most appreciate is Robertson’s emphasis on the distinctness between each evangelist’s theology. Mark is focused on the cross, suffering and atonement. Luke is almost always missiological. The Lord did not intend for us to smash the four gospels together into a narrative Frankenstein. He gave us four unique but complementary perspectives on his life and ministry, in flesh and on earth.
The other point of appreciation is Robertson’s tone and style. He’s easy to read. He’s concerned for the reader’s understanding and experience. I’ll be picking up more of his work.
January 9, 2023
A fantastic introductory biblical theology to the Gospels whereby Dr. Robertson practices what he preaches: theology should draw us closer into fellowship with the living God. Nearly every major section ends on an evangelistic note. If the purpose of the gospels were to be eyewitness accounts so that you may believe, than the purpose of any biblical theology of the gospels worth its snuff would be the same.
Chapter 3, on the self-testimony of Jesus was particularly edifying. It’s clear in this chapter, and among other, that Robertson sees the Old Testament as the primary resource from which the gospel authors drew their assumptions and expectations. And this is a welcome corrective on some of the recent treatments of Second Temple Judaism. I think Robertson is correct: if you want to understand the New Testament, really you need to understand the Old Testament.
Overall, I would call it a stretch book for the average person in the pew. If they are theologically-inclined, than they should have no trouble. But it may be a great book for someone who’s ready to take the next step in their spiritual maturity.
Chapter 3, on the self-testimony of Jesus was particularly edifying. It’s clear in this chapter, and among other, that Robertson sees the Old Testament as the primary resource from which the gospel authors drew their assumptions and expectations. And this is a welcome corrective on some of the recent treatments of Second Temple Judaism. I think Robertson is correct: if you want to understand the New Testament, really you need to understand the Old Testament.
Overall, I would call it a stretch book for the average person in the pew. If they are theologically-inclined, than they should have no trouble. But it may be a great book for someone who’s ready to take the next step in their spiritual maturity.
February 22, 2023
With this book, Robertson, a veteran OT scholar, begins his foray into NT theology. While written more on the beginning and intermediate level, especially when compared to such tomes as Beale's or Stuhlmacher's, there is glimmers of insight throughout for the more advanced reader of NT scholarship. The strongest aspects of this book is that Robertson writes clearly, navigates various themes and issues with confidence, and has structured his exposition of the gospels in a way that is easy to follow and will serve any student interested in this work. I look forward to reading his subsequent contribution to this series.
December 4, 2022
An excellent book that captures the various messages and themes of the four gospels, including each writer's distinctive contributions. The book pays off on its title by showing a wide array in which Christ fulfills the OT Scriptures. It's a book that pays well to close, devotional reading. I'm only withholding one star because I think the book was a little too repetitive and could have used some more editing. The content, however, is excellent and worshipful--exactly how a treatise of biblical theology should be.
May 24, 2023
Excellent biblical theological study of the Gospels. His presentation is both informative and pastoral.
September 16, 2025
Wow. Just excellent. I’ve read the Bible through many times. Biblical theology like this one ties it all together. Learned a lot reading this book and recommend it highly.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews