Covenant Theology

Filia Mariae said:

Thanks Terry. As I understand it, from that link, the Reformed Tradition would essentially say that Christians are now in the covenant of grace following Christ's redemptive sacrifice for our salvation (having previously been under the law). But I'm not really sure from that link how covenant is being defined, or what the essential elements of the covenant are. Can you provide the definition for covenant (from the Reformed perspective)?

Thanks.

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One common misconception is that the Covenant of Works refers to the Mosaic Covenant (Law) and that the Covenant of Grace refers to the New Testament. This is actually a very Dispensational view. The Covenant of Works is that which Adam was under prior to the Fall. The Covenant of Grace is initiated in Gen 3. The Covenant of Redemption occurred in eternity between the persons of the Trinity.

Meredith Kline has done some excellent work recently exploring the nature of Biblical covenants and the actual historical context of the covenants as they are spelled out particularly in the OT.

We Reformed love our acrostics, so we commonly use the acrostic THEOS (Greek for "God"):

T - Transcendence
H - Heirarchy
E - Ethics
O - Oath
S - Succession

I don't have time at the moment to get into further detail, but you can read some good articles here

The primary focus of that area is infant baptism, but some of the articles near the top focus more directly on defining Covenant Theology.

Filia Mariae said:

Can someone explain to me how covenant theology is (generally) understood within the Presbyterian tradition? Just an overview or summary will be fine. Many thanks.


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When I was a Baptist I studied the book "Christ of the Covenants", by O. Palmer Robertson, in a study group led by a Presbyterian, and it changed my life. I understood scripture like I never had before. I find no contradiction in the Word now where as before there were many.

GLJCA

From the Belgic Confession:

... baptism of the infants of believers, whom we believe ought to be baptized and sealed with the sign of the covenant, as the children in Israel formerly were circumcised, upon the same promises which are made unto our children. And indeed Christ shed his blood no less for the washing of the children of the faithful, than for adult persons; and therefore they ought to receive the sign and sacrament of that, which Christ hath done for them; as the Lord commanded in the law, that they should be made partakers of the sacrament of Christ's suffering and death, shortly after they were born, by offering for them a lamb, which was a sacrament of Jesus Christ. Moreover, what circumcision was to the Jews, that baptism is for our children. And for this reason Paul calls baptism the circumcision of Christ.

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For more details see here.

-- Radagast

Filia Mariae said:

Can someone explain to me how covenant theology is (generally) understood within the Presbyterian tradition? Just an overview or summary will be fine. Many thanks.
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Hey there Mariae,

From my Presbyterian days, I loved and still am thankful for a covenental understanding of Scripture, history, and the Church. My pastor led us through a study of covenant theology, and where most of us learned the most from was a book called "Children of the Promise" by Robert Booth. I think you will find, that the Catholic view has much in common with the Reformed/Covenental view. Not identical, but still, very similar.

Probably from your recent reading, you know this already. But....

Ephesians 2:11, 12 - Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "uncircumcision" by the so-called "circumcision" which is performed in the flesh by human hands - remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Covenant theology takes a corporate view of God's dealings with man. That's not to minimize the "personal/individual" element, but rather to remind us that we are not merely a "single human integer" in the eyes of God, as my pastor would frequently remind us. No, God deals with people on a corporate, group level. That's much of the basis for the "visible/invisible" distinction that some Presbyterians have.

The Baptist view is typically that children aren't members of the church, until they have faith and are baptised. The covenantal view is that children (of at least one Christian parent) when they are baptised, are members of the Church, the "family of God" regardless of their age or faith. It takes a formal act of defiance to remove oneself from such a relationship. Kind of like circumcision in the OT, a male 8 days old didn't have much of a choice about being an Israelite and receiving the sign of the covenant, did he? Nope

Original sin, too, is explained clearly by a covenental view of history. We are born a "child of Adam." We receive Adam's sin nature because of who Adam was, who we are, and because we are "represented" in Adam.

Basically, the "Covenantal Head" represents all those whom God says they represent. God says Adam represents all humans, so they do. Likewise, in the Presbyterian view, God says Jesus Christ represents all the elect (through imputation of His righteousness). That's where we'd disagree to a certain extent.

Hope that helps along with what else you've read and been told.

Peace be with you

-Rob

GLJCA said:

When I was a Baptist I studied the book "Christ of the Covenants", by O. Palmer Robertson, in a study group led by a Presbyterian, and it changed my life. I understood scripture like I never had before. I find no contradiction in the Word now where as before there were many.

GLJCA

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There's an introductory book by O.P. Robertson, too. It's called "Covenants". I like it for its clarity, but "Christ of the Covenants" is really quite good on its own, too.

Filia Mariae said:

But I'm not really sure from that link how covenant is being defined, or what the essential elements of the covenant are. Can you provide the definition for covenant (from the Reformed perspective)?
Thanks.

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If I remember right, a covenant is a formal expression (usually in writing) of a continuing relationship among parties.

The Westminster Confession defines the Covenant of Grace as follows:

... a second, commonly called the covenant of grace; wherein He freely offers unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ; requiring of them faith in Him, that they may be saved, and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life His Holy Spirit, to make them willing, and able to believe.
From WCF ch. 7, para. 3

For clarity I'm going to add the sections on the administrations of the Covenant of grace. These are sometimes called "covenants" too, though theologically they're extensions of God's one Covenant of Grace:
"This covenant was differently administered in the time of the law, and in the time of the Gospel: under the law it was administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal lamb, and other types and ordinances delivered to the people of the Jews, all foresignifying Christ to come; which were, for that time, sufficient and efficacious, through the operation of the Spirit, to instruct and build up the elect in faith in the promised Messiah, by whom they had full remission of sins, and eternal salvation; and is called the Old Testament.

Under the Gospel, when Christ, the substance, was exhibited, the ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed are the preaching of the Word, and the administration of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper: which, though fewer in number, and administered with more simplicity, and less outward glory, yet, in them, it is held forth in more fullness, evidence, and spiritual efficacy, to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles; and is called the New Testament. There are not therefore two covenants of grace, differing in substance, but one and the same, under various dispensations."

WCF ch. 7, para. 5 & 6

'Hope it helps.