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Covenant theologyJumping into a sermonCOVENANT THEOLOGY Peter Golding was converted under Lloyd-Jones, studied at London Bible College, pastored a Free Church in Middlesex for 30 years and is on the board of London Theological Seminary. This book had its origin in his 1993 PhD thesis. It is academic in tone, with 12 pages of bibliography and 800 footnotes, but at the same time extremely well organised and clearly written. Golding claims that 'the idea of covenant is the principle in terms of which the saving relations of God to men are organised'. He describes the book as 'a modest attempt at survey, analysis and critique of the main streams of Reformed thinking on the Covenant-concept in Scripture. It is therefore a synthesis of historical, biblical and systematic theologies on the subject'. He begins with an historical survey, beginning with post-apostolic writers and working up to the present day, with special emphasis on the 17th century. Then he turns to theology, first discussing the nature of a covenant (a contract between parties, or a last will and testament), the covenant of works (and whether it is appropriate to describe the original created order as covenantal), and the covenant of grace (including the unity and continuity of the covenant, and the relationship between the Old and New Testament). The covenant of grace has several dispensations: Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New (as prophesied in Jeremiah, and as instituted in Christ). Discussion of the Mosaic covenant includes a consideration of the place of the Law and a critique of both Dispensationalism and Theonomy. He concludes with a chapter on the abiding value and contemporary relevance of the covenant - its unity (OT and NT), solidarity (one person - Adam or Christ - representing a group), continuity (the abiding goodwill of God towards his creation), and its perpetuity (embracing eschatology). This is not material that will jump effortlessly into Sunday's sermon, but it is all good stuff, written from a thoroughly Reformed perspective, but without the grinding of any of the usual axes. It is a reference worth having. Barry Seagren, © Evangelicals Now - August 2004 |