Covenant Theology is a school of Biblical interpretation that provides one alternative to Dispensationalism and is a form of Supersessionism. Though different flavours of Covenant Theology exist, they generally share the idea that throughout Biblical history, God's various covenants were either one and the same, or subsets of each other. Depending on denomination, theologians will either refer to one all-encompassing covenant (with no clear break between the Israelite nation and the Christian church), or two or more covenants wrapped in a container covenant (with a definite break between Israel and the church).

Contents

1 The History of Covenant Theology 1.1 Historical documents relating to Covenant Theology 2 The Biblical Basis of Covenant Theology 2.1 The meaning of the word 2.2 The Abrahamic Covenant 2.3 The Mosaic Covenant 2.4 The Davidic Covenant 2.5 The inter-relationship between covenants 3 Covenant Theology and the Sacraments 3.1 A Covenantal view of The Lord's Supper 3.2 A Covenantal view of Baptism 4 External links 5 See also

The History of Covenant Theology

Although proponents would point out that Covenant Theology has its basis in the Bible, elements of the theology can be found in the writings of church leaders in the first few centuries immediately following the foundation of the Christian church. One such leader was Augustine.

One of the basic foundations of Covenant theology is the belief that the Bible is the inspired word of God and contains all things necessary for Christian faith and obedience. More recent theological trends have questioned this basis, which means that Covenant Theology is not taught nor understood in churches which adhere to "Liberal" or "Modernist" interpretations of the Bible. This area of debate is covered in greater detail in the articles on Biblical inerrancy and Sola scriptura.

Covenant Theology therefore sees the Bible as a historical and progressive revelation of God-given information. This information records the efforts of God to create for himself a special people - a Covenant people - that have been rescued from their dire spiritual and moral condition.

Ultimately, this action of God is revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ - that through his life, death and resurrection, God is able to create his people, the Christian church. Because Covenant Theology is mainly Calvinistic and deterministic, all the events which preceeded Christ (as recorded in the Old Testament) were, in many cases, symbolic of what was to be achieved in Christ.

It is interesting to note that until the rise of Dispensationalism in the 19th century, Covenant theology was never really explained or given over to much study. Dispensationalism offers an alternative understanding of how the Bible fits together and is more popular amongst Fundamentalist Christians in modern times. Perhaps because of the rise of this alternative system of interpretation in the evangelical church, the 20th century has seen a rise in the amount of works dedicated to the subject.

Covenant theology is inter-related with the study of Biblical Theology, and contains many similarities, such as the belief that the Bible is "one book with one message" - namely Christ

Historical documents relating to Covenant Theology

Man, by his Fall, having made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second, commonly called the covenant of grace: wherein he freely offereth 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 life, his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe.

::Westminster Confession of Faith (1647). Chapter 7:3.

The Biblical Basis of Covenant Theology

The meaning of the word

Covenant is the customary word used to translate the Hebrew word berith (ברית, Tiberian Hebrew bərîṯ, Standard Hebrew bərit) as it is used in the Hebrew Bible. While the word is used to identify treaties or similar solemn pacts between rulers or individuals, the most important covenant in the Bible is the covenant between God and the Israelites (i.e. the Jews). This covenant was the basis for the Torah, and the Israelites' status as God's chosen people. By the covenant, Israelites understand that God had promised to undertake certain things on behalf of the people of Israel, and that the Israelites owed God obedience and worship in return.

The Biblical covenants could be subdivided into several sub-headings:

The Abrahamic Covenant

The Abrahamic Covenant, found in Genesis 15, granting the Israelites a promised land in the Land of Israel. In this covenant, God promises (see Genesis 12:1-3; 13:14-18; 15:1-21; 17:1-22):

1. To make of Abraham into a great nation and to multiply his seed exceedingly and to make him a father of great many nations.
2. To bless Abraham and make him great.
3. To make Abraham a blessing to all the families of the earth.
4. To bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him.
5. To give Abraham and his seed forever all the land which he could see.
6. To give him a sign of the covenant (circumcision).

The Mosaic Covenant

The Mosaic Covenant, found in Exodus 19 through 24, which contained the foundations of the Torah. In this covenant, God promises:

1. To make Israel His special possession among the people of the land.
2. To make Israel a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. God followed it up with requirements and laws.

The Palestinian Covenant is an unconditional covenant enlarging upon the Abrahamic Covenant promising the seed of Abraham eternal possession in the land (Deuteronomy 30:1-10). This covenant says:

1. Israel will be dispersed among the nations.
2. Israel will repent and turn to the Lord.
3. Israel will be regathered from its dispersion.

and in this covenant, God promises:

1. To bring the Israelites to the land which their fathers possessed.
2. To prosper the Israelites above their fathers.
3. To restore the Israelites spiritually so that Israel will love the Lord with all their heart and soul.
4. To put all the curses upon Israel's enemies.

The Davidic Covenant

The Davidic Covenant, found in 2 Samuel 7, establishing David and his lineage as the rightful kings of Israel and Judah and extends the covenant of Abraham to David's lineage.

According to Christianity, the Davidic Covenant is an important element of Jesus's claim to be the Messiah. Jesus, by his death and atonement created a New Covenant of faith in which Gentiles as well as Israelites could participate, and under which God promised to grant the faithful eternal life.

The inter-relationship between covenants

Covenant theology asserts that these covenants interrelate, with each new covenant having at its foundation a fulfillment of all those that came before it. For example, God's original covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17 is partly fulfilled by the Davidic covenant, which finds its fulfillment in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. God promises Abraham, "I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you." (Gen. 17:6b, NIV). Covenant theology teaches that these kings are the Davidic line, including Jesus, who was descended from David.

Covenant Theology and the Sacraments

Since Covenant Theology today is mainly Protestant and Reformed in its outlook, proponents only view Baptism and The Lord's Supper as the only two sacraments with any Biblical basis. Both subjects are related to the idea of Supersessionism

A Covenantal view of The Lord's Supper

The Lord's supper instituted by Jesus was a replacement for the Jewish Passover festival. As such, it should be celebrated in much the same way - as a symbol of God's act of salvation. In the Old Testament the Jews celebrated God's rescue from slavery in Egypt, with lamb's blood painted on their doors to protect them from God's wrath. In the New Testament, this directly refers to a celebration of God's rescue of the church from their lives of sin, with the blood of Jesus acting as the means by which God's New Covenant people are able to be rescued from God's wrath.

A Covenantal view of Baptism

External links

• Essays on Covenant Theology
• Series on Covenant Theologyby J. Ligon Duncan
• The Economy of the Covenants Between God and Manby Herman Witsius
• Nave's Topical Bible on bible.crosswalk.com
• Covenant references above are using the Online Bible Study of the Word Covenant using JVI Prophecy Dictionary by Jack Van Impe's Dictionary of Prophecy Terms
• An Arminian Covenant Theology by Vic Reasoner

See also

• Alliance (Bible)