Covenant Theology

As this section is fairly broad, perhaps this chart will help understand the primary systems used to view Divine Economy.

The three main ways are Covenant Theology, Dispensationalism, and Christocentric.

 

OK…. What is Covenant Theology (Covenantalism)?

First, what it is not. Covenant Theology is not actually theology. It is more specific and is typically found in a broader theology (Reformed Theology). Covenant Theology is not a study of covenants, although studying covenants is important to Covenantalism.

Covenant Theology is a hermeneutical approach, or framework, that seeks to interpret Scripture according to a structure of covenants. It is that simple.

Covenant Theology defines a covenant simply as a formal arrangement between two or more parties (typically, between God and man).

What gets difficult is the fact that covenants, and even the arrangements of covenants, change depending on who you are talking to. Originally Covenant Theology was comprised of two covenants based along gospel lines (works and grace). But this is the start point from which Covenant Theology as it’s known today began.

In Reformed Theology the three main covenants are the covenant of redemption, the covenant of grace, and the covenant of works.

The covenant of works is a covenant between God and man (specifically Adam, but Adam as man’s representative). The idea is that God entered into a formal agreement with Adam that if Adam would obey then Adam would have eternal life. But if Adam disobeyed then Adam would die.

The covenant of grace extends through the Old and New Testaments, culminating in the work of Christ. In the Old Testament the covenant of grace is seen in other covenants God made with people (Noah, Abraham, Moses, and so on). Here the covenant is narrow and looks to Christ achieving what Adam could not. In the New Testament the covenant widens (it is no longer being given to individual family groups but extends out to incorporate all people groups). Christ succeeded where Adam failed, and on that basis the Promise is come.

The covenant of redemption is a covenant between the Godhead (Father, Son, and Spirit). Some Reformed theologians disagreed on this one. John Owen considers the covenant of redemption to be strictly between the Father and Son (not technically excluding the Spirit as we are dealing with Trinity). Either way, the agreement is between the Father and Son. This is an eternal covenant, or agreement, whereby the elect are saved.

 

Those are very good from a Reformed perspective (other theologies also use Covenant Theology).

Just like Dispensationalism started in its most common form with Calvinism but spread out, so did Covenant Theology.

 

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