Dennis Johnson brings his expertise in the book of Hebrews back to Office Hours this week as we work through Hebrews 6:13–7:10. What did God promise Abraham? What does it mean that the pastor to this Christian congregation turned to Abraham to help . . . Continue reading →
Covenant Theology
The Context of the Republication Debate
Why is Such An Old Doctrine So Controversial Now?
A few correspondents have contacted me to ask about the continuing controversy over the doctrine of republication. It seems as if it might be useful to try to put this discussion in some context. In its most basic form, the doctrine of . . . Continue reading →
Under The New Covenant The Promised Blessings Not Given To All
2. Under the new covenant or testament, however, these promised blessings are not given to all men, because God is true, thus the covenant is necessarily discriminate. These blessings are, however, given doubly when the covenant is received. In the first place, . . . Continue reading →
The Sacraments Of The Covenant Of Works
I. God made a double covenant with man, the one of works and the other of grace; the former before, the latter after the fall. II. The covenant of works was confirmed by a double sacrament, to wit, the Tree of Life, . . . Continue reading →
The Substance And Administration Of The Covenant Of Grace
2. Under the new covenant or testament, however, these promised blessings are not given to all men, because God is true, thus the covenant is necessarily discriminate. These blessings are given, however, doubly when the covenant is received. In the first place, . . . Continue reading →
On The Creator And Man With Whom He Contracted The Covenant
God promised through the prophet Jeremiah [31:31, 32] that he himself would make a new covenant with us, not like that covenant which he came to regret with the fathers, when he led them from the land of Egypt. Because they made . . . Continue reading →
The Covenant Of Creation Was A Covenant Of Law
At the beginning of the human race that old serpent led humanity away from the word of the law, and thus from the covenant of creation by a false interpretation. . . . The summary of this law shining forth in the . . . Continue reading →
Why Covenant Theology?
Q: 4 Why is the redemption or reconciliation of humanity with God presented to us in the form of a covenant, indeed a covenant of grace? A: God compares the means of our salvation to a covenant, indeed an eternal covenant, so . . . Continue reading →
The Son Of God Appointed A Guarantor
The Son of God, having been appointed by God as Mediator of the covenant, becomes the guarantor on two counts: 1) He shall satisfy for the sins of all those whom the Father has given him; 2) He shall also bring it to pass that . . . Continue reading →
HB Classic: Three Ways of Relating to the One Covenant of Grace
[This post was first published in 2007 on the HB and is republished in response to some recent comments here] Sometime back the question was raised: We know that there are at least two categories of people within Scripture, the elect, and . . . Continue reading →
Perkins on the Two Covenants in Gal 4:24-25
(HT: Particular Voices) The two testaments are the Covenant of works and the Covenant of grace, one promising life eternal to him that does all things contained in the law; the other to him turns and believes in Christ. And it must . . . Continue reading →
That Introduction to Covenant Theology You’ve Always Wanted
You’re looking for an easy, accessible, clear introduction to covenant theology but each one you try seems either too complicated or just doesn’t quite get the job done. Maybe the introduction that your friend gave you omits the covenant of works or . . . Continue reading →
Baptism and Circumcision According to Colossians 2:11–12
What follows is taken from a larger essay, “A Contemporary Reformed Defense of Infant Baptism:” What is the Connection Between Circumcision and Baptism? The connection between baptism and circumcision is quite clear in Colossians 2:11–12. The connection is not direct, but indirect . . . Continue reading →
The Conclusions of Synod Utrecht (1905)
[as published in J. L. Schaver, The Polity of the Churches, 3rd edn (Chicago: Church Polity Press, 1947), 2.34–37] A. Infra- or Supralapsarianism In regard to the first point, infra- or supralapsarianism, Synod declares: that our Confessional Standards admittedly follow the infralapsarian . . . Continue reading →
More Resources on Covenant Theology
R. Scott Clark, “Baptism and the Benefits of Christ” —— ed. Covenant, Justification, and Pastoral Ministry ——Baptism, Election, and the Covenant of Grace. ——Caspar Olevian and the Substance of the Covenant. Michael Horton, Introducing Covenant Theology ——Covenant and Eschatology. ——Lord and Servant . . . Continue reading →
Classical Covenant Theology
Edited by and some translations by R. Scott Clark On Law and Gospel On the Covenant of Redemption (pactum salutis) On the Covenant of Works (foedus operum) On the Covenant of Grace (foedus gratiae) On Justification On Union with Christ On the . . . Continue reading →
Tesis Sobre la Teología del Pacto
1. Prolegómenos La teología del Pacto estructura la totalidad de la revelación Bíblica. La forma de los pactos revelados en la Escritura se tomó prestada del mundo antiguo del cercano oriente, se acomoda a él, y debe ser entendida en ese contexto. . . . Continue reading →
Theses on Covenant Theology
1. Prolegomena Covenant theology structures all of Biblical revelation. The form of the covenants revealed in Scripture was borrowed from and is accommodated to the ancient near eastern world and must be understood in that context. Covenant is the most coherent explanation . . . Continue reading →
Some Of The Differences Between Baptists And Reformed Theology On The New Covenant
Introduction In my response to Tom Schreiner’s critique of the Reformed confession of the Sabbath I wrote, “Underlying Schreiner’s approach to both the Baptism and Sabbath questions is a very large but often unstated a priori conviction about the nature of the new . . . Continue reading →
By the Power of His Deity
Heidelberg Catechism Q. 17: 17. Why must he also be true God? That by the power of His Godhead He might bear in His manhood the burden of God’s wrath,1 and so obtain for 2 and restore to us righteousness and life.3 . . . Continue reading →






