Resources On The Covenant Of Works

We might say that the Reformed doctrine of the covenant of works, or better, adherence to the doctrine, is recovering from an illness. The doctrine itself is fine. It is what it has long been but from the early 20th century until nearly the end of that century the covenant of works was almost lost among Reformed professing Christians. This happened for a variety of reasons. In some cases the doctrine lost favor (no pun intended) because Modernists wanted to redefine Christianity as only a religion of love. In the theology of the Swiss Reformed theologian Karl Barth (1886–1968), universal electing grace swallowed up creation (nature) and obliterated the covenant of grace. We should not be surprised, thus, to learn that he also rejected the distinction between law and gospel.

More conservative writers also rejected the covenant of work on the ground that the disproportionality between God and man means that it is impossible for God to enter into a covenant of works with his creatures. As a consequence, by the mid-twentieth century it was difficult to find a confessional Reformed theologian teaching the covenant of works. The first popular English-language survey rejected not only the covenant of works as contrary to Scripture but also the covenant of redemption (pactum salutis but rejecting two-thirds of traditional Reformed covenant theology. Those who learned their covenant theology between c. 1950 and 2005 it was difficult to find an introduction to traditional Reformed theology that included the covenant of works.

Below is a library of books, essays, podcasts, and source quotations on the history and doctrine of the covenant of works.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Books and Articles
  2. Source Quotations On The Covenant Of Works
  3. Podcasts on the Covenant Of Works
  4. Practical Theology Of The Covenant Of Works

1. Books And Articles

  1. The Doctrine Of The Covenant Of Works Comes From Scripture
  2. Are Believers Under the Law as a Schoolmaster?
  3. R. Scott Clark, ed. Covenant, Justification, and Pastoral Ministry
  4. Michael S. Horton, Introducing Covenant Theology
  5. Michael G. Brown and Zach Keele, Sacred Bond: Covenant Theology Explored, 2nd edition
  6. Canons Of Dort (25): Perservance Is Not A Covenant Of Works
  7. Johannes Cocceius, Doctrine of the Covenant and Testament of God
  8. Resources For Those Beginning To Study Covenant Theology
  9. Reconsidering The Covenant Of Works
  10. How Did Christ Fulfill The Covenant Of Works As The Last Adam?
  11. Was the Covenant of Works Gracious?
  12. Two Covenants in Redemptive History: Grace and Works
  13. Perkins, Harrison. Catholicity and the Covenant of Works : James Ussher and the Reformed Tradition. Oxford Studies in Historical Theology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2020.
  14. Fesko, J. V. The Covenant of Works : The Origins, Development, and Reception of the Doctrine. Oxford Studies in Historical Theology Series. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2020.
  15. Fesko, J. V. Adam and the Covenant of Works. Ross-Shire, Scotland, UK: Mentor, 2020.
  16. Boston, Thomas. View of the Covenant of Works from the Sacred Records (Classic Reprint). N.P.: Forgotten Books, 2015.
  17. Muller, Richard. “The Covenant of Works and the Stability of Divine Law in Seventeenth-Century Reformed Orthodoxy: A Study in the Theology of Herman Witsius and Wihelmus a Brakel.” Calvin Theological Journal 29 (1994): 75–101.
  18. Beach, J Mark. 2010. “Some Observations about the Three Forms of Unity and the Doctrine of the Covenant of Works.” Mid-America Journal of Theology 21: 103–19.
  19. Venema, Cornelis P. 1993. “Recent Criticisms of the ‘Covenant of Works’ in the Westminster Confession of Faith.” Mid-America Journal of Theology 9 (2): 165–98.

2. Source Quotations on the Covenant of Works

  1. Yahweh Preached The Covenant Of Works Through Moses
  2. Resources On The Republication Of The Covenant Of Works
  3. The Covenant Of Works: Basic To Reformed Biblical Exposition
  4. Turretin: Leviticus 18:5 Is Proof That God Promised Eternal Blessedness To Adam
  5. Owen: Leviticus 18:5 Is Nothing But A Revival Of The Covenant Of Works
  6. Sibbes: Leviticus 18:5 Is A Covenant Of Works
  7. Ursinus: Leviticus 18:5 Is Law Not Gospel
  8. Usher: The Covenant Of Works Is The Sum Of The Law
  9. Vos: Whoever Has Historical Sense Can See The Covenant Of Works In The Earlier Reformed Writers
  10. Boston On Not Turning The Covenant Of Grace Into A Covenant Of Works
  11. Berkhof: “Do This And Live” Is A Covenant Of Works
  12. Hodge: “Do This And Live” Is A Covenant Of Works
  13. Turretin: “Do This And Live” Is A Covenant Of Works
  14. Charles Hodge: The Covenant With Adam Before The Fall Was A Covenant Of Works
  15. Pictet: The Covenant of Nature Was A Covenant of Works
  16. A. A. Hodge: Adam Was Clearly In A Covenant Of Works
  17. Turretin Defended The Covenant Of Works Using Hosea 6:7
  18. Van Til: The Covenant Of Works Was Not A Covenant Of Grace
  19. Brakel: Those Who Deny The Covenant Of Works Misunderstand The Covenant Of Grace
  20. Sibbes: Our Communion Was First Founded Upon A Covenant Of Works
  21. Gillespie: Christ Fulfilled The Covenant Of Works And Earned Condign Merit
  22. Gillespie: Christ Fulfilled The Covenant Of Works And Earned Condign Merit
  23. Boston: Galatians Proves Adam Was In A Covenant Of Works
  24. Cartwright: The Covenant Of Grace Is Not A Covenant Of Works
  25. Dudley Fenner: The Covenant Of Works Promised Blessedness
  26. Calvin On The Substance Of The Covenant Of Works
  27. Roberts: God Made An Implicit Covenant Of Works With Adam
  28. Rutherford: Adam Was In A Temporary, Legal, Covenant Of Works
  29. Cartwright: The Covenant Of Grace Is Not A Covenant Of Works
  30. Owen: No Mystery Of Grace In The Covenant Of Works
  31. The Covenant Of Works In Late-17th Century English Reformed Theology
  32. Ball: The Covenant Of Works Conditioned Upon Perfect Obedience In His Own Person
  33. Polanus On The Covenant Of Works With Adam And Israel
  34. William Perkins On The Covenant Of Works
  35. Olevianus On The Covenant Of Works</a
  36. Luther On The Covenant Of Works
  37. Hodge: Christ Fulfilled The Conditions Of The Covenant Of Works For Believers
  38. WCF: The Condition Of The Covenant Of Works Versus The Condition Of The Covenant Of Grace
  39. Heidegger And Turretin: Adam’s Covenant Of Works Fulfilled By Christ
  40. Berkhof: Christ Met The Condition Of The Covenant Of Works
  41. Turretin on Merit in the Covenant of Works
  42. Rollock: Covenant Of Works Founded On Nature And Republished To Israel
  43. Brakel: If You Don’t Understand The Covenant Of Works You Probably Don’t Understand The Covenant Of Grace Either
  44. Calamy On The Range Of Opinion On The Covenant Of Works
  45. Sum of Saving Knowledge: The Covenant Of Works: Perfect Personal Obedience
  46. Polanus on the  The Sacraments Of The Covenant Of Works
  47. The Marrow of Modern Divinity on the Covenant of Works
  48. Pictet On The Similarities And Differences Between The Covenants Of Grace And Works
  49. Dickson On The Covenants Of Works And Grace In Galatians 3
  50. Downame On The Distinctions Between The Covenants Of Works And Grace
  51. Preston On The Distinction Between The Covenants Of Works And Grace
  52. Preston On The Distinction Between The Covenants Of Works And Grace
  53. Witsius On The Relations Between The Covenants Works And Grace
  54. Jeremiah Burroughs on the Spiritual Value of Distinguishing Between the Covenants of Works and Grace
  55. Turretin on Distinguishing the Covenants of Works and Grace
  56. Melchior Leydekker on the Covenant of Works
  57. A 19th-Century Confession of the Covenant of Works

3. Podcasts And Lectures On The Covenant Of Works

  1. Heidelcast 100: Recovering The Covenant Of Works (1)
  2. Heidelcast 102: Recovering The Covenant Of Works (2)
  3. Heidelcast 103: Recovering The Covenant Of Works (3)
  4. Heidelcast 104: Recovering The Covenant Of Works (4)
  5. Audio: Nine Points (Part 6) The Difference Between the Covenants of Works and Grace

4. The Practical Theology Of The Covenant Of Works

  1. What Social Media Teaches Us About Law, Gospel, Forgiveness, And Grace
  2. Millennial Perfectionism And The Social Media Covenant Of Works
  3. Social Media Testifies To The Covenant Of Works
  4. Our Secular Life Is A Covenant Of Works
  5. Kuyper: The Demand Of Sanctification Belongs To The Covenant Of Works. Sanctification Belongs To The Covenant Of Grace
  6. Finals and the Covenant of Works

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