This article is about the Reformed or Wesleyan-Arminian theological framework. For the Catholic theological approach, see Covenantal theology (Catholic Church). For the religious and political movement in Scotland, see Covenanters.
Not to be confused with Federal Vision.
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Covenant theology (also known as covenantalism, federal theology, or federalism) is a conceptual overview and interpretive framework for understanding the overall structure of the Bible. It uses the theological concept of a covenant as an organizing principle for Christian theology. The standard form of covenant theology views the history of God's dealings with mankind, from Creation to Fall to Redemption to Consummation, under the framework of three overarching theological covenants: those of redemption, of works, and of grace.
Covenentalists call these three covenants "theological" because, though not explicitly presented as such in the Bible, they are thought of as theologically implicit, describing and summarizing a wealth of scriptural data. Historical Reformed systems of thought treat classical covenant theology not merely as a point of doctrine or as a central dogma, but as the structure by which the biblical text organizes itself.[1] The most well-known form of Covenant Theology is associated with Presbyterians and comes from the Westminster Confession of Faith. Another form is sometimes called "Baptist Covenant Theology" or "1689 Federalism", to distinguish it from the standard covenant theology of Presbyterian "Westminster Federalism". It is associated with Reformed Baptists and comes from the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689.[2] Methodist hermeneutics traditionally use a variation of this, known as Wesleyan covenant theology, which is consistent with Arminian soteriology.[3]
As a framework for Biblical interpretation, covenant theology stands in contrast to dispensationalism in regard to the relationship between the Old Covenant (with national Israel) and the New Covenant (with the house of Israel [Jeremiah 31:31] in Christ's blood). That such a framework exists appears at least feasible, since from New Testament times the Bible of Israel has been known as the Old Testament (i.e., Covenant; see 2 Corinthians 3:14 [NRSV], "they [Jews] hear the reading of the old covenant"), in contrast to the Christian addition which has become known as the New Testament (or Covenant). Detractors of covenant theology often refer to it as "supersessionism"[citation needed] or as "replacement theology"[citation needed], due to the perception that it teaches that God has abandoned the promises made to the Jews and has replaced the Jews with Christians as His chosen people on the Earth. Covenant theologians deny that God has abandoned His promises to Israel, but see the fulfillment of the promises to Israel in the person and the work of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, who established the church in organic continuity with Israel, not as a separate replacement entity. Many covenant theologians have also seen a distinct future promise of gracious restoration for unregenerate Israel.[4][5][6][7][8]
^"Covenant Theology". Ligonier Ministries. Retrieved 11 April 2022. Covenant theology is a hermeneutical framework that seeks to understand the Bible according to its covenantal structure. Covenant theology is particularly associated with Reformed theology, as the Reformed tradition has devoted much attention to studying the biblical covenants. As Dr. R. C. Sproul frequently observed, "Reformed theology is covenant theology."
^Denault, pp. 10–20.
^Rodes 2014, pp. 7, 62–76.
^Murray, Iain (2014-10-01). The Puritan Hope. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth. p. 361. ISBN 978-1848714786. Archived from the original on 2015-07-18. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
^Owen, John, "Exercitation 18", Complete Works, vol. 17, p. 560.
^Gill, 30: 5.
^Bonar, Horatius (July 1870), "The Jew", The Quarterly Journal of Prophecy.
^Spurgeon, Charles (1864), "Sermon preached in June 1864 for the British Society for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Jews", Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vol. 10 – via The Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Covenanttheology (also known as covenantalism, federal theology, or federalism) is a conceptual overview and interpretive framework for understanding...
New Covenanttheology (or NCT) is a Christian theological position teaching that the person and work of Jesus Christ is the central focus of the Bible...
points" of Calvinism. Reformed theology emphasizes the authority of the Bible, the sovereignty of God, and covenanttheology, a framework for understanding...
It sees the theological concept of a covenant as an organizing principle for Christian theology. The standard form of covenanttheology views the history...
Mosaic covenant, a biblical covenant between God and the biblical Israelites, including their proselytes. New Covenanttheology, a Christian theological position...
: 19 It is often distinguished from covenanttheology. These are two competing frameworks of Biblical Theology that attempt to explain the continuity...
replacement theology, is the Christian doctrine that the Christian Church has superseded the Jewish people, assuming their role as God's covenanted people...
that of the Old Covenant, only parts dealing with the moral law (as opposed to ceremonial law) are still applicable (cf. covenanttheology), a minority believe...
Reformed Christianity portal CovenantTheological Seminary, informally called Covenant Seminary, is the denominational seminary of the Presbyterian Church...
Wesleyan theology, otherwise known as Wesleyan–Arminian theology, or Methodist theology, is a theological tradition in Protestant Christianity based upon...
most Christian theology reflects the view that at least some Mosaic Laws have been set aside under the New Covenant, there are some theology systems that...
exposition of Calvinist theology (which neo-orthodox scholars refer to as "scholastic Calvinism"), influenced by Puritan and covenanttheology. It includes doctrines...
Christianity. Christianity and Judaism Christian views on the Old CovenantCovenanttheologyCovenantal nomism Ten Commandments Jewish Encyclopedia: Proselyte:...
retained Baptist ecclesiology, and reaffirmed Reformed biblical theology, such as Covenanttheology. Groups calling themselves Strict Baptists are often differentiated...
doctrine, as well as personal and corporate piety. Puritans adopted a covenanttheology, and in that sense they were Calvinists (as were many of their earlier...
(also called Auburn Avenue Theology) is a Reformed evangelical theological conversation that focuses on covenanttheology, Trinitarian thinking, the sacraments...
by the grace of God at the last judgment. Some evangelicals uphold covenanttheology while others are dispensationalists. They divide history into seven...
as opposed to feminism). The teaching of covenanttheology (as opposed to Wesleyanism, or Arminian theology), a rejection of dispensationalism, and a...
church of Zürich.: 18 Meanwhile, Bullinger wrote theological treatises on the Eucharist, covenants, images, and the relationship of the church to society...
contemporary Jews. In his theology, Calvin does not differentiate between God's covenant with Israel and the New Covenant. He stated, "all the children...
Augustinianism Black theology Catholic Christianity Anarchism Christian fundamentalism CovenantTheology Dalit theology (a form of liberation theology developed...
period known as Reformed orthodoxy, Reformed baptismal theology further developed the covenantal meaning of baptism. Theologians more carefully defined...
views on the Old CovenantCovenanttheology Carson, D. A. "Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology". In New Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Edited by T...
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