Part One The Locus Classicus of the New Covenant Then we arrive at the prophecy about the New covenant (Jer. 31:31-34). The verses are immediately followed by a Divine guarantee of future fulfillment (Jer. 31:35-37). So it behooves us to look at it carefully: Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah– not according to the covenant that I made with their …
Category: Theology
Excerpts from the book The Words of the Covenant: A Biblical Theology (forthcoming) As far as biblical covenantalism goes, the prophecies in Jeremiah 30 through 33, supported by chapters 34 and 35 are critical.[1] After the prophet is heard in his own right, the covenantal picture that has been forming so far really starts to take shape. When Jeremiah’s historical situation is considered the covenantal picture is only reinforced all the more.[2] The series begins when Jeremiah is commanded to …
I was thinking about how one might visualize “Biblical Covenantalism.” Traditional Dispensationalism has its seven dispensations; Progressive Dispensationalism its four. But BC does not regard dispensations as basic to the system. That is to say, dispensations do not structure BC. I have given my reasons for this before. If I were asked to put my finger on one problem with defining a system by dispensations it would be that they are descriptive, not prescriptive. Because they don’t prescribe anything, Dispensational-ism has …
Another excerpt from The Words of the Covenant: A Biblical Theology A Concern for God’s Covenants The prophet Jeremiah is certainly concerned about covenant. He refers constantly to the Mosaic covenant (e.g. Jer.11:1-12), especially as understood in Deuteronomy. But chapter 3 shows him to be focused also on the Davidic covenant (Jer. 3:17), and the land aspect of the Abrahamic covenant (Jer. 3:18. Cf. 25:5). Having noted this there are still signs of God’s allegiance to Israel, as when in …
This is an older post which I have taken the opportunity to revise and update, hopefully in light of more mature thinking. A Little Back-Story As many of my readers will know, I have spent a lot of time and energy trying to place Dispensational theology on what I believe is a more secure footing. Dispensationalism has not produced many top-line academic works, especially in the last half century, and with only one or two exceptions it presents itself as …
Part Five The Kingdom of God and the New Heaven and New Earth The prediction of a new heaven and a new earth seems to throw a spanner in the works of those interpreters who think they see a kingdom-age after the second coming of Christ but before the New Creation. I think McClain is right in saying that the prophet simply views the kingdom-age and the New Creation together.[1] And it is true that the Prophets do place events …
The Day of the LORD in the Old Testament[1] The expression “the Day of the Lord” is sometimes thought to refer to the time of the end of this age.[2] Unquestionably, there are passages which do refer to the eschaton, and we shall look at them, but not every usage of the phrase can be slotted into the last days; the locust plague in Joel 1 being a case in point. In Joel 1 the Day of the Lord …
Part Four God and Israel: A Special Bond Isaiah 54 is a reminder to Israel that she bears a special relationship to Yahweh, who is both her Redeemer and Husband (Isa. 54:5). This role of husband has been seen already in Hosea (2:16), and will be repeated in Jeremiah (Jer. 3:14; 31:32). It is no coincidence that what might properly be labelled “New covenant blessings” follow the atoning work of the Suffering Servant. The overtures of God to Israel ought …
Part Three The Suffering Servant God’s Servant reappears in Isaiah 52:13-53:12. This passage is of great significance because in it the Holy Spirit puts emphasis not on the reign of Messiah (if I may at this place call Him that), but upon His sufferings. It is a singular fact that the Old Testament prophecies are more concerned with the reign of the coming Ruler than with his death. This point has even caused interpreters to question whether we are dealing …
Part Two The Intertwining of the Covenants: A Little Summary of the Coming Kingdom In these kinds of passages Isaiah presents a picture of the future kingdom of the Branch that is glorious in many respects. It is fair and just and safe and beautiful. After the initial battles, there will be a realization of the dream of world peace, brought about by the great mass of people turning to the true God; a New covenant era. Additionally, the beautification …
