The Book You Need Right Now: Kingdom Through Covenant

The disciplines of biblical and systematic theology join forces to investigate anew the biblical covenants and the implications of such a study for conclusions in systematic theology.

By incorporating the latest available research from the ancient Near East and examining implications of their work for Christology, ecclesiology, eschatology, and hermeneutics—Biblical scholar Peter Gentry and systematic theologian Stephen Wellum present a thoughtful and viable alternative to both covenant theology and dispensationalism.

Here’s where to get the book.

The Gospel Coalition has smartly published no less than three reviews from expert theologians on this book, which is now–already–the standard text for a covenantal baptist position.  Here’s Michael Horton’s, Darrell Bock’s, and Doug Moo’s.  Anytime three reviews are published on a book, you know it’s consequential.

As I said, this is the new standard for a Baptist covenantal position.  The authors call their outlook “progressive covenantalism,” which I like.  Other helpful resources if you want a Baptist take on the covenants: Steve Wellum’s chapter in Believer’s Baptism (edited by Tom Schreiner and Shawn Wright, two great Baptist scholars), and Paul Jewett’s classic Infant Baptism and the Covenant of Grace.

There are abundant reasons to be a Baptist yet to be covenantal–not least because of Scripture’s emphasis on God keeping covenant in creating a people for himself, and also because the New Covenant is a better covenant (2 Cor. 3, 5).  Any theological system that works from the Bible but takes little notice of covenants needs careful handling.

Wellum and Gentry will lead you along good paths.