Dispensationalism vs Covenant Theology Part 1

Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism as Theological Frameworks

The foundation for both systems is Biblical Authority, what many refer to as “Sola Scripture.”

The framework is more specific. It guides the student of Scripture by creating boundaries which limit erroneous interpretations. Frameworks also help us fit difficult portions of the Bible into a broader context, helping make better sense of their purpose.

What is a Covenant theologian?

A Covenant theologian is someone who is committed to an overarching principle in interpreting Scripture: God’s primary purpose in human history is to save the elect. He does this by establishing covenants.

Covenant theologians typically see two or three “theological” covenants in Scripture:

• The covenant of redemption

• The covenant of works

• The covenant of grace

These are theological covenants, meaning they are not directly stated in Scripture. However, Covenant theologians believe the principles of each covenant are apparently implied.

The covenant of grace is the last of the three covenants in chronological order, but it is the most important in that it is the covenant that is now currently in effect.

In the covenant of redemption, God agrees with Himself to create a race of beings that will rebel, and also to send His Son to redeem certain among them. In the covenant of works, God promises Adam a blessed eternal life if Adam obeys His commands.

Chronologically, God establishes the covenants of redemption, works, and grace, in said order.

Redemption: God plans to create and allow the fall, with the Son agreeing to redeem; Works: God establishes the covenant of works with Adam promising eternal life; Grace: When Adam actually rebels, God establishes the covenants of grace with elect mankind.

Critique of Covenant Theology

It is by no means clear that the idea of covenant is the primary, or driving principle in Scripture. It’s also difficult, if not impossible, to place all the actual biblical covenants under the same covenants of grace, as they have varied characteristics.

These theological covenants are not clearly revealed in Scripture. It would seem with something so important, God would not merely imply but instead clearly state these principles.

Covenant theology downplays or even reinterprets promises made to national Israel. While gentiles may be “grafted in” to many of God’s promises, this grafting in does not annul the original promise to whom it was given.

Covenant theology uses a questionable, even poor, hermeneutic when it allows the New Testament to interpret (or reinterpret) the Old Testament. It strips Israel of all its promised future blessings, leaving them only curses, and applies all the blessings to the church.

Theological frameworks can be helpful, but are not necessary for being an obedient Christian.

God’s promises do not change over time from their original meaning.

Hermeneutics, the way you read and understand the Scriptures, matters. The events of biblical history must be understood as a progressive unfolding, with each later portion building on the previous. Later revelation should not be used to reinterpret earlier revelation.