Anyone who engages with biblical theology must at some point (and very early on) wrestle with the idea of covenant. I would imagine, therefore, that The God of Covenant will appeal to many visitors to beginningwithmoses.org. And rightly so; this nicely produced offering from Apollos is an excellent read for those wanting to think about the subject of covenant in more depth and breadth.
The first thing to note is that TGOC is a collection of essays written by a variety of scholars from a number of fields, rather than a single, unified work. In their introduction, the editors Grant and Wilson suggest that, “Arguably, covenant is the single most significant theme in the whole of the Scriptures and it is the very breadth and magnitude of this biblical thread that makes possible the diversity of approach and discussion found in the pages that follow.” (p.12) Thus, the reader is treated to an “eclectic” array of discussions concerning covenant through the lenses of mission, speech act theory, NT studies, theology, and philosophy.
Obviously, space means I will not be able to cover each essay. I would, however, like to highlight a few that particularly grabbed my attention, before reflecting on the book as a whole.
The volume opens with a thorough and informative overview of ‘covenant’ in the OT by David Baker. He begins with the semantics of covenant before progressing through the major OT covenants. He looks at the theme of covenant breaking and renewal and finishes with a discussion of the new covenant, which highlights the relevant prophetic passages, asking, ‘What is new about the new covenant?’ His rather enigmatic initial response is “Nothing, and yet everything!” (p.47), which he then goes on to expand.
Baker’s essay is a superb introduction, not only to the volume but also to the theme of covenant and biblical theology as a whole. Given that readers of TGOC are likely to pick and choose their chapters of interest I would urge you to make a point of reading Baker’s essay first, to set the groundwork.
TGOC then progresses naturally to Chris Wright’s essay entitled, ‘Covenant: God’s mission through God’s people’. Wright’s Missiological reading of the OT is thoroughly covenantal. God’s covenant with Noah tells us that the earth is cursed but also covenanted. The crucial Abrahamic covenant is God’s answer to the hopelessness of Gen. 1-11. It is a covenant of blessing for a broken world; and so, “Mission is God’s address to the problem of fractured humanity. And God’s mission is universal in its ultimate goal and scope.”
Wright then draws out certain aspects of the Sinai covenant, noting among other things the missiological and ethical implications of Israel’s role as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. He then treats the Davidic covenant, suggesting that the centralisation of Israelite society and religion is coupled with an outward looking perspective, containing the hope of a future ingathering of the nations under YHWH. Wright’s contribution, as we have come to expect from him, is substantial, refreshing and challenging.
TGOC does not shy away from contemporary issues or controversy. I was pleased to see in the contents page an essay by Colin Chapman on the interrelated themes of covenant and land. The essay does not disappoint. How does our understanding of covenant inform our view of events in the Middle East? Chapman is quick to show how involved these issues are, encompassing biblical interpretation, theology, politics and interfaith relations. The essay is particularly interesting as Chapman addresses criticisms made of his recently revised edition of ‘Whose Promised Land?’ Clearly the essay can only act as a précis of Chapman’s argument on the subject of Zion and Zionism, but they are helpful nevertheless. He certainly falls one side of the fence but does so with firm conviction and generous spirit.
The main argument of a collection of essays like TGOC is that its central theme is worthy of the depth and breadth devoted to it. This certainly cannot be denied. However, the eclectic nature of the book should not be taken to mean that it is exhaustive on the subject. Some essays are more specialised than others, which can both be a reason to read them as well as a reason not to bother. The busy preacher may not wish to spend much time on speech act theory or headship theology, but others will appreciate reading about these slightly less known areas. I would have loved to have seen a chapter on Hebrews, which is certainly fertile ground for some kind of study on covenant.
Nevertheless, these are minor criticisms. TGOC will be a very useful stimulus for most who pick it up. The essays by Baker, Wright and Chapman alone almost justify the price of the book. This multifaceted collection of essays will make you think more deeply about biblical theology and the richness of the theme of covenant in the Bible, and its implications for the world today.
It is also very quotable. I shall conclude with one of the best, which sums up so much of what this book and our academic pursuits and preaching should be about:
“Covenant spreads its wings throughout the whole of the Bible. It is a theme we cannot ignore if we desire to know the God of the Scriptures, because he reveals himself as a ‘covenant-making and covenant-keeping God’ (Exodus 34:10; 1 Kings 8:23).” (p.14)
Reviewed for The Biblical Theology Briefings by Tim Davy. Tim is a Postgraduate Student in Old Testament at the University of Gloucestershire. He is also involved at Redcliffe College, a centre for mission training, and works part time for St Andrews Bookshops on their website.
