Covenant: A Vital Element of Reformed Theology provides a multi-disciplinary reflection on the theme of the covenant, from historical, biblical-theological and systematic-theological perspectives. The interaction between exegesis and dogmatics in the volume reveals the potential and relevance of this biblical motif. It proves to be vital in building bridges between God’s revelation in the past and the actual question of how to live with him today.
Hans Burger, Ph.D. (2008), Theological University Kampen, is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at that university. He has published books and articles on soteriology, the doctrine of the covenant, the doctrine of Scripture and on hermeneutics.
Gert Kwakkel, Ph.D. (2001), Groningen State University, is Professor of Old Testament at Theologische Universiteit Kampen, The Netherlands, and at Faculté Jean Calvin, Aix-en-Provence, France. His research and publications concentrate on Hosea and the Old Testament covenants.
Michael Mulder, Ph.D. (2011), Theological University Apeldoorn (TUA), teaches New Testament and Judaism at the TUA and at Christian University Ede. He published on New Testament exegesis and intertextuality, especially on Paul, and on Jewish tradition and Jewish-Christian dialogue.
Interview with Jaap Dekker about Covenant: A Vital Element of Reformed Theology. By Michael Morales, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary on New Books Network, 23 March 2022. Full link: click here.
Abbreviations
Introduction Hans Burger, Gert Kwakkel and Michael Mulder
Part 1: Biblical Perspectives
1 Berith and Covenants in the Old Testament
A Contribution to a Fruitful Cooperation of Exegesis and Systematic Theology Gert Kwakkel
2 Biblical Covenants in Their Ancient Near Eastern Context
A Methodological, Historical and Theological Reassessment Koert van Bekkum
3 Covenant in Deuteronomy: The Relationship between the Moab, Horeb, and Patriarchal Covenants Arie Versluis
4 What Does David Have to Do with It? The Promise of a New Covenant in the Book of Isaiah Jaap Dekker
5 The New Covenant in the Context of the Book of Jeremiah Mart-Jan Paul
6 The Concept of Covenant in Luke and Acts
With Special Focus on the Speech of Peter in Acts 3: 12–26 Arco den Heijer
7 Is Covenant an Important Concept for the New Testament?
Galatians 4: 21–31 as a Test Case Donald E. Cobb
8 Covenant, Election and Israel’s Responsibility
A Clarification through an Intertextual Analysis of Quotations from Scripture in Romans 10 Michael Mulder
Part 2: Historical Perspectives
9 Not for Gentiles? The Covenant in Mekhilta de-Rabbi Ishmael Eveline van Staalduine-Sulman
10 The Concept of the ‘New Covenant’ (Jeremiah 31: 27–40) in Ancient Jewish Reception History Aaron Chun Fai Wan
11 From Zurich to Westminster: Covenant as Structuring Principle in Reformed Catechisms Daniël Timmerman
12 Heinrich Bullinger (1504–1575) and the Covenant of Works Pierrick Hildebrand
13 Friendship, Covenant, and Law: The Doctrine of the Covenant of Works in Johannes Braun (1628–1708) Matthias Mangold
14 The Fruitfulness of a Paradox: The Doctrine of the Covenant in Wilhelmus à Brakel (1635–1711) Reapplied Willem van Vlastuin
Part 3: Systematic-Theological Perspectives
15 Covenant Theology as Trinitarian Theology
A Discussion of The Contributions of Michael S. Horton, Scott W. Hahn, and N.T. Wright Arnold Huijgen
16 Theology without a Covenant of Works
A Thought Experiment Hans Burger
17 Conditions in the Covenant Dolf te Velde
18 The Meaning of ‘Covenant’ in Educational Practices
Towards a Framework for Qualitative Research Bram de Muynck
Part 4: Concluding Reflections
19 Covenantal Theology: Risks and Chances of a Controversial Term Georg Plasger
Index
Scholars in theology and all interested in ‘covenant’, the covenants in Scripture, their background in the Ancient Near East, the doctrine of the covenant and its historical development, both in the academy and the church.