The Christ of the Covenants

by O. Palmer Robertson

Book Overview

In this classic work of covenant theology, respected theologian and Bible scholar O. Palmer Robertson memorably and deftly defines a biblical covenant as "a bond in blood sovereignly administered."... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0875524184
• Release Date: December 1987
• Publisher: P&R Publishing
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.7" x 0.7" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

A great help

I first read this book when I was taking some seminary classes at Reformed Theological Seminary and it helped me to get my arms around the facts of Covenant Theology. I had come form a Dispensational background, and had only a surface understanding of Covenant Theology and it's implications, but Robertson lays the facts out, backs them with scripture, and challenges you to consider the implications. This book is a bit deep if you have not read any intro material to Covenant Theology, but well worth the time and effort to read, study and understand.

A Classic on Covenant Theology

I'm giving this book 5 stars even though I do not agree with everything that Robertson puts forth here. This book has been on the market for nearly 25 years now, and it remains a standard resource addressing covenant theology that scholars across the theological spectrum still interact with today. Robertson's book was, and is, a distinctive contribution to covenant theology. Unlike some of his contemporaries like the great John Murray, Robertson appears to argue for the conditionality (to varying degrees) of each Biblical covenant, rather than trying to determine which covenants were allegedly conditional versus unconditional. However, where certain contemporary covenant theologians stress covenants in the context of the Kingdom of God, Robertson stresses covenants in the context of human redemption. The reader should therefore understand that Robertson's version of covenant theology, while having many similarities with virtually all forms of conservative Reformed covenant theology, is not the only version that has been proposed and argued for.The book does show its age in spots. His chapter interacting with dispensationalism was spot on 25 years ago, but not now. The progressive dispensational movement of today does not look a whole lot like the dispensationalism that Robertson interacts with here. But more importantly for Reformed readers, Robertson's emphasis on covenants that are not explicitly mentioned in Scripture is a feature that is also on the wane in today's covenantal circles. Robertson forcefully argues for the 'covenant of works/covenant of grace with Adam' structure that is outstanding in my view, but is a feature of covenant theology that's becoming less and less stressed today. He properly stays away from presenting eternal divine decrees within the godhead as covenantal.One of the central themes of this book is that covenants are far more unified than diverse, demonstrating continuity rather than discontinuity. In many ways, this has been the central issue of debate surrounding Biblical covenants. Robertson's emphatic stress on the unity of the covenants is still a staple of covenant theology, though greater discontinuity is being allowed in covenant circles today in ways that Robertson does not leave room for here. I happen to think that Robertson's presentation, while undoubtedly highly systemic and therefore susceptible to flattening the Bible and minimizing its diversity, is nonetheless very good and mostly correct. His contention that Jesus Christ is the comprehensive fulfillment of all Biblical covenants and that the New Covenant that He inaugurated is the final covenant is an essential aspect of covenant theology that puts each Biblical covenant into a distinctly Christological context.In summary, any investigation of the merits of covenant theology must include a perusal of this book. Whatever disagreements I may have on the edges, I think Robertson has given us a lasting contribution in this area that has

Excellent treatment of redemptive history

Robertson examines covenant theology as an overarching system to organize Biblical redemptive history. Robertson makes a case for the interdependence of each covenant up and over against the distinctiveness of dispensationalism.Robertson promotes the view that each successive covenant was a progression in God's redemptive plan and that each covenant in its uniqueness was in ways a revealing of a different aspect of that ultimate plan of redemption.I recommend this book to anyone interested at a fuller understanding of the Bible as a whole and those seeking to understand the role of the Biblical covenants. This book is an excellent treatment of redemptive history.

Quick Review:

A standard study of Covenant Theology. Progressively discusses the various Biblical covenants in the order of their revelation. Very clear and well-reasoned.

A return to the covenant

In "Christ of the Covenants", O. Palmer Robertson treats a subject which is often lost on today's broadly evangelical church - the Covenant of Grace, by which God has saved and will save His people. This is not a "light" book, but a treatment of the theology of the Covenant which is accessible to most, nonetheless. It is not terribly scholarly, but does take a more academic tack on the subject than most books. Given this caveat, this is a tremendous resource for those who wish to convey this subject to small group or other audiences within the church. In this book, Robertson traces the development of God's covenantal dealings with humanity - through the various administrations connected with Abraham, Moses, David and Christ. Each administration, Robertson emphasizes with great aplomb, is not indicative of different covenants (with different requirements, or rewards, as some segments of the church teach), but in fact different reflections of the same Covenant of Redemption that finds its highest fulfillment in Christ and the New Covenant. This work was truly a joy to read, and a refreshingly intense study of a very important subject. Again, I would recommend this to any pastor, elder, or lay teacher who wishes to take up the subject of Covenant theology in their church or home bible study group.