Christ Of The Covenants

Rating:
Summary: Good Book on the Covenants from a Reformed Perspective
Review: A standard study of Covenant Theology. Progressively discusses the various Biblical covenants in the order of their revelation. Very clear and well-reasoned.

Rating:
Summary: Well worth reading, what you learn will help for years
Review: Every Christian should read a book like this. After reading this, when you read the bible you will see the wonderful structure and working out of God's plan throughout history clearer than ever - which is always good. It looks at all the covenants and shows how each one built on the next (not canceling out the previous) to reach the goal of Christ. It starts with a look at what a covenant actually is in relative detail, which was very enlightening. It then goes through each of the covenants and analyses briefly dispensationalisms faults.

The main reason that this book is good though is the subject. Although the author opens up some passages so that you stand back amazed sometimes the author is not so strong. The book isn't thorough, although it never could be as it is looking at a huge subject. I just couldn't help thinking it could have been written better by someone else. Theologically it is very sound, although it's puritan interpretation of the Sabbath (which it didn't justify (it would need a whole book). it talked about the uses of it though) I am sitting on the fence with at the moment.

An earlier reviewer said the following :
"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."
This is very true, for example it looks at Greek a good amount but always translates. It is quite well researched as well especially with the background to the books.

All in all though I really think you should read this book for your basic understanding of the bible. There is a lack of books like this which is criminal so with the limited choice you have, I say buy this one.

Rating:
Summary: A Classic on Covenant Theology
Review: 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 become the starting point for most formulations of covenant theology in the years following its publication. A crucial contribution worthy of purchase.

Rating:
Summary: A Classic on Covenant Theology
Review: 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 become the starting point for most formulations of covenant theology in the years following its publication. A crucial contribution worthy of purchase.

Rating:
Summary: A return to the covenant
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Waffly
Review: In contrast to other reviewers, I found the language of this book very waffly -

* What could have been said in a few paragraphs seemed to be spread over pages and pages.
* The writer often would fail to draw a conclusion about what he had just spent pages talking about. Leaving me wondering whether it was all worthwhile.
* The use of the occasional rhetorical question, that left me completely confused as to what the supposedly obvious answer was.
* The chapters in the book seemed to be arranged in an strange way, leading to lots of feelings that "I've read this before".

Having said that, my argument is not so much with the subject, but the way it is presented in this book.

I'm not a theologian, so the fault could be with me, but my recommendation would be to buy a book on covenant theology that is better written.


Rating:
Summary: Repetitive Basics
Review: Mr. Robertson's book is well worth the reading for those seeking a very, very basic introduction to the idea of the system of covenants in Scripture being not Dispensations but part of a united whole. It comes from a Reformed/Calvinistic background. It is most likely written from a a-millenial which some post-millenialists may not appreciate. The author is also very repititive in his remarks which methinks is necessary. The book could have been much shorter without the redundancy. Nonetheless, a good primer for those seeking information on the covenants.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent treatment of redemptive history
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent treatment of redemptive history
Review: 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.