COVENANT AND GOD’S PURPOSE FOR THE WORLD, by Thomas R. Schreiner

A Brief Book Summary from Books At a Glance

by Kirsten Birkett

 

About the Author

Thomas R. Schreiner is an American New Testament scholar. He is the James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

 

Contents

Introduction

1. The Covenant of Creation
2. The Covenant with Noah
3. The Covenant with Abraham
4. The Covenant with Israel
5. The Covenant with David
6. The New Covenant

 

General Summary

Describes different covenants in the Bible and how they relate to each other, and what fulfilment in Christ means.

 

Introduction

Covenant is one of the central theological themes in Scripture, and vital for theology since the early Church. Covenants are “the backbone of the storyline of the Bible.” A covenant is “a chosen relationship in which two parties make binding promises to each other –” personal, national, between equals or non-equals. There are many examples in Scripture, often ratified with ritual.

 

Chapter 1: The Covenant of Creation

Some say there is no covenant here, as Genesis 1-3 does not use the word “covenant,” but:

• neither does 2 Samuel 7, where God makes a covenant with David (cf Ps 89:3);
• Hosea 6:7 arguably mentions a covenant with Adam;
• the elements of a covenant are there: two partners, stipulations, consequences for obedience/disobedience;
• a covenant need not be redemptive, as there are other kinds in Scripture (e.g., marriage);
• the parallel between Adam and Christ supports a covenant of creation;
• the wording of Noah’s covenant suggests it is a renewal of Adam’s covenant.

Adam and Eve, in God’s image, were to rule under God’s lordship, bringing glory to God. The image remained after the fall, albeit marred (and will be fully restored in Christ). Adam and Eve were priest-kings, anticipating the tabernacle/temple, with:

• God’s presence
• cherubim
• entry from the east
• tree of life/branched lampstand
• verbs in Gen 2:15 used of the Levites
• river flowed from Eden/Ezekiel’s temple
• gold and onyx
• both garden and tabernacle were on a mountain

The penalty for infringing the covenant was death, and their disobedience had universal impact. . . .

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