Covenantal and Dispensational Theologies: Four Views on the Continuity of Scripture (Spectrum Multiview Book Series)

As a pastor, it has always been a challenge for me to enter the discussion of systems of continuity and discontinuity between the Old and New Testaments. Because, either the discussions are so extensive or so academic that they have overwhelmed me in the past. But this book “Covenantal and Dispensational Theologies: Four views on the Continuity of Scripture” has changed all that.As a Baptist, I knew Covenant Theologians had arguments to baptize babies, I just didn’t understand the whole system. I needed someone to give it to me in a nutshell. And I have to say that, in my opinion, Michael Horton has developed his views on Covenant Theology that is understandable for pastors like me, but that maintains a high academic standard. I can't say I uphold his view, but I have a better appreciation for it and much respect because covenant theologians indeed try to keep a consistent argument on how the whole Bible is to be viewed.As for the second chapter I cannot hide it, I identify, and I am biased towards the Progressive Covenantal view. My first interaction with this view was with the book “Progressive Covenentalism” edited by Stephen Wellum and Brent E. Parker. This book gave me the taste for Progressive Covenentalism but still with not knowing how the whole system ties together. Because, to tell you the truth, even though I do have in my possession “Kingdom Through Covenant” written by Stephen Wellum and Peter Gentry, it’s a massive book with many details to cover for the whole system. Again, as a Pastor, it has been a little overwhelming for me, but I want to finish the book (KTC). So, when I began reading the Covenant and Dispensational Theologies book, I knew I would have to give some effort to finish it, and my motivation was knowing the chapters would be shorter even though dense, but that gave way for me to understand Progressive Covenentalism much better as with the rest of the systems.On the other hand, I have to say that Stephen Wellum is a mastermind, I believe that the way he formed his arguments and portrayed his hermeneutic is a plus for this chapter. Not that the other authors do not explain their hermeneutic, but I believe Wellum's methodology helps the Progressive Covenentalism side. This is because, the textual horizon, the epochal horizon, and the canonical horizon are superb, and I believe he treats the text with respect in its proper context.Also, the way typology is handled and how the church is not automatically the new Israel but how Christ is the true Israel, and the church is the new covenant community does not allow for a continuity that is meant only to happen through Christ. I believe continuity stops and continues through Him as the mediator. In this definition, the church is the Israel of God not in itself as fulfilling Israel's role (only Jesus did that) but as part of the one people of God.However, when I read “Progressive Dispensationalism”, everything started to change immensely. I do have to say I appreciate the way Dr. Bock laid out the system and how this view of Dispensationalism has more much in common with the other views than does Traditional Dispensationalism. Nevertheless, when he explained the complementary hermeneutic though affirming typology on the one side it seems that in practice, he does not see the escalation and the fulfillment of the promises unless it has to do with Israel.So even though the Progressive Dispensationalism field does see the church partaking of the promises and Christ achieving those promises, they still have Israel as the end goal being the last part of the puzzle to see everything completed.Finally, I must say that I can understand more clearly the Traditional Dispensational view. I grew up in a Dispensational church believing Israel was God's stopwatch and that the church is a parenthesis in God's plan. But I did not understand it. Now, I can say I can describe aspects of the system better, but there are interpretations in there that I truly have no idea how the author reached those conclusions. Although, in a sense, I can understand it, because the Traditional view does not believe in typology (wow), it took me a minute to take that in.Also, the Traditional view does not give priority to the New Testament and that's where I believe he can reach certain conclusions. Even though, I do have to say that Dr. Snoeberger is an excellent writer. I am not even close to uphold his view, but I appreciate his efforts to write this chapter. Now I can understand my father better since he was a Pastor in this field.If you want to know more about the last four chapters of the book and each other's responses to the other views you should just buy the book. You won't regret it. By the way, I have not made any profit to write this review. May God bless you with His grace.

In Parker and Lucas's Covenantal and Dispensational Theologies, the reader finds the clearest and most hermeneutically-focused intro to the dominant biblical-theological systems of the day. The evangelical emphasis on the unity of the Bible's big story has been a help to the church. This book explores the plot line of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation in more nuanced terms.In the introduction, the editors helpfully summarize the spectrum of biblical theological systems, focusing on covenantal theology and dispensational theologies. To account for other views, they also include Baptist 1689 federalism and new covenant theology toward the middle of the spectrum, and reconstructionism on the far extreme of the continuity spectrum.The book includes chapters on Covenant Theology, Progressive Covenantalism, Progressive Dispensationalism, and Traditional Dispensationalism. The contributors are well-known and respected biblical theologians, who serve at evangelical seminaries. When seeking a representative of a particular theological view, it is essential to look to the strongest proponents of any particular view, in order not to mischaracterize the view. The editors have done the reader a service in selecting such strong representatives for each viewIn each chapter, the contributors address their views of the theological categories of Covenant, the covenants that unfold within the biblical storyline, issues of promise and fulfillment, typology, authorial intent, and whether or not ethnic-national Israel has any future role in God's redemptive purposes.These hermeneutical matters are crucial for any serious Bible reader to understand in order to rightly receive and be transformed by holy Scripture, as God's inspired Word, given for the purpose of equipping and training God's people in righteousness.Each of the contributors also addresses the repercussions of their view on the doctrine of the church (including its relation to Christ, it's newness given the arrival of the new covenant, and its relation to ethnic-national Israel) and eschatology (with a focus on the land promise).Finally the book concludes with response chapters from each of the contributors. Their dialogue does not disappoint. While recognizing the strengths of each of the other views and affirming commonalities, the contributors are willing to grapple with the nuances of their disagreements. Indeed, these final chapters reveal areas of the discussion where attentive listening/reading are required and relatively significant disagreements remain.What distinguishes this book from other books that cover a spectrum of views on similar topics (e.g., Four Views on Israel and the Church) is its focus on interpretive method and this whole storyline of Scripture.I heartily commend in this book to church members who want to understand Scripture more deeply, to pastors who aim to point there hearers to Christ, and to seminary students who need to be aware of these influential views.

Helped me much on my journey to undestand the different approaches to Theology. Fair, deep, sometimes self-ironic (Snoeberger and Horton), sharp in their criticism (Bock and Wellum). Great read.