Peter J. Gentry

Stephen J. Wellum

This book introduces readers to the biblical covenants, charting a middle course between dispensationalism and covenant theology. An accessible and abridged version of the influential theological work Kingdom through Covenant.

A Concise Biblical Theology

God's Kingdom Through God's Covenants

For it's brevity, there may not be a better summary of the major covenants and their relevance to the overall story of redemption. Gentry and Wellum tow the line between covenant theology and dispensationalism with their position (progressive covenentalism), taking into account the similarities and differences between the old and new covenants. Whether or not you agree with their thesis, the authors provide excellent summaries of God's relationship to mankind through a history of covenant making and keeping, climaxing in the new covenant of Christ. I have yet to come across anyone with better grammatical and canonical arguments than Peter Gentry. Wellum's excellent work on the biblical framework is the perfect introduction to them. Since this is an abridgment to a longer work, it is ideal for those who want to benefit from the theological conclusions in a more accessible form. Perhaps my favorite emphasis of the book is showing the way each of the covenants fit into the context of the previous ones, while adding something new to meta-narrative, culminating in the new covenant upheld perfectly by the last Adam: The Messiah-king Jesus. Their argument is not a slam dunk case, but I think it is one of the best approaches to understanding the Bible as a whole. I need to revisit the language arguments about cutting a covenant versus renewing a covenant, as it is likely the most objectionable portion of the book.

God's Kingdom Through God's Covenants A Concise Biblical Theology

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