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The Covenant Theology reading collection ↗Explore five companion books and choose where to begin. Reading is optional.

  1. Read the Covenants Together

    How do the covenants help us follow the story of Scripture?

    God’s covenants help us follow his saving purpose through the whole Bible. Redemption, works, and grace describe the plan of salvation, our need for righteousness, and the gift of that righteousness in Christ. The covenant of redemption is accomplished in history through Christ’s fulfillment of what Adam failed to do. The promise of grace unfolds through Scripture and reaches its fulfillment in the new covenant. Learning these connections helps us read individual passages within the story of salvation.

    Key terms

    Covenant
    A binding relationship established by God, with promises and obligations.
    1689 Federalism
    A Baptist account of the covenants associated with the Second London Baptist Confession.
    Episode · Lesson SourceIntroduction To Covenant Theology Part OneAn overview of redemption, works, and grace.Open episode →

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    For Reflection

    1. What question about the relationship between the Old and New Testaments brought you here?
    2. How do redemption, works, and grace help you connect the covenants in Scripture?

  2. Salvation Planned by God

    Where does the plan of redemption begin?

    The plan of redemption begins with God. The Father purposes salvation, the Son accomplishes it, and the Spirit applies it. Ephesians 1:3–14 joins these actions in praise: God chooses his people in Christ, grants redemption through his blood, and seals believers with the promised Spirit. Salvation rests on this work of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our confidence begins with God’s saving purpose before it turns to the changing circumstances of our lives.

    Key terms

    Covenant of Redemption
    God’s eternal purpose, shared by Father, Son, and Spirit, to save a people in Christ.
    Adoption
    God’s welcome of believers into his family through Christ.
    Episode · Lesson SourceHow does covenant theology encourage assurance and rest in Christ?Ephesians 1 and the saving work of the Trinity.Open episode →

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    For Reflection

    1. What does Ephesians 1 place before your own response to the gospel?
    2. How might God’s purpose give comfort when your confidence is weak?

  3. Adam and the Covenant of Works

    Why does Adam’s obedience matter for understanding Christ?

    God placed Adam under his command, with life and death bound to obedience and disobedience. Adam acted as a representative of humanity, and his fall brought sin and death to those he represented. Romans 5 places Christ alongside Adam as the obedient representative whose righteousness brings life. The covenant of works helps explain our need for more than another opportunity to obey. We need a Savior who fulfills righteousness for us.

    Key terms

    Covenant of Works
    God’s covenant with Adam, requiring obedience and carrying the penalty of death for disobedience.
    Representative Head
    Someone whose action counts for the people represented, as Adam and Christ do.
    Episode · Lesson SourceIs the Covenant of Works in the Bible? (w/ Pat Abendroth)The biblical argument for the covenant of works.Open episode →

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    For Reflection

    1. How does Romans 5:12–21 connect Adam’s disobedience with Christ’s obedience?
    2. Why would Christ’s obedience matter if our problem includes Adam’s failure?

  4. Follow the Promise of Grace

    How were believers saved before Christ came?

    After the fall, God promised that the woman’s offspring would defeat the serpent. That promise unfolds through the Old Testament as God preserves a people and prepares them for the coming Savior. Believers before Christ were saved by faith in the promised Messiah. In Baptist covenant theology, the covenant of grace is promised through these earlier covenants and established in the new covenant through Christ. The distinction between promise and fulfillment helps explain how the whole Bible tells one saving story.

    Key terms

    Covenant of Grace
    God’s saving covenant in Christ, whose benefits are received through faith.
    Types and Shadows
    Earlier people, events, and institutions that point forward to fulfillment in Christ.
    Episode · Lesson SourceThe Covenant of Grace in the Old TestamentTrace the promise of grace through the Old Testament.Open episode →

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    For Reflection

    1. How does the promise in Genesis 3:15 shape the rest of the story?
    2. What is the difference between a promise and its fulfillment?

  5. Receive Christ’s Righteousness

    What does Christ give us beyond forgiveness?

    In Christ, believers receive both forgiveness and a righteous standing before God. His death answers for our guilt, and his obedience supplies the righteousness we lack. We receive these benefits through union with him by faith. The covenant of works helps explain why the Savior’s obedient life matters alongside his sacrificial death. Christ has fulfilled what God requires. Our acceptance is therefore secure in him, rather than dependent on completing what he began.

    Key terms

    Active Obedience
    Christ’s fulfillment of God’s law on behalf of his people.
    Imputation
    The crediting of Christ’s righteousness to believers.
    Episode · Lesson SourceMore Than ForgivenChrist’s obedience, forgiveness, and a righteous standing.Open episode →

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    For Reflection

    1. How does being counted righteous differ from being given another chance to earn acceptance?
    2. What would change in your prayers if you approached God on the basis of Christ’s righteousness?

  6. Compare Ways of Reading Scripture

    Where do covenant theology and dispensationalism differ?

    Covenant theology reads Scripture as the unfolding fulfillment of God’s saving promise in Christ. Its relationship to dispensationalism involves several connected questions: how Christ is revealed throughout the Bible, how law and gospel relate, and how Adam’s and Christ’s obedience shape redemption. The traditions also differ in their accounts of Israel and the church. Studying these differences carefully helps us understand what an interpretation assumes and test it against Scripture.

    Key terms

    Dispensationalism
    A family of approaches that distinguishes administrations in God’s dealings with humanity and emphasizes distinctions between Israel and the church.
    Christ-Centered Reading
    Reading a passage in its context and in relation to Scripture’s fulfillment in Christ.
    Episode · Lesson SourceCovenant Theology VS DispensationalismCompare the two approaches under three specific headings.Open episode →

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    For Reflection

    1. How do your beliefs about Christ’s fulfillment of Scripture affect the way you read a passage?
    2. What question would you want to ask someone who holds the other view?

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