Covenant Theology: From Adam To Christ

I am only half way through the book, but I think Editors Ronald Miller, James Renihan and Francisco Orozco have done the body of Christ in general and Baptists, who desire to learn theology and history, in particular a huge service. This work demonstrates that Baptists may be Reformed and Covenantal while remaining Baptists.

Since most Baptists have no idea who our forebears are, this book starts with a 20 page biography of Nehemiah Coxe written by none other than James Renihan. It is extremely helpful to get an understanding of who Coxe was. At one point I learned that Coxe went to church with John Bunyan, who while in prison wrote one of the most famous books, Pilgrims Progress.

What really has made this book good so far is its readability. Every layman that has some intelligence ought to become familiar with this work, if for no other reason than to gain an understanding of the definition of Covenant and God's covenant dealings with men.

So far I have read the chapters that define what a Covenant is, Adam's covenant of works and the Noahic Covenant. The Covenant of works with Adam may be the most important portion of this work. Lost has become the doctrine of Original sin.

On page 51, under the section The State and Condition of Fallen Man he writes:

2. He not only forfeited his right but also his present relationship to God by this sin. Moreover, he was by this means rendered incapable of true happiness, inasmuch as he was now apostatized from a covenant of friendship to a state of enmity against God and alienation from Him, which is the necessary adjunct of wickedness. He fell under the dominion of sin and that image of God in which he was created was in a manner wholly defaced. He sinned and fell short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23). And now instead of that original righteousness with which he was first beautified, there was nothing to be found in him but abominable filthiness and horrid deformity. His mind was covered over, even possessed with hellish darkness. Hatred of God reigned in his heart and his affections were no longer subject to right reason but became vile and rebellious. It is evident that in this state he must be utterly incapable of communion with God and of the enjoyment of Him in whom alone true happiness of a reasonable creature consists.

And on page 53 under the same section:

The whole creation of this visible world became liable to destruction with fallen man as an inheritance forfeited by his treason against the Supreme Majesty. By the sin of man the frame of the earth and the heavens made for his service and delight was loosed, and their foundations so shaken as would have issued in an utter ruin had not Christ interposed and upheld their pillars (Psalm 75:3 with Hebrews 1:3).

One thing the Editors do well is even if a difficult word or expression is written by Coxe, they give a footnote at the bottom of the page to explain its meaning.

Since Nehemiah only deals with the Covenants from Adam to Abraham, the second half of the book is John Owen's exegesis of Hebrews 8 and the contrasts between the Old and New Covenants. I haven't got there yet, but knowing John Owen it should be excellent. It also has an article by a friend (I had to just say that) Richard Barcellos. You may read his current series on the Christian Sabbath here to get a flavor of his writing.

Buy the book and enjoy it.