Cotton Mather
Puritan Board Freshman
I was introduced to Covenant theology by O. Palmer Robertson in his classic work Christ of the Covenants. After reading God of Promise by Michael Horton, alongside Meredith Kline's work on covenant theology, I modified my covenant theology a bit. Right now, I consider myself a Klinean to the core and agree with the WSC consensus on the law/gospel distinction, two kingdoms theology, etc. etc. Horton continues to state in his book that the Mosaic covenant is a republication of the covenant of works, and should be regarded strictly as a suzerain/vassal treaty consistent with the law principle. After recently reading John Murray's tract on the covenant of grace, I noted how he emphatically regards the Mosaic covenant as an integral administration of the covenant of grace in the history of redemption. My questions are both historical and theological. What do some of you guys think about this issue? 1) Is the Mosaic covenant strictly a covenant of works? 2) If so, does this confuse the law/gospel distinction and pose a threat to our soteriology, specifically justification and the alone instrument (faith) through which we are justified? 3.) Does Kline/WSC represent mainstream Reformed covenantal thinking, or do some of you think that Kline departs from historic Reformed covenantalism in significant ways? 4). Historically, is Reformed theology monolithic in its understanding of the Mosaic covenant, or are there differences of thought concerning whether the Mosaic covenant should be looked at through the lenses of law or gospel? I'm sure there are Klineans out there who will agree with WSC and Kline in their understanding of covenant theology. This is where I tend to lean. I'm sure there are also those who favor Murray's position and regard the Mosaic covenant as a covenant of grace in the history of redemption. I hold firmly to the law/gospel distinction, and fear that viewing the Mosaic covenant in both law and gospel categories might confuse these soteriological paradigms a bit. Nevertheless, I'm Reformed and always reforming, and only desire to allign my thought with solid Reformed confessional thinking. Thanks so much. I know this is a lot to answer, and I'm not interested in debating. I'm just curious as to what some of you might think about these issues. Grace and peace.