Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: The Binding of God: Calvin's Role in the Development of Covenant Theology (Texts and Studies in Reformation and Post-Reformation Thought) by Peter A. Lillback, Richard A. Muller ISBN: 0801022630 Publisher: Baker Book House Pub. Date: June, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Rating: 4
Summary: Enlightening!
Comment: This book is a great place to start to understand the role Calvin played in the development of Reformed covenant theology. Contrary to popular opinion, Calvin's covenant thought was borrowed not only from Bullinger and Zwingli, but the Medieval Scholastics! This may be surprising since many think of Calvin (along with Luther) as one of the great reformers who opposed the works-oriented soteriology of the Medieval Church. In fact, Calvin and Luther did not see eye-to-eye on many things in regards to the law, covenant, and justification! Luther emphasized an unconditional monolateral covenant of grace; Calvin advocated a conditional bilateral covenant of grace. According to Lillback, Calvin "occupies a middle ground between the Schoolmen and Luther on the issue of the acceptance of good works in relationship to justification" (p. 308). This is an alarming conclusion to say the least. Many may think of Calvin and his soteriology quite differently after reading this book. There are two sections in the book. The first deals with the development of covenant thought during the Reformation period; the second deals with Calvin's development and understanding of covenant theology. Lillback does a good job presenting Calvin's viewpoint of good works, conditionality, justification, sanctification, perseverance, and the sacraments in relation to the covenant of grace. Also, Lillback does a good job showing how Calvin "resolved" the tensions between the Old Covenant and New Covenant. In fact, the author states that the New Covenant, according to Calvin, can be broken and is conditional (p. 264)! One may think that the Calvinistic doctrine of "eternal security" or "perseverance of the saints" may be incompatible with such notions. Also, Lillback discusses how Calvin did not see the pre-fall covenant with Adam as strictly legal and meritorious, but also gracious and merciful. This may raise alarm bells for many traditional Reformed theologians since it tends to undermine the Federalists notion of two "Adams" and the full imputation of Christ's righteousness to the elect. Many can see that Lillback is trying to tie Calvin with the likes of Daniel Fuller, Thomas Schreiner, Scott Hafemann, Don Garlington, and Norman Shepherd. In a way, one can detect that Lillback is trying to picture Calvin as a mediator between Romanism and Protestantism. I believe that Calvin was more "grace-oriented" than Lillback allows. Calvin in one of his famous commentaries teaches that weak and immature faith is just as much "saveable" as is strong faith (XVII, p. 311). Thus, Calvin recognized that some true believers do not live or possess the degree of faith as they should. Regardless of some of these disagreeable points, this book is a good introduction to Calvin's development and contribution to Reformed covenant thought.
Rating: 5
Summary: THE Definitive Work on Calvin's Understanding of Covenant!
Comment: Much more than an analysis of Calvin on Covenant, this is a really helpful discussion of the historical development of Covenant Theology in general. Exposing various past misconceptions of Covenant Theology's roots, and carefully documenting its distinct progression through various reformers, Lillback in this work skillfully paints his picture with primary source material.
He details how the concept of covenant in the Reformed tradition is much more than a section in a confession or a chapter in a systematic theology, but is an integrating principle or presupposition which functions as a paradigm, regulating and informing not only every area of theology, but our entire relation to God in history and eternity.
This work will be very useful also for the careful gathering and exposition of numerous quotes from Calvin and others, detailing what distinguishes Reformed theology from Lutheranism, on such things as the relation between law and gospel, the relation between Justification and Sanctification, and the role of the Law in the life of the believer.
There is so much more here of value which could be mentioned, I'll just mention one other: the relation of the covenant to the sacraments, namely how one's view of either the mutuality or one-sidedness of the covenant impacts whether the covenant meal (Eucharist) is seen as mutual or merely testamentary.
The bibliography here is extensive; the index quite adequate; there are several helpful summary tables and charts; footnotes are (thankfully) at the bottom of the page.
This work is Peter Lillback's Dissertation at Westminster Theological Seminary (PA), completed in 1985. After he turned it in, they set a page limit of 400 pages on dissertations, his being almost twice that (double spaced).
If you are interested in Covenant Theology, the development of Reformation and Post-Reformation thought, Calvin, or simply how you are to understand the relation between faith and obedience, you must purchase this book.
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
