Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.5392/JKCA.2020.20.03.613

Covenant Theology Reconsidered Through the Relationship Between Law and Grace  

Je, Haejong (삼육대학교 신학과)
Kim, Hee-Joon (삼육대학교 신학대학원)
Publication Information
Abstract
This study reconsiders covenant theology through the relationship between law and grace. In order to do this, it first evaluates whether the Sinaitic Covenant is a covenant of grace or a covenant of works. This has been in discussion for a long period of time among theologians, yet is far from settled. Traditional studies form a wide spectrum, which can be divided into at least four major branches. First, the Sinaitic Covenant is the same as the covenant of grace. Second, the Sinaitic Covenant is the same as the covenant of works. Third, the Sinaitic Covenant forms a third, independent category of covenant. Fourth, the Sinaitic Covenant exists in harmony with the covenant of grace. Each category is summarized along with its representative proponents. Also, even though the term covenant of works is not accepted as prevalently among modern theologians, observations is made on how each category connects to and continues in modern theological discussions regarding law. Special emphasis is given to the fourth category and the fourth perspective on law with respect to how they differ from the others in viewing the relationship between law and gospel. Moreover, recognizing that the unique understanding of the fourth view grows out of a careful observation of the Biblical text, the structural similarities between the Sinaitic Covenant and other Biblical covenants are compared based on the Biblical text. Based on this comparison, it is observed that God's grace and human duty coexist in several Bible covenants including the Sinaitic and New Testament covenants. From this observation, it is proved that conditionality regarding covenant fulfillment exists in them all. This conditionality does not entail from exclusiveness on the part of God, but from the weakness on the part of humans. However, some unconditional covenants, albeit few in number, can be found in the Bible. Therefore, the difference between unconditional covenants and conditional covenants is discussed. Lastly, the proper place and role of grace in covenants is studied.
Keywords
Covenant; Covenant Theology; Sinaitic Covenant; Covenant of Grace; Covenant of Works; Law and Gospel;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Accordance 12.
2 서요한, 언약사상사, 기독교문서선교회, 1994.
3 마이클 호튼/백금산 역, 언약신학, 부흥과개혁사, 2009.
4 한스 K. 라론델/김상래 역, 성서적 언약 신학, 삼육대학교 출판부, 2008.
5 George N. M. Collins, "Covenant Theology," Baker's Dictionary of Theology, ed. Everett F. Harrison, Baker Book House, 1960.
6 Michael McGiffert, "The Perkinsian Moment of Federal Theology," Calvin Theological Journal, Vol.29, No.1, pp.117-148, 1994.
7 Sebastian Rehman, "Is the Narrative of Redemptive History Trichotomous or Dichotomous? A Problem for Federal Theology," Nederlands archief voor kerkgeschiedenis, Vol.80, No.3, pp.296-308, 2000.   DOI
8 https://wscal.edu/media/blog_documents/Fesko_TLNF_copy.pdf, 2019.12.25.
9 D. Patrick Ramsey, "In Defense of Moses: A Confessional Critique of Kline and Karlberg," Westminster Theological Journal, Vol.66, No.2, pp.373-400, 2004.
10 Cornelis P. Venema, "Recent Criticisms of the 'Covenant of Works' in the Westminster Confession of Faith," Mid-America Journal of Theology, Vol.9, No.2, pp.165-198, 1993.
11 안상혁, "토마스 보스톤(Thomas Boston, 1676-1732)의 언약 신학," 한국개혁신학, 제36권. pp.262-303, 2012.
12 김혜성, 남정숙 역, 웨스트민스터 신앙고백, 생명의 말씀사, [1646]1994.
13 루이스 벌코프/이상원.권수경 역, 조직신학 2판, CH 북스, 2017.
14 김동건, 현대신학의 흐름: 계시와 응답, 대한기독교서회, 2008.
15 칼 바르트/황정욱 역, 교회교의학 IV/1, 대한기독교서회, 2010.
16 https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A11015.0001.001/1:9.6?rgn=div2;view=fulltext, 2019 12. 25.
17 Robert Rollock, "Robert Rollock's Catechism on God's Covenants," trans. Aaron C. Denlinger, Mid-America Journal of Theology, Vol.20, pp.105-129, 2009.
18 Harrison Perkins, "Reconsidering the Development of the Covenant of Works: A Study in Doctrinal Trajectory," Calvin Theological Journal, Vol.53, No.2, pp.289-231, 2018.
19 루돌프 불트만/소기천 역, "바울," 신약논단, 제10권, 제3호, pp.723-771, 2003.
20 문병구, "불트만의 바울 연구와 샌더스의 새 관점," 신약논단, 제22권, 제4호, pp.1047-1080, 2015.
21 Darren O. Sumner, "Law and Gospel in Emil Brunner's Earlier Dialectical Theology," The Journal of Theological Studies, Vol.66, No.2, pp.877-880, 2015.   DOI
22 존 머레이/박문재 역, 조직신학 I, 크리스챤 다이제스트, 1991.
23 피터 골딩/박동근 역, 현대인을 위한 언약신학, 그나라출판사, 2015.
24 Mark W. Karlberg, "Reformed Interpretation of the Mosaic Covenant," Westminster Theological Journal, Vol.43, No.1, pp.1-57, 1980.
25 W. J. Van Asselt, "The Doctrine of the Abrogations in the Federal Theology of Johannes Cocceius (1603-1669)," Calvin Theological Journal, Vol.29, No.1, pp.101-116, 1994.
26 Palmer O. Robertson, The Christ of the Covenants, Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, 1980.
27 Francis Turretin, Institutes of Elenctic Theology, 3 vols, trans. George M. Giger and ed. J. T. Dennison Jr., P & R Publishing, 1992.
28 Ryan M. McGraw, "The Threats of the Gospel: John Owen on What the Law/Gospel Distinction is Not," Calvin Theological Journal, Vol.51, No.1, pp.79-111, 2016.
29 Thomas Edward McComiskey, The Covenants of Promise, Baker Book House, 1985.
30 Arland J. Hultgren, "The Ethical Reorientation of Paul: From the Law of Moses to the Law of Christ," Currents in Theology and Mission, Vol.46, No.2, pp.30-33, 2019.
31 G. Herbert Livingston, The Pentateuch in Its Cultural Environment, 2nd ed, Baker Book House, 1987.
32 Timothy L. Decker, "Faithfulness to Christ as Covenant Fidelity: The Pastoral Purpose Behind the Old Testament Allusions in the Seven Messages of Revelation 2-3," Andrews University Seminary Studies, Vol.55, No.2, pp.165-193, 2017.
33 Jeffrey Niehaus, "God's Covenant With Abraham," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Vol.56, No.2, pp.249-271, 2013.
34 피터 A. 릴백/원종천 역, 칼빈의 언약사상, 기독교문서선교회, 2009.
35 Lyle D. Bierma, "Federal Theology in the Sixteenth Century: Two Traditions?" Westminster Theological Journal, Vol.45, No.2, pp.304-321, 1983.
36 David Andrew Dean, "Covenant, Conditionality, and Consequence: New Terminology and a Case Study in the Abrahamic Covenant," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Vol.57, No.2, pp.281-308, 2014.
37 Robert A. Hammer, "New Covenant of Moses," In Judaism, Vol.27, No.3, pp.345-350, 1978.
38 Cleon L. Rogers Jr, "The Covenant With Moses and Its Historical Setting," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Vol.14, No.3, pp.141-155, 1971.