Book Reviews -- By: Anonymous

Journal: Journal of Dispensational Theology
Volume: JODT 17:51 (Summer 2013)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous


Book Reviews

An Introduction to the New Covenant edited by Christopher Cone. Hurst, TX: Tyndale Seminary Press, 2013. 375 pp., paper, $27.00.

Six theologians contributed to An Introduction to the New Covenant, which is an excellent and important entry into the debate concerning the extent and application of the New Covenant. Depending upon how the New Covenant is interpreted, there are as many as five views regarding the church’s relationship to the New Covenant (see pp. 83, 89, 101, 204).

  • Replacement — The church is entirely fulfilling the New Covenant.
  • Partial — The church is partially fulfilling the New Covenant, but complete fulfillment awaits the millennium.
  • Participation — The church does not even partially fulfill the New Covenant, but does participate in its spiritual blessings now.
  • Two New Covenants — God has made one New Covenant with Israel and another with the church.
  • No Relationship — The New Covenant was made exclusively with Israel, and the church is not directly related to it and is experiencing no spiritual benefits from the New Covenant now.

An Introduction to the New Covenant defends the “no relationship” position, even though the majority of dispensationalists today affirm the participation view. The authors believe, however, that the participation view is inconsistent hermeneutically and theologically. The argument presented is resolute, well reasoned, and based upon much Scripture. Anyone interested in this subject should read An Introduction to the New Covenant.

The book is well organized and (for a book addressing relatively difficult theological issues) is easy to read. All the primary passages addressing the New Covenant are addressed in detail, in addition to the

hermeneutical foundation for each of the various positions. Chapters nine and ten make application to socio-political implications and the church’s role while awaiting the enactment of the New Covenant. The book lacks indexes or bibliographies, both of which would have been helpful. Disclaimer: this reviewer contributed the first chapter to the work.

— Gary E. Gilley
Southern View Chapel (Springfield, IL)

Romans: Deliverance from Wrath by Zane C. Hodges, edited by Robert N. Wilkin, with introduction and selected notes by John H. Niemelä. Corinth, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 2013. 488 pp., paper, $24.99.

Zane Hodges has a different understanding with regard to the book of Romans. He believes the epistle does not addr...

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