Journal: Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
Volume: SBJT 26:1 (Spring 2022)
Article: An Arc Of The Covenants: Tracing How The Bible’s Storyline Climaxes In Christ
Author: Jason S. DeRouchie

SBJT 26:1 (Spring 2022) p. 10

An Arc Of The Covenants: Tracing How The Bible’s Storyline Climaxes In Christ

Jason S. DeRouchie

Jason S. DeRouchie is Research Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Theology at the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri and Content Developer and Global Trainer with Hands to the Plow Ministries. He earned his PhD in Old Testament from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has published numerous articles, and is the author, co-author, or editor of many books, including most recently How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament (P&R, 2017) and 40 Questions on Biblical Theology (Kregel, 2020). He has served as a pastor in two churches and frequently leads teams to train church leaders and to visit the poor in Africa’s horn. He is married to Teresa, and they have six children. For many of Dr. DeRouchie’s resources, see www.jasonderouchie.com.

Author’s Note: I thank Andy Naselli for the catchy main title, my doctoral fellow Brian Verrett for editing content and making suggestions, and Peter Gentry and Richard Lucas for offering helpful feedback. I also thank those who critically engaged the study when I presented an earlier draft at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society in Fort Worth, TX, Nov 16, 2021. This is an expanded version of the essay “Covenant” found in the forthcoming Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, ed. G. K. Beale, D. A. Carson, Benjamin L. Gladd, and Andrew David Naselli (Baker, 2023), and I thank the editors and the publisher for allowing me this privilege.

Introductory Matters

Covenants As Scripture’s Backbone

Covenant (Hebrew běrîṯ; Greek diathēkē) is the Bible’s term for “a chosen [as opposed to natural] relationship in which two parties make binding promises to each other,” often with God as the witness.1 That is, a covenant’s core is a non-biological, oath-bound relationship like those in clan alliances (Gen 14:13), personal agreements (Gen 31:44), international treaties (Josh 9:6; 1 Kgs 15:19), national agreements (Jer 34:8–10), and loyalty agreements (1 Sam 20:14–17), including marriage (Mal 2:14).2 Some scholars assert that “covenant” or “the covenantal kingdom” is

SBJT 26:1 (Spri...