Journal: Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
Volume: SBJT 29:3 (Fall 2025)
Article: New Covenant Theology And Progressive Covenantalism Compared: Disputable Differences
Author: Zachary S. Maxcey

New Covenant Theology And Progressive Covenantalism Compared: Disputable Differences

Zachary S. Maxcey

Zachary S. Maxcey is a MDiv graduate of Providence Theological Seminary, and he currently serves as the President of Providence Theological Institute of New Covenant Theology (http://www.pti-nct.org).

Introduction

Although there are some disputable differences between New Covenant Theology (NCT) and Progressive Covenantalism (PC), there is vast agreement between these two systems. In my previous article,1 I addressed the following eight areas of common ground between NCT and PC: 1) historic Protestant Christianity; 2) one plan of God centered in Christ; 3) God’s plan is unfolded via the biblical covenants; 4) the interpretive priority of the New Testament (NT); 5) the Mosaic Law is an indivisible unit; 6) Christians are not under the Old Covenant; 7) all believers are members of the New Covenant, have full forgiveness of sins, are permanently indwelt by the Spirit, and are empowered by the Spirit to please God; and 8) the Church is the eschatological Israel as God’s people. Again, this is not intended to be an exhaustive list; it is merely eight areas of common ground that I highlighted between the systems. In this article, I will highlight five disputable differences which exist to varying degrees between PC and NCT: 1) whether or not a creation covenant existed between God and Adam; 2) the imputation of Christ’s obedience; 3) the nature of the Law of Christ; 4) whether or not there is any instructive use of the Mosaic Law for the

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Christian; and 5) differences regarding terminology and categories related to the covenants.

A Discussion Among Christian Brethren

As believers in Christ, we must be able to lock arms together on all essential matters of the Christian faith, while agreeing to disagree in non-essential or disputable matters in Christian love. We must remember that famous statement of Rupertus Meldenius, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.”2 When we fail to do so, we stand in direct violation of Christ’s command to love one another as he loved us (John 13:34; Matt 22:39). As long as we accept the essentials of orthodox evangelical Protestantism, we should be able to agree to disagree with fellow believers on disputable matters, which would include the non-essential differences between NCT and PC.

This is not to say that non-essentials theological matters cannot and do not significantly affect one’s understanding of Scripture...