Reviews for Binding of God: Calvin's Role in the Development of Covenant Theology

The average rating for Binding of God: Calvin's Role in the Development of Covenant Theology based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2012-06-02 00:00:00 Jeff Strom I liked it, though evidently it is considered "off-limits" in some Southern Presbyterian circles. Lillback gives a painstaking analysis of the history of covenant theology, seeing it culminate in the Calvinist tradition. I liked how he notes that infant baptism for the Reformers was grounded on Zwingli's continuity between Old and New Testament. Lillback makes the claim that whereas Law-Gospel was the architectonic framework for Lutherans, Covenant Theology was so for Reformed. I think that is brilliant. I got in trouble, though, when I said it. Questions: What do you mean by "Calvinist tradition?" Lillback's reading presumes some form of objectivity and continuity in the covenants, and I think that is certainly a superior way to read Scripture. Presumably, Calvin thought so as well (see Mcgrath's work on Calvin). However, as many American Reformed scholars have pointed out, the later Calvinist tradition also posited areas of *discontinuity* and non-objectivity in the Covenant as well (the reader needs to consult Heppe, and for what it's worth, Scott Clark's gloss as well; though I agree with Lillback contra Clark in the end. I just acknowledge that Clark, too, has legitimate sources).

Review # 2 was written on 2009-08-31 00:00:00 Andrew Bolduc Calvin's "federal vision," as it were, and his conception of covenant is far from anemic. Lillback shows how Calvin expertly and carefully distinguishes and harmonizes issues such as law and gospel, letter and spirit, covenant and election, general and special election, monergism and conditionality, promise and warning, old and new. Calvin teaches a biblical theology that largely unites the covenants ("same in substance, different in administration"), and a rich letter-spirit distinction that contrasts with Luther's rigid law-gospel distinction. Calvin links the covenant with adoption throughout to explain and illustrate his harmonizing. Outstanding. Some notes & quotes: