Analysis: Kingdom Through Covenant - A Biblical Theology Review

This paper presents a critical book review of 'Kingdom through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Understanding of the Covenants' by Gentry and Wellum, focusing on its contribution to Progressive Covenantalism. The book aims to provide a third approach between covenant theology and dispensationalism, emphasizing the kingdom of God as realized through covenantal developments from the Old Testament to the New Testament, culminating in Jesus Christ. The review acknowledges the book's hermeneutical insights and exegetical observations, particularly in its comprehensive introduction to biblical theology and the covenants. However, it also points out weaknesses such as inconsistencies in structure, issues with Adam typology, and an incomplete interpretation of the canonical depiction. The review concludes that while the book offers valuable exegetical explanations of Old Testament covenant narratives, it provides a somewhat emaciated reading of the overall canonical plot structure. Desklib provides students access to a wide array of such solved assignments and resources.

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CRITICAL BOOK REVIEW
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1CRITICAL BOOK REVIEW
Kingdom through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Understanding of the Covenants
fundamentally signifies itself as a piece of work based on aspects related to biblical theology
underlying the label regarded as Progressive Covenantalism. However the concept of Progressive
Covenantalism perceives itself as a highly significant adaptation of New Covenant Theology
where this form of Theology itself is identified as modification, review, reformulation of
conventional Covenant Theology which primarily exhibits a tendency to shift the covenant
conceptualization that shifts from the customary theological aspects of covenants of Covenant
Theology towards biblical covenants1. The following paper highlights the purpose of the book
by further evaluates the major areas of strengths and weaknesses of the book. In addition to this,
it will analyze the argumentative areas focused by the author in this book.
The title of the book, ‘Kingdom through Covenant’ essentially articulates the authors’
perception which states that the sovereignty of God emerges into significant subsistence and
reality through highly developmental covenantal developments from the ideas of OT to NT. The
book ‘Kingdom through Covenant’ has established exceptional hermeneutical purposes and
further provides a wide array of focused exegetical observations which tend to develop biblical
erudition and learning2. Authors Gentry and Wellum have stated that, to attain a comprehensive
understanding of the Scripture, individual needs to develop the understanding of biblical
covenants. Furthermore, it has been observed that each covenant should be explicitly construed
in the perception of the Scripture and further perceived intertextually as well as in canonical
1 Gentry, Peter J., and Stephen J. Wellum. 2012. "Kingdom Through Covenant". Google Books.
https://books.google.co.in/books?id=ya1WAQAAQBAJ&dq=God%E2%80%99s+Kingdom+Through+God
%E2%80%99s+Covenants+A+Concise+Biblical+Theology&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi48tuvh-
DcAhUMvo8KHdbdDEoQ6AEILDAB.
2 Brack, Jonathan M., and S. Oliphint Jared. "Questioning the progress in progressive covenantalism: A
review of Gentry and Wellum’s Kingdom through covenant." The Westminster Theological Journal 76, no. 1
(2014): 189-218.

2CRITICAL BOOK REVIEW
manner. The essential purpose of the book lied on developing inclusive understanding of each
covenant and the approaches through which these covenants tend to associate with each other
and further emphasizing on ways they will be responsive towards the canonical depiction3. It has
been noted that the authors have fundamentally purposed to provide a third approach between
covenant theological perception and aspects related to dispensationalism, further in contention
with both of these theological approaches which are not being learned explicitly by biblical
theological narrative. Thus the book has been recognized as a highly hermeneutically insightful
and theologically enriched biblical theology which tends to emphasize on both the inclusive
knowledge and structure of the whole Bible4.
Furthermore, central to the interpretations of ‘Kingdom through Covenant’ is the edifice of
metanarrative which exhibits a propensity to correspond to the Scripture in an enhanced manner
in comparison to the propounded theory by either through covenant theology (CT) or ideas of
dispensational theology (DT). It is significant to note that the three chapters developed by
Wellum based on prolegomena are recognized as a highly comprehensive introduction related to
the theme of biblical theology along with the intrinsic questions of the covenants which has
established a foreground to understand the devour of canonical, redemptive-historical
investigation which follows5. Furthermore, the authors have stated that the book tends to inquire
about a more precise manner to comprehend the vital association of the biblical covenants which
develops an improved sagacity and prudence of the generalized portrayal of Scripture and thus
3 Grisanti, Michael. "A Critique Of Gentry And Wellum’s, Kingdom Through Covenant: An Old Testament
Perspective." The Master’s Seminary Journal 26, no. 1 (2015): 129-137.
4 Bock, D.L., 2015. A Critique Of Gentry And Wellum’s, Kingdom Through Covenant: A New Testament
Perspective. The Master’s Seminary Journal, 26(1), pp.139-145.
5 Grisanti, M., 2015. A Critique Of Gentry And Wellum’s, Kingdom Through Covenant: An Old Testament
Perspective. The Master’s Seminary Journal, 26(1), pp.129-137.

3CRITICAL BOOK REVIEW
aids the readers to determine some of the theological divergences. The book has explicitly stated
about the importance of developing the knowledge where an individual is positioned in the
biblical narrative for his own developed interpretations of God, devotion, the blessing of
salvation as well the theological understanding of the Church6.
‘Kingdom through Covenant’ further argues that the conceptualization related to Kingdom
of God is underlined covenant pledges whereby the New Covenant accomplishment are
identified as means through which the sovereignty or kingdom develops into utmost realization.
Furthermore, the authors have argued that ultimate attainment emerges through Jesus Christ
which the canonical understanding and depiction reaches the stage of culmination in and through
the Almighty. However, the book proficiently provides a rich understanding of the exegetical
study and interrelates with a select array of intellectual understanding and interpretations of
biblical transcripts which indulgences the segment of divine covenants7. At this juncture, it is
important to understand that the book essentially endeavors to provide biblical theological
interpretations of Scripture devoid of any undeviating conduct of the New Testament. Though
the authors have argued that OT covenant promises have been accomplished in a sensitive
realism in the New Testament which exhibits a propensity to vary in interpretations from what
was literally been pledged in the OT relies on evidence derived from the New Testament which
often is claimed to be insignificant or nonexistent8.
6 Gentry, Peter J. "The Significance of Covenants in Biblical Theology,”." Southern Baptist Journal of
Theology 20 (2016): 9-33.
7 Kimble, Jeremy M. "Book Review: Kingdom Through Covenant." (2015): 861.
8 Blaising, C., 2015. A Critique Of Gentry And Wellum’s Kingdom Through Covenant: A Hermeneutical-
Theological Response. The Master’s Seminary Journal, 26(1), pp.111-127.

4CRITICAL BOOK REVIEW
The comprehensive evaluation of the book, ‘Kingdom through Covenant’ has structured
the significant hermeneutical preferences for obtaining ideas and knowledge of the canonical
depiction further utilizing expressions and ideas from John Feinberg which has been articulated
in the title of Freiberg’s abbreviated volume: Continuity and Discontinuity. However, it has been
perceived to be constructive since Feinberg aims to distinguish conceptualization of Covenantal
and Dispensational interpretations of the Scripture utilizing all these conceptual mechanisms and
because the authors desire to contribute a middle way between the two methods9.
However, in significance of much which has been inscribed on the interpretations of
canonical depiction, it is not apparent view that continuity as well as discontinuity is constructive
or appropriate for narrative evaluation. Few chapters of the book as whole have failed to be well-
structured or integrated and often seemed to be deranged in articulating the ideas. Furthermore, a
broad area of issues have highlighted the conduct of Adam typology, however an increased rate
of glaring variances associates to the treatment of messianic desire and expectation. Regardless
to the author’s well-established emphasis in every segment of covenant narrative along with
climaxing in God, Gentry has casted light on the whole covenant with conception but devoid of
any relevant orientation to the forms of protoeuangelion10. Though, the book has essentially
offered an enriched exegetical evaluation of certain characteristics of the biblical covenants in
major segment of OT scriptures in regards to the generalized canonical depiction that acts in
contradiction its claim, it provides an incomprehensive interpretation. The elucidation and
9 Brack, Jonathan M., and S. Oliphint Jared. "Questioning the progress in progressive covenantalism: A
review of Gentry and Wellum’s Kingdom through covenant." The Westminster Theological Journal 76, no. 1
(2014): 189-218.
10 Grisanti, Michael. "A Critique Of Gentry And Wellum’s, Kingdom Through Covenant: An Old Testament
Perspective." The Master’s Seminary Journal 26, no. 1 (2015): 129-137.

5CRITICAL BOOK REVIEW
explanation of the canonical depiction has not been explicitly informed by decisive textual
details.
Being provided with the long history based on credo-Baptist covenant theological
understanding, it has been apparent that both the authors have essentially critiqued learning of
infant Baptism rather than shedding light on covenant theology. Other forms of analysis have
fundamentally provided explanations of the NT attainment of specific OT texts and themes.
Furthermore, the readers through the evaluation are in the position of substantial conformity with
the way Gentry and Wellum have explicitly expressed the highly progressive rise of the kingdom
of God through certain covenant climaxing in Jesus Christ11. The significant emphasis of the
authors on innovation as well as overriding the character of the new covenant must be highly
valued. However the enduring significance and inevitability of the old and conventional material
must be taken into significance not because it conveys to the depiction of salvation or recovery
but further due to engaging the supporters with an ethical portrait of the rigid morality and justice
of God12.
Thus it can be stated that the book ‘Kingdom through Covenant’ provides a wealth of
exegetical explanations on OT covenant narratives and further can be regarded as an essential
text for comprehending the departure of the New Covenant Theology which exhibit a tendency
to signify itself as highly prevailing Progressive Convenantalism. Nonetheless it provides an
emaciated reading of the generalized canonical plot structure and further has disregarded the
11 Vlach, Michael J. "Have They Found A Better Way? An Analysis Of Gentry And Wellum’s, Kingdom
Through Covenant." Master’s Seminary Journal 24 (2013): 5-24.
12 Treat, Jeremy R. The crucified king: atonement and kingdom in biblical and systematic theology.
Zondervan, 2014.

6CRITICAL BOOK REVIEW
fundamental attributes associated to the biblical narrative of the ideas of OT and NT such as the
God’s blessing and preparation for people as a trait of the earth which God redeems.

7CRITICAL BOOK REVIEW
References
Blaising, C., 2015. A Critique Of Gentry And Wellum’s Kingdom Through Covenant: A
Hermeneutical-Theological Response. The Master’s Seminary Journal, 26(1), pp.111-127.
Bock, D.L., 2015. A Critique Of Gentry And Wellum’s, Kingdom Through Covenant: A New
Testament Perspective. The Master’s Seminary Journal, 26(1), pp.139-145.
Brack, Jonathan M., and S. Oliphint Jared. "Questioning the progress in progressive
covenantalism: A review of Gentry and Wellum’s Kingdom through covenant." The Westminster
Theological Journal 76, no. 1 (2014): 189-218.
Gentry, Peter J. "The Significance of Covenants in Biblical Theology,”." Southern Baptist
Journal of Theology 20 (2016): 9-33.
Gentry, Peter J., and Stephen J. Wellum. 2012. "Kingdom Through Covenant". Google Books.
https://books.google.co.in/books?id=ya1WAQAAQBAJ&dq=God
%E2%80%99s+Kingdom+Through+God
%E2%80%99s+Covenants+A+Concise+Biblical+Theology&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi48t
uvh-DcAhUMvo8KHdbdDEoQ6AEILDAB.
Grisanti, M., 2015. A Critique Of Gentry And Wellum’s, Kingdom Through Covenant: An Old
Testament Perspective. The Master’s Seminary Journal, 26(1), pp.129-137.
Grisanti, Michael. "A Critique Of Gentry And Wellum’s, Kingdom Through Covenant: An Old
Testament Perspective." The Master’s Seminary Journal 26, no. 1 (2015): 129-137.
Kimble, Jeremy M. "Book Review: Kingdom Through Covenant." (2015): 861.

8CRITICAL BOOK REVIEW
Treat, Jeremy R. The crucified king: atonement and kingdom in biblical and systematic theology.
Zondervan, 2014.
Vlach, Michael J. "Have They Found A Better Way? An Analysis Of Gentry And Wellum’s,
Kingdom Through Covenant." Master’s Seminary Journal 24 (2013): 5-24.