Tom Schreiner clearly and simply explains the intricacies of the Mosaic covenant, which he calls "The Covenant with Israel." in his book Covenant and God's Purpose for the World. Like many scholars, Schreiner believes that the Mosaic covenant is based on grace, not works: "Some mistakenly separate it almost altogether from the covenant with Abraham…
In the early 90s, Dallas Theological Seminary professors Darrell Bock and Craig Blaising helped to formulate a new version of dispensationalism called progressive dispensationalism. Progressive dispensationalism differed from earlier versions of dispensationalism (classic and revised) by advocating for more continuity in God's plan of redemption. Like every bibilical-theological system, the covenants place an important role…
In the book Reading While Black: African American Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope, Anglican scholar Esau McCaulley writes to address two worlds: those within the Black community who want to scrap the Bible because they do not feel like it addresses their struggle and a wider audience who wants to know how African Americans…
Paul R. Williamson writes about the Mosaic covenant in Sealed with an Oath. The prominence of the Mosaic covenant in the story of Israel has led one scholar to label it "the Old Testament covenant" (94). Because of its importance, Williamson devotes significant time to explaining the meaning and functioning of the covenant. Yet, while…
It's really hard for our minds to grasp the full depth of God's providence. Therefore, breaking things down a bit with distinctions can be helpful for us to understand what's going on. While all things are ordered by God's counsel, they appear to us as being by chance or fortune. They appear this way not…
Peter Gentry in chapter nine of Kingdom through Covenant contends that the covenant God makes with Israel is central to the entire Pentateuch (339). The importance of the Mosaic covenant cannot be overstated because "it is the interpretation of how the old covenant relates to the new that is the basis of all the major…
Figuring out the relationship of the Mosaic covenant to the covenants that come before (like the Abrahamic) and the covenants that come after like (like the new) challenges even the most seasoned theologian. In chapter ten of Christ of the Covenants, O. Palmer Robertson seeks to delineate the relationship of the Mosaic covenants to the…
Some criticize my view of providence, claiming that it same view as the Stoics concerning fate. The same charge was brought against Augustine. I am unwilling to argue about words. I don't use the term "Fate" because it belongs to a class of arguments that Paul tells us to shun—opposing arguments (1 Timothy 6:20). Moreover,…
God's providence is also on display in the history of Israel. The text tells us that God uses particular events as an examples of his providence. For example, God causes a south wind to blow and brought the Israelites a plentiful supply of birds (Exodus 19:13). When God wanted Jonah to be thrown into the…
Many talking heads complain about the polarization of our culture. "We're more divided than ever!" they proclaim, usually in a tweet or a TV interview. Blame for the polarization of our country usually gets put on social media companies (like Facebook and Twitter) and the 24-hour news cycle. It's pointed out that in today's America,…