What Is New Covenant Theology?

Also see Blake White’s What Is New Covenant Theology? and John G. Reisinger’s classic, Abraham’s Four Seeds.

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A Short Primer on New Covenant Theology Essentials by A. Blake White

The Story of Scripture can be summarized as “Creation to New Creation.” How God brings revelation, history, and humanity from creation to new creation is referred to by many as “Redemptive History.” One of the most complex yet rewarding pursuits in biblical studies is to understand the flow of Redemptive History. What is its structure? How does it progress and develop over time? How is one era related to another? Where do we find unity and continuity? Where do we encounter diversity and discontinuity? What has priority and permanence? What is temporal and passing away?

These are not merely questions for the academic theologian. Since there is more material devoted specifically to this issue in the NT than to almost any other single issue, the Bible itself invites every believer to pursue this understanding of the big picture with all its theological and practical implications for life and faith.

Currently there are three main systems of theology within evangelical Christianity which address the subject of Redemptive History: Covenant Theology (CT), Dispensational Theology (DT), and New Covenant Theology (NCT). Whether or not they are conscious of it, all Christians will generally fall into one of these three systems.

Generally speaking, Covenant Theology emphasizes continuity to the expense of discontinuity. Dispensationalism, on the other hand, tends to emphasize discontinuity at the expense of continuity. New Covenant Theology accommodates both continuity and discontinuity. NCT is a relatively new label, but it is not a new method of interpretation. There are six key distinctives that make up NCT.

1. One Plan of God Centered in Jesus Christ

The first distinctive of NCT is that there is one plan of God throughout the Bible. This plan is centered on and finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ and the new covenant. Ephesians 1:8-10 says, “With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillmentto bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.”

NCT strives to let biblical theology inform systematic theology. Exegesis should be the lifeblood of theology. There is both continuity between the covenants and discontinuity. Each covenant must be dealt with in its own context as well as its contribution to the whole. When we recognize this, it becomes clear that there is a sharp contrast between the Old Covenant and the New.

2. The Old Testament Should be Interpreted in Light of the New Testament

The second distinctive of NCT is its insistence that the OT must be read and interpreted in light of its NT fulfillment in Jesus Christ and the new covenant. Hebrews 1:1-2 says, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”

We take the progressive nature of God’s revelation with the utmost seriousness. We learn how to interpret the OT from Jesus and his apostles. It is our opinion that the conclusions of CT and DT are a result of beginning with the OT rather than the NT.

3. The Old Covenant was Temporary by Divine Design

The third distinctive of NCT is that the Old Covenant was temporary by divine design. God intended for it to be an interim covenant. The NT is emphatic about the fact that those in Christ are no longer under the law (1 Cor. 9:20, 2 Cor. 3, Rom. 6:14, 7:6, Gal. 3:23, 5:18, Heb. 8).

Galatians 3:19 says, “Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come.” Verses 24-25 say, “So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.” The New Covenant is not merely a renewal, but really is new covenant unlike the old one (Jer 31:32).

4. There is No Tripartite Division of the Law

The fourth distinctive of NCT is that the law (i.e. the old covenant and its law code) is presented as a unit throughout Scripture. CT divides the law up into three parts: moral, civil, and ceremonial. NCT denies this “tripartite” division of the law because the writers of Scripture do not make such distinctions. The law is presented as a unit throughout Scripture.

Hebrews 7:11-12 says, “If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthoodand indeed the law given to the people established that priesthoodwhy was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also.” The law and the priesthood are bound up together it is a package deal.

5. We are not under the Law of Moses, but under the Law of Christ

The fifth distinctive of NCT regards its relation to law. If we are not under the law, does that mean we are lawless? No. We are no longer under the law of Moses; rather, we are under the law of Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:20-21 reads, “To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews though I myself am not under the law though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law.”

The law of Christ can be defined as those prescriptive principles drawn from the example and teaching of Jesus and his apostles (the central demand being love), which are meant to be worked out in specific situations by the guiding influence and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

6. All in the New Covenant Community Have the Holy Spirit

The sixth distinctive belief is the nature of the new covenant community. In the New Covenant, unlike the Old, every member is fully forgiven and every member has the Spirit. This is another way of saying they are all believers. The prophets looked forward to a day when God would pour out his Spirit from on high (Ezek. 36-37, Joel 2, Isa. 32:15, 44:3).

This is one of the major differences between Israel and the church. Not all within Israel had the Spirit. All within the new covenant community do. NCT does not say that Israel=church as CT does. Neither do we make a radical distinction between Israel and the Church as DT does. Jesus is the hermeneutical key! The NT depiction is Israel=Jesus=church. Galatians 3:29 says, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” All of the promises of God are yes in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 1:20).