Progressive covenantalism
A view held among orthodox Christians
A reading of Scripture that traces the biblical covenants as successive steps, each fulfilled and brought to completion in Christ and the new covenant.
Also called: kingdom through covenant, progressive covenantal
What it means
Progressive covenantalism is a recent framework, developed mostly among Baptist scholars, that seeks a middle path between covenant theology and dispensationalism. It sets aside the theological categories of a covenant of works and a single covenant of grace, and instead follows the covenants Scripture names: with creation, Noah, Abraham, Israel, David, and finally the new covenant. Each covenant builds on the last, and all of them reach their goal in Christ.
Against dispensationalism, progressive covenantalists hold that the promises to Israel, including the land, are fulfilled in Christ and his people rather than in a separate future for national Israel. Against paedobaptist covenant theology, they argue that the new covenant community is made up of believers only, so baptism belongs to those who profess faith.
Progressive covenantalism also reads the law as a whole covenant that has been fulfilled in Christ. Christians are under the law of Christ, and the commandments of the old covenant apply through their fulfilment in him. Its holders affirm salvation by grace through faith and the authority of Scripture, and the differences with its neighbours are about how the testaments fit together.
In Scripture
God spoke in many ways through the prophets, and in these last days has spoken by his Son.
All of God's promises find their yes in Christ.
The law was a guardian until Christ, and all who belong to Christ are Abraham's offspring.
Christ made Jew and Gentile one new man, breaking down the dividing wall.
The new covenant is better than the old, which is becoming obsolete.
Where it comes up
On this site: Covenant framework
Related terms
New Covenant theologyA view held among orthodox Christians
A view that the Mosaic law as a whole has been fulfilled and replaced by the law of Christ, so the Ten Commandments bind Christians only as restated in the New Testament.
1689 FederalismA view held among orthodox Christians
The covenant theology of the 1689 London Baptist Confession, which sees the covenant of grace promised in the Old Testament and established in the new covenant.
Covenant theologyA view held among orthodox Christians
A way of reading the whole Bible as the story of God's covenants, centred on one covenant of grace administered across both testaments.
DispensationalismA view held among orthodox Christians
A way of reading Scripture that keeps a lasting distinction between Israel and the church, and expects God to fulfil his promises to national Israel in a future earthly kingdom.
CredobaptismA view held among orthodox Christians
The teaching that baptism is for those who personally profess repentance and faith in Christ, normally by immersion.