The Covenant of Grace

by John Murray

Explains the organic unity of God's successive covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Christ.

Genres: Theology, Christian

32 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1987

About the author

John Murray was a Scottish-born Calvinist theologian who taught at Princeton Seminary and then left to help found Westminster Theological Seminary, where he taught for many years.

Murray was born in the croft of Badbea, near Bonar Bridge, in Sutherland county, Scotland. Following service in the British Army in the First World War (during which he lost an eye, serving in the famous Black Watch regiment) he studied at the University of Glasgow. Following his acceptance as a theological student of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland he pursued further studies at Princeton Theological Seminary under J. Gresham Machen and Geerhardus Vos, but broke with the Free Presbyterian Church in 1930 over that Church's treatment of the Chesley, Ontario congregation. He taught at Princeton for a year and then lectured in systematic theology at Westminster Theological Seminary to generations of students from 1930 to 1966, and was an early trustee of the Banner of Truth Trust. Besides the material in the four-volume Collected Writings, his primary published works are a commentary on the Epistle to the Romans (previously included in the New International Commentary on the New Testament series but now superseded by Douglas J. Moo's commentary), Redemption Accomplished and Applied, Principles of Conduct, The Imputation of Adam's Sin, Baptism, and Divorce.

Murray preached at Chesley and Lochalsh from time to time until his retirement from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1968. He married Valerie Knowlton 7 December 1967 and retired to Scotland where he was connected with the Free Church of Scotland. Writing after a communion season at Lochalsh, Murray said, “I think I feel most at home here and at Chesley of all the places I visit.” There had been some consideration that upon leaving the seminary, Murray might take a pastorate in the newly formed Presbyterian Reformed Church, but the infirmity of his aged sisters at the home place necessitated his return to Ross-shire, Scotland.

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be perfectly truthful, I am not dying about John Murray as a theologian. The first two volumes of his collected writings and Redemption Accomplished and Applied are good, but he made certain innovations to Reformed covenant theology that had fatal consequences further down the line. Owing to the fact that he was an advocate of exclusive psalmody and other more traditional opinions, I find a certain reluctance among the antiquarian Reformed to criticise him.

However, I believe that his recasting of covenant theology, especially his denial of the covenant of works with Adam, led to the emergence of Norman Shepherd and the Federal Vision. If you deny a prelapsarian covenant of works, it is logically impossible to maintain a belief in imputed righteousness. Moreover, you will end up replacing the active obedience of Christ with the sinner's own meritorious obedience.

In this booklet, Professor Murray also fails to do justice to the uniqueness of the Mosaic economy as the legal administration of the covenant of grace. One critique of Professor Murray (T. David Gordon) has pointed out that he fails to interact with Paul's epistle to the Galatians. I would basically concur with that assessment, as Galatians is fatal to Professor Murray's recasting of covenant theology. He preferred to affirm a position that had an appearance of consistency but was not exegetically faithful to the text of scripture. Thus, he would have been better not fixing what was not broken.

[Lisa DiG]

Excellent resource for understanding the covenant.

[Tim Zornes · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to the meaning of covenant in the scriptures. Delves into the deeper meaning of what covenant is and demonstrates that it is not just a compact or agreement between God and man, but that it is divine in origin, establishment, confirmation, and fulfillment.

[Peter Bringe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book, I just wish it was longer. Murray examines biblical covenants, building the case that they should not be primarily seen as contracts or agreements, but as sovereign bestowments of grace and promise where a relation is established. He shows that this theme runs through the biblical covenants, from Noah to Christ. The laws and commands that accompany these covenants are not to be seen as conditions for the covenant to be established, but as responsibilities within the covenant, as a response to the grace of the covenant, to be done so that the covenant promises can be fulfilled. Obviously, with only 32 pages, some matters are not covered or satisfactorily answered (such as the covenant of works), but the book is helpful as far as it goes in understanding the nature of biblical covenants.

Some quotes:

“But when all the instances of merely human covenants are examined, it would definitely appear that the notion of sworn fidelity is thrust into prominence in these covenants rather than that of mutual contract. It is not the contractual terms that are in prominence so much as the solemn engagement of one person to another…It is the promise of unreserved fidelity, of whole-souled commitment that appears to constitute the essence of the covenant. There is promise, there may be the sealing of that promise by oath, and there is the bond resultant upon these elements. It is a bonded relationship of unreserved commitment in respect of the particular thing involved or the relationship constituted.” (p. 10)

"The covenant is a sovereign dispensation of God's grace. It is grace bestowed and a relation established...How then are we to construe the conditions of which we have spoken?...They are simply the reciprocal responses of faith, love and obedience, apart from which the enjoyment of the covenant blessing and of the covenant relation is inconceivable. In a word, keeping the covenant presupposes the covenant relation as established rather than the condition upon which its establishment is contingent." (p. 19)

"At the centre of covenant revelation as its constant refrain is the assurance 'I will be you God, and ye shall be my people'. The new covenant does not differ from the earlier covenants because it inaugurates this peculiar intimacy. It differs simply because it brings to the ripest and richest fruition the relationship epitomized in that promise." (p. 32)

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and careful study of the covenants in Scripture, arguing that a covenant is not a joint compact, but a sovereign bestowal of grace initiated by God.

[Samuel Kassing · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unpacking of the covenant of grace emphasizing the unity and continuity of the covenant of grace.

[Aiden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid introduction to the biblical notion of covenants.

[Connor Longaphie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this assuming that he would be arguing for the covenant of works as being grace. It wasn't really brought up. What was brought up was that the covenant of Grace post-laps as being a unilateral promise from God to man rather than an agreement of terms between two parties. And on that note I am not necessarily in a disagreement with him. He repreatedly says that this unilateral promise is that "I will be your God and you will be my people" and that it's not a term such as "if you do x I will do x do you agree?". He ofc still has room in his theology for stipulation but not a stipulation to receive the cov but to stay in. I would look at this differently. I would also say that the unilateral promise of God post laps is the proto evangel of redemption in gen 3:15. In seeing the cov of Grace as a unilateral promise we need to do so in light of the failure to uphold terms in a mutually uheld covenant agreement that we see in the covenant of works. As for the way Murray looks at the mosaic administration I find people's disagreements with him in not seeing it enough as one of lawfully agreement as misguided. The law did not pop out of nowhere. The covenant relationship always results in the following of God's laws be it in mosaic form or NT form. The upholding of the mosaic laws is not the way anybody has ever or will ever be saves. But rather is upheld through sanctification. The proto evangel that we see in the garden is not an agreement of terms. It is a promise. On this Murray is right. But should this be pitted against a legal agreement? I'm not so sure about that. I think there are misunderstandings on all sides. The truth of the matter is that mankind has in Adam failed to uhold a mutual covenant, and now our only hope of salvation is to be in Christ who upheld the CoR. This is the CoG. This is a unilateral promise. I would not recommend this to anybody. But I did enjoy it.

[Joey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but dense book on the Covenant of Grace, in which Murray explores the post-diluvian Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New Covenant in Christ. He highlights the fundamental theme: "I will be your God, and you will be my people." While insightful, the book could have been written in a clearer manner and a lot of the book, I found personally to be somewhat dry, despite the topic being incredibly interesting.

[Matti Itkonen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not usual, but something that gives a fresh alternative to current Reformed Covenant theology. It avoids the nuances we might add without a need, like Adamic Covenant and the mutual contract of the covenants.

One star fell for the English was a little hard for being from 70s, yet English readers might not struggle.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly modest argument that all instances of covenant in the Bible are less pact than unilateral extension of grace. Mostly convincing. I have a few questions about his exegesis of the Mosaic covenant.

[Grant Van Brimmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome little booklet on the basic principle of the covenant of grace. Loved it. Most of all I that Murray was thorough, detailed, and not rigidly bound to a specific confessional expression. The more I read from Murray, the more I like him.

[Rafael Martinez Renteria · Rating 1 out of 5]

No tiene muy buena redacción.

[Grant Carter]

Refreshed my brain on some concepts from the spring semester

[Angela Platt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short 32-page cover of the Covenant of Grace by John Murray. An excellent read- buy multiple copies and hand it out as gifts!! He gives a brief introduction to the terminology, an overview of Noahic, Mosaic, Davidic covenants, and ends with the New Covenant, its contrasts to the Old Covenant. This is all told within the view that the purpose of the covenants has always been a restored relationship between God and His people. I'll let Murray himself sum it up, go buy the book to read the rest!

At the centre of covenant revelation as its constant refrain is the assurance ‘I will be your God, and ye shall be my people’. The new covenant does not differ from the earlier covenants because it inaugurates this peculiar intimacy. It differs simply because it brings to the ripest and richest fruition the relationship epitomized in that promise.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise history of the development of covenant theology, and a discussion around defining the term. It is not, Murray says, a mutual agreement or contract, but is rather unilateral. Although there must be a response in gratitude from the beneficiary, the covenant is all of God's sovereign grace, initiated and administered by God. Covenant breaking is therefore relational unfaithfulness, not contractual failure. Murray guides the reader on a whirlwind tour through Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and the NT usages of covenant and shows how all biblical aspects of covenant are ultimately God graciously saying "I will be your God and you will be my people."

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply put, this is the best concise outline of Covenant Theology available. It is accessible to the lay-person and a valuable resource to the student of theology. This is a must-read for those interested in understanding the underpinnings of reformed theology.

[Jared Mcnabb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish this was longer, and a more positive thesis developed. It is great as far as it goes in showing the pure legal contract view of covenant found wanting. However, it leaves some major questions unanswered.

[Steve Hemmeke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covenant is NOT a legal contract...

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Good. Brief, yet thorough.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good thoughts on covenant theology, but I find Murray's view of a covenant to be wanting.

[Philip Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ THIS BOOK!

[Michael A Milton, PhD, MPA · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Classic.

[Peter F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is it fair to call this a book? More of a pamphlet... I've gotten more context on what became of Murray's views on covenant since I read this, but at the time I found it difficult to follow.