The Trinity And the Covenant of Redemption

by J.V. Fesko

When Christians reflect on the gospel, their attention is rightly drawn to the cross and empty tomb. But is this it? Or is there much more to the story? In a ground-breaking work, J.V.Fesko reminds us that the great news of this gospel message is rooted in eternity, whereby a covenant was made between the persons of the Trinity in order to redeem sinners like you and me. J. V. Fesko, in the first of a three part series on covenant theology featuring Redemption, Grace and Works, aims to retrieve and recover classic Reformed covenant theology for the church.

Genres: Theology

436 pages, Hardcover

First published May 20, 2016

About the author

J. V. Fesko graduated from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, UK, with an earned Ph.D. in theology. Dr. Fesko's interests include systematic theology, applied soteriology (union with Christ, justification and sanctification, and the ordo salutis), sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Reformed dogmatics, as well as the integration of biblical and systematic theology. He was the pastor of Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian church from 1998 to 2009. He is now presently the Academic Dean and Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Westminster Seminary California. He is also an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

Reviews

[Samuel G. Parkison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely stellar. This book is such a gift.

[Mak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thought-provoking. Kinda dense, so I recommend starting with the final Summary (pages 357-360) as a kind of outline before diving in at the beginning!

[Ronnie Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous work on the theology of the Trinity in the eternal covenant of redemption. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together in our justification, sanctification, and glorification, and this work is based on the foreordained and harmonious efforts of the three persons of the Trinity. Mr. Fesko helps us to see through sound biblical exegesis that our salvation in the sure hands, will and workings of our Creator.

[Joe Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heavy theology that stretches…but still points to the Beauty of God. Love Fesko more and more. This one is fairly technical, not as pastoral. But his scholarship is so good and writes clearly.

[Ben James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes authors make theological arguments that are more philosophical and logical than exegetical. I appreciated Fesko’s attempt to first anchor the covenant of redemption in Biblical exegesis. It will be up to the reader to decide whether Fesko successfully builds the exegetical foundation of the doctrine in part 2. If unconvinced of Fesko’s exegesis in part 2, readers will not likely find part 3 on Dogmatic Construction compelling.

[Ryan Cavanaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute masterpiece! Get it, read it, love it!

[Ethan McCarter · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best modern retrievals on the doctrine of the Pactum Salutis. I'll begin with one of my issues at first with the work. That is, the exegetical section is a bit lacking when it comes to the whole scope of the texts building the CoR. What I mean is that there is more that can be said when it comes to exegesis; though Fesko is one of the most thorough when it comes to exegetical framework for the CoR in modern theology. I also think he should have dedicated a section to a better understanding of Pneumatology as it pertains to the CoR. The Spirit's role was brought into pieces of the 3rd section, dogmatic construction, but that loci should merit its own section due to the claims that the CoR forgets the Spirit or introduces tritheism in the Godhead.
That being said, the book is an excellent and in-depth work of theology. There's always more that can be said, but Fesko does a great job of retrieval and interaction with historic sources and modern ones. His addressing Barth's reformulation and denials pertaining to the CoR and predestination were brilliant. Fesko is a theological force that needs dealing with if one collapses the CoR into the covenant of grace with eternal/temporal distinctions or flat out denies that the Pactum is a covenant and portion of the decree of God. Highly recommended source!

[Mark Trigsted · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a lot of Theology books in my life... This is near the very top. John Fesko is without question one of the most brilliant and easy to digest theologians today. As Dean of Historical Theology at Westminster (West) Fesko rites in my wheelhouse... One of several works I read for my paper in my “Westminster Standards” course with Dr. Ferguson at RTS (Dallas) . I became fascinated with the doctrine of the Covenant of Redemption and why it is not directly mentioned in the Westminster Standards... My paper, “The Ark of The Covenant Opened: The Pactum Salutis Discovered in Chapter 8 of the Confession” Totally consumed a couple of weeks of my life in April but loved every minute of it!!!!

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fesko offer is very thorough discussion of the covenant of redemption, that is to say the covenant between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in eternity whereby the Son is determined to become the surety for the sins of his people and the Spirit to effect his work in the lives of the elect. He argues that this rescues the doctrine of predestination from an impersonal and apparently “arbitrary“ choice, to that of the covenant between the persons of the Trinity.

[Joshua Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part II (Exegetical Foundations) was 5 star. Part III (Dogmatic Construction) rarely had any relevance to the books actual thesis. Not that those chapters weren't interesting - they just weren't relevant a lot of the time. Made the last section a bit tedious to get through

[Joonas Laajanen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parts 1 & 2 out of three. Clear presentation of the history and a thorough exegetical basis for the doctrine of the COR.

[Grant Carter]

Great scholarly work on a much needed reformed doctrine

[Evan]

Really dense but really good defense of the classical doctrine of the Covenant of Redemption.

[Neil McKinlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.V. Fesko has done the Lord’s church a big favour by writing this book. In a clear and concise manner, Fesko shows from Scripture how and when the triune God planned in eternity the salvation of His elect in time. It is such a shame that the mere mention of that word “elect” will have already put off many of those readers who sadly have been inoculated against covenant theology and anything Reformed. More’s the pity!

In an easy-to-follow way, Fesko exegetes and applies the Scriptures that reveal what the Westminster divines referred to as, “the Covenant of Redemption, made and agreed upon between God the Father and God the Son, in the council of the Trinity, before the world began.”

Though a little academic in places, the reader with a general knowledge of theology should not have too much trouble following the flow and discussion of this book. The overall position of the covenant of redemption is clearly stated, while its detractors of it and any of its component parts, are discussed and refuted. E.g., the novel views of N.T. Wright against the orthodox understanding of the doctrine of imputation are refuted as is Karl Barth’s denials and misunderstandings of the covenant of redemption.

Fesko presents a solid case for the covenant of redemption. My hope is that this book will in no small way serve to popularise covenant theology. Says Fesko,

“Reformed Orthodoxy and classic covenant theology still have much to offer. The threefold covenant scheme (redemption, works, and grace) offers the best explanation of the biblical data.” p. 141.

[Wes Van Fleet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the honor of sitting under Fesko's teaching at Westminster Seminary California, and it was his overview of the Covenant of Redemption that increased my faith in the Trinity and his eternal love for sinners.

This book is a grand overview of the exegetical, historical, and theological proofs of the covenant of redemption. Not only does he do a great job in those areas, but lays forth a marvelous view of God's love from eternity past to the New Heavens and New Earth.