Customer Reviews

Continuity and Discontinuity (Essays in Honor of S. Lewis Johnson, Jr.): Perspectives on the Relationship Between the Old and New Testaments

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This book has to hit the top of the list when it comes to the topic of continuity and discontinuity between the OT and NT. The authors come from predominantly two theological backgrounds: Reformed (covenant) or dispensational (though D. Moo and W. Kaiser who side on the discontinuity side are not dispensationalists themselves). There are in total 7 parts to the book. Section 1 deals with introduction of the issues involved from a historical perspective (R. Peterson). Section 2 deals with systems of continuity (W. VanGemeren) and discontinuity (J. Feinberg). Section 3 deals with hermeneutics of continuity (O. Robertson) and discontinuity (P. Feinberg). Section 4 deals with salvation from a continuity perspective (F. Klooster) and discontinuity perspective (A. Ross). Section 5 deals with the Mosaic Law and its relationship to the NT (L. Chamblin and D. Moo). Section 6 deals with peoples of God between the Testaments (M. Woudstra and R. Saucy). Finally, section 7 deals with whether the Kingdom is spiritual (B. Waltke) or spiritual/material (W. Kaiser).
All the essays presented are well written and good. However, Chamblin's essay inadvertantly leads the Gospel of Grace to a Gospel of Law. One can see by some of the statements he makes that (pp. 187-200) the "Gospel" he presents is a type of works-righteousness ethic. This is the problem of attaching the Law to the Gospel. Also, Waltke essay's could use some humility and Christian courtesy on the way he interacts with those who oppose his view. Overall, though, an excellent book contributed by many fine evangelical scholars.

This book took me a while to get into. But I highly recommend you read it. It makes you think. The authors write valuable articles from a mainly Covenant Theology or Dispensationalist point of view, but often you will find very valuable ideas coming from both sides. For instance, in the articles on The Law of Moses and The Law of Christ, both Chamblin and Moo make excellent points. I find it hard to see how you could align yourself with one side, without admitting that many of the points the other side makes are also important and must be also taken into account.

It also shows that the Dispensationalist camp has much more in it than a quirky take on the Second Coming. No Left Behind nonsense here!
Great book.

If you are interested in exploring the difference between Covenant Theology and Dispensational Theology this is an excellent book. Six topics are chosen and a theologian from each side is given an opportunity to speak on the topic. These topics all deal with the issues of how we are to view the difference between the Old and New Testaments. It does not seek to be a complete discussion of the topic, but seeks to deal with some of the fundamental areas of disagreement. In particularly, how we are to interpret the Old and New Testaments in light of the other.

As someone who came to this discussion trying to decide which more accurately represents what Scripture teaches, I found it very helpful. My background spans both camps and perhaps two thirds of my library comes from the covenantal side though most do not deal with these topics. At the same time I am a member of a church who would clearly fall into the dispensational camp. I would say that this book gives a good representation of both sides.

Having said that, I don't believe that the covenantal (continuity) writers did as good a job acquitting themselves, though they had many helpful points. Most of them seem to be talking to "their side" and did not engage the topic as well. In some cases they seem to just assume what they need to prove and don't seem to recognize that the reader may not share some of their basic assumptions.

The Dispensational (discontinuity) writers seemed more lucid and engage the topic better with regard to the reader who may not share their assumptions.

In summary, I found the entire discussion very helpful and would recommend this book to someone trying to sort through this issue. While I was less impressed with the continuity side they did still offer helpful insights in many areas. Both sides contributed well to the discussion. It has definitely cleared up a number of thoughts on the subject, in my mind.

This book is a precious jewel! It was edited by John Feinberg (one of my favorite theologians) in honor of S. Lewis Johnson (one of my favorite theologians) and it surely did not disappoint. Let me first say the caliber of the authors chosen cannot be understated (Kaiser, the Feinbergs, Waltke, Robinson, Chamblin, Saucy etc.), so you can have confidence that you are getting the good stuff from the best people in the field. As someone who was a dispensationalist, I found myself strengthened in my position, but I'll admit some of the Covenantal arguments are very, very good and I have grown to appreciate them more. It is nice to see fellow Christians, able to disagree so amicably. If you want to really understand what is going on in this difficult to understand field, I can highly recommend this book.

This book was required for a class that focused largely on the differences between covenantal theology and dispensational theology. This book took an excellent and very academic approach to the issue. Instead of one side cutting down the other, this book sought to present both sides in an insightful and biblical fashion and help the reader fully understand the similarities and differences between the two theological systems. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has had questions about the differences in covenantal and dispensational theology or any who wants to know more about one of the two systems.

This book contains various perspectives from leading theologians on issues related to that which continues and discontinues from the Old Testament into the New Testament.

Half of the contributors in this book would consider themselves "Covenant Theologians" - including contributions from O. Palmer Robertson, Willem VanGemeren, Knox Chamblin, Bruce K. Waltke, Fred H. Klooster, Martin H. Woudstra, and Sam Storms. The other half would lean dispensational or in the discontinuity camp - including essays from John S. Feinberg, Paul D. Feinberg, Robert L. Saucy, Walter C. Kaiser, Allen P. Ross, and Douglas J. Moo.

The book is a tribute to S. Lewis Johnson- long time Bible teacher at Dallas Theological Seminary and Teaching pastor at Believer's Chapel in Dallas, Texas (he went to be with the Lord on January 28, 2004). The beginning of the book and ending of the book contain some well written tributes from Sam Storms and John Sproule to Johnson and expound upon his outstanding attributes as a scholar, exegete of God's Word, pastor, mentor, friend, and southern gentlemen - he was born in Birmingham, Alabama.

After a wonderful historical essay on the debate of continuity and discontinuity by Rodney Peterson the format of the book addresses issues related to six key areas: 1) Theological Systems and the Testaments; 2) Hermeneutics and the Testaments; 3) Salvation and the Testaments; 4) The Law and the Testaments; 5) The People of God and the Testaments; and 6) Kingdom Promises and the Testaments. Each of these six topics contains an essay from a continuity perspective followed by an essay from a discontinuity perspective.

Here are some of the issues addressed in the book:

Are Christians to see ethical dilemmas such as capital punishment and abortion enforced today?

Are Israel and the Church one or distinct today?

How do believers relate to the Old Testament law in practice today?

One of the points that became increasingly clear to me as I read this book was that the more one moves in the discontinuity direction, the more dispensational he is likely to become, and the more one moves in the direction of continuity, the more covenantal he will become.

This book is simply outstanding. It's not an easy read - but well worth the effort. In my experience most people from both sides of the continuity/discontinuity continuum have a lot to learn from one another and this book helps people in either camp come closer to the center in balancing how to effectively understand and interpret the two Testaments of the Scriptures. I highly recommend this book to help you become a more effective interpreter of the Scriptures and lover of Jesus Christ at the center of it all.

If you are wrestling with some of these ideas of Covenantal vs. Dispensational, this would be a good addition to your library.