Continuity and Discontinuity: Perspectives on the Relationship Between the Old and New Testaments [Hardcover]

John Feinberg (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1988

Evangelicals agree that the Bible is God's inerrant word. But we sometimes differ on how to relate the messages of the Old and New Testaments. Without a basic understanding of this crucial matter, it is difficult to know how to use the Testaments to formulate either doctrine or practice.

For example: Was Israel the OT Church—are OT promises to God's national people fulfilled in the church today? Or, is Mosaic Law binding on believers now—are twentieth-century Christians to obey the Ten Commandments, including sabbath observance?

In this book, thirteen noted evangelical theologians discuss, fairly but clearly, the continuity/discontinuity debate in regard to six basic categories: theological systems, hermeneutics, salvation, the Law of God, the people of God, and kingdom promises.

Covering much more than the differences between Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism, this work of distinguished evangelical scholarship will fuel much profitable study and discussion.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 410 pages
• Publisher: Crossway Books (June 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891074902
• ISBN-13: 978-0891074908
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #127,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the BEST books on the topic, April 19, 2005

By 

theologicalresearcher "theologicalresearcher" (Canada) - See all my reviews

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

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.

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stimulating Contributions, July 25, 2003

By 

Gontroppo "Music and Theology Lover" (Bathurst, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A really good discussion of the issues, June 21, 2009

By 

Robert Edwards - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

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.