Frameworks for Understanding the Scriptures

There are five common ways of relating together the Old and New Testaments:

  1. Reformed Covenant Theology: The N.C. is an administration of the Old (infant baptism)
  2. Dispensationalism: History is divided into seven dispensations. The O.C. is now abrogated (or suspended) (beleivers’ baptism)
  3. New-Covenant Theology (beleivers’ baptism): The relationship between the O.C. and the N.C. is not flat, but typological. (beleivers’ baptism) The movement is
    • promise → fulfullment
    • shadow → reality
    • type → antitype
    • flesh → spirit
    • external written code → Jesus Christ (indwelling)
  4. No coherent framework: free to apply texts with no regard to historical epoch (most untrained evangelicals/charismatics)
  5. Modern-critical: no relationship between the Old and the New is necessary

Example

Comparisons

Updated 2009-10-12 (build:16) by Andrew Fountain

Comparison between Dispensations & Covenants

Dispensational Reformed (paedobaptist) New Covenant
1. Innocence A. Covenant of Works Period of probation
2. Conscience B. Covenant of Grace
     (initiated with Eve)
1. Anti-diluvian administration
O.C.
develops
with
sacrifices,
circumcision
and then
full Mosaic
Law.
All are
TYPES of
the N.C.		 N.C.
promises
to Eve
Noah
Abraham
David
and
prophets
3. Government 2. Noahic administration
4. Promise 3. Abrahamic administration
5. Law 4. Mosaic administration
    (+Davidic covenant)
6a. Grace (Spirit) 5. New covenant:
Apostolic administration		 O.C. fulfilled in N.C.
by the replacing of all
types with anti-types
and shadows with clarity
in Jesus Christ

(radical new beginning at Pentecost)
<return of Christ>
(differences of views re millennium)

6b. Church age (Word)

 <completion of canon marks break>
6. New covenant:
Post-Apostolic administration
<return of Christ>
7. Kingdom		 7. Christ's millennial administration
<return of Christ>

Implications

  • For the Paedobaptist, circumcision and baptism are parallel ceremonies in two administrations. Both are for believers and their children.
  • For the New Covenant, circumcision is a type, and therefore can only be fulfilled in an antitype (a new heart), not another symbol.
  • For the Paedobaptist, Israel and the Church are parallel names for the people of God in two administrations. Both are made up of believers and unbelievers, and should extend to the whole nation, including children. Force is appropriate.
  • For the New Covenant, Israel is a type of the church. The ideal local expression of a church is made up only of believers. We do not fight with the sword, but with spiritual weapons.

Comparison between Signs of the Covenants

  Noahic Abrahamic Mosiac New
sign/seal rainbow circumcision Sabbath the Spirit who regenerates / circumcises our hearts

—>Sabbath fulfilled by rest in Christ
feast     passover Lord’s supper
Image of death to life Saved from flood life from Sarah's "dead" body "Baptism" in Red Sea Baptism
inheritance all the earth & animals
(old creation)		 land + nation
(types of the new creation)		 promised land 1 Pet 1:4 an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven
foretaste/
downpayment		 not needed
(already realized)		 nation -> a son
land -> burial plot		 Sabbath was a foretaste of rest in Canaan,
+ physical blessing in wilderness: Manna, clothes not wear out, treasures from Egypt		 The Spirit