tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8925308476543851194.post6926365265576767911..comments2024-02-14T11:24:47.692-08:00Comments on Just and Sinner: Some Problems with Covenant TheologyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07355003765385878787noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8925308476543851194.post-14588659754597547202012-11-16T18:04:23.775-08:002012-11-16T18:04:23.775-08:00Mike- The theology of infant baptism is pretty sim...Mike- The theology of infant baptism is pretty simple for Lutherans. Baptism is a cure for sin. Infants are sinners. Therefore, baptize them!<br /><br />There are parallels between circumcision and baptism, but the doctrine of infant baptism doesn't depend on it.<br /><br /><br />Steve- It shocked me quite a bit when I realized this as well.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07355003765385878787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8925308476543851194.post-60320421143052539462012-11-16T13:59:56.909-08:002012-11-16T13:59:56.909-08:00I have kept rereading this post because one statem...I have kept rereading this post because one statement you made: The Eucharist <i>is</i> the new covenant. That stark comment struck me because I had not closely examined that Lukan passage. Yowzer!Steve Brickerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05809609523737519737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8925308476543851194.post-47535751645161493732012-11-12T07:22:41.416-08:002012-11-12T07:22:41.416-08:00I guess my question is where do Lutherans ground t...I guess my question is where do Lutherans ground their theology of paedobaptism? I would think that Lutherans & Reformed types would both agree that the inclusions of infants under the abrahamic covenant concludes with infants being apart of the new covenant.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8925308476543851194.post-50358132984819495582012-11-09T17:08:18.872-08:002012-11-09T17:08:18.872-08:00Martin,
You are correct in that Luther didn't...Martin,<br /><br />You are correct in that Luther didn't like the term covenant because in medieval theology, especially among certain spiritual Franciscans, the covenant concept was used to argue for certain stipulations that had to be fulfilled. Thus it lent itself to the semi-Pelagian position which Luther of course rejected.<br /><br />Zwingli essentially started covenant theology. He did so in opposition to the Anabaptists. He wanted to uphold infant baptism but did not adopt the view of baptismal regeneration held by Luther, thus created his own unique manner of defending the practice. He did this by expounding upon the idea of covenant, arguing for continuity between the continuity between the Abrahamic covenant (infant circumcision) and the new covenant (infant baptism). <br /><br />Calvin adopted this concept, as did Bullinger. It took some years to take shape through the writings of Caspar Olevianus, and Hermann Witsius. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07355003765385878787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8925308476543851194.post-8595224013146854532012-11-09T17:02:00.157-08:002012-11-09T17:02:00.157-08:00The focus in the New Testament is on the Abrahamic...The focus in the New Testament is on the Abrahamic promise, as expounded upon in Galatians 3-4. It is is primarily utilized in a law/gospel context, though the concept of covenant is present. I don't mean to suggest that there is no concept of covenant at all in the New Testament, but its prominence has been greatly exaggerated. I think the concept of will/inheritence is much more prominent than suzerainty/vassal covenants. The translation of testament as opposed to covenant is an indicator of the difference here among confessions. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07355003765385878787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8925308476543851194.post-75416338978844358012012-11-09T15:56:31.540-08:002012-11-09T15:56:31.540-08:00Jordan,
Thanks for this most interesting post. Ge...Jordan,<br /><br />Thanks for this most interesting post. Gerhard O. Forde also advocated using "testament" instead of "covenant". Wonder which reformer/s started this covenant theology thing? Robert Kolb mentioned in his book on Luther's theology that Luther avoided talking about covenant not because it he did not believe it is in the Bible but because some Roman Catholic scholastics' concept of covenant is that man need to fulfill his part of the covenant to receive God's blessings.<br /><br />MartinMartin Yeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10161902509192193592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8925308476543851194.post-46495680987008860092012-11-09T13:21:57.671-08:002012-11-09T13:21:57.671-08:00So how do you view other places in Hebrews, Paul, ...So how do you view other places in Hebrews, Paul, etc. that identify believers as recipients of the Abrahamic covenantal promises, without a qualification that the Covenant that has been fulfilled is now specifically a testament?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com