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

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.

This book frames the important parts of the discussion well. I was a little disappointed in the academic quality of the covenantal essays but the dispensation also essays are outstanding.

This is an important book if you are looking into dispensationalism and covenant theology. It is still referenced today by many scholars which is a testament to its lasting impact. Having grown up in dispensationalist churches and later becoming disenchanted with that system and some of its flaws I was drawn to covenant theology. I later realized that this system too has its problems. This book helped shed light on some of the issues with both systems. The essay by Douglas Moo on the continuity of the law was particularly good and worth the price of the book. In the end I came away with the impression that while both systems contain some truth, neither gets it completely right.

No book on the market will give you the insight into law and grace better than this book. Several writers give their views so that you get a balance. You should read and reread this book until you understand the issue. Buy it and don't tarry.

Hard to find and addresses the relationship of the Old and New Testament. S. Lewis Johnson was a brilliant exegete of the Bible, a fine preacher, and a Southern gentleman. This book is befitting our late brother.

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

As one reviewer mentioned above, this book has had a lasting impact in Evangelical circles on how the Bible, while containing two testaments, can at the same time espouse a single story of redemption, what most conservative scholars would define as "Salvation History" (highlighted as an interpretive principle as early as John Chrysostom, 347-407; though Apostle Paul and Evangelist Luke seem to be working from the same place, in Romans and Acts, respectively). All the scholars writing in this book take a very conservative approach to the Bible, seen as "Salvation History", and would be super close on many respects of the Faith, and in agreement with all essentials. I say all that given the title of the book highlights differences, "Continuity and Discontinuity". Ironically, the authors would all subscribe to elements of both in their thought. But one would have to, to be a Christian :)That being stated, the differences tend to surround who/what the singular story of "salvation history" is all about. Is it primary about the Nation of Israel, her salvation and the realization of an earthly kingdom (Dispensationalism/some Discontinuity Perspectives), or is it a story about how Jesus and the Apostles seem to "reinterpret" the OT narrative(s) in light of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ, now proclaimed as Lord (Covenant Theology/some Continuity Perspectives). This is an oversimplification of the issues, but the discussion has to begin somewhere and those are some very broad differences being contended in the book.The discussion centers on a variety of interrelated issues, and their relationship in the Old & New Testaments:1) Theological Systems ("How Does One Most Accurately Form the Nuts and Bolts of the Singular Gospel Story?")2) Hermeneutics ("What are the Interpretive Principles Used to Arrive at Such Conclusions?" see #1)3) Salvation ("How Are People Brought Into God's Redemptive Story?")4) The Law ("What Role Did/Does This Have in the Redemptive Story?" see #1)5) The People of God ("Who are the People Called by God as His Own?" see #3)6) Kingdom Dimensions ("How are the Earthly, Political and Spiritual Kingdom Dimensions Ultimately Incorporated Into the One Story?")This book is an essential read in the field of conservative systematic theology, and has made a lasting impact. Its themes continue to be retread in subsequent works that pop up each and every year, and will continue to do so. You cannot read an important book on this subject without seeing it referenced at some point. A must-read for pastors, educated lay-persons and those who wish to understand the tensions and complexities of "Salvation History" better. An excellent book!

This is a consciously Evangelical take on how the OT and NT relate to each other. The two major theological traditions represented in this collection of academic essays are Reformed (or Covenantal) and Dispensational.The book is structured as a debate with scholars from both perspectives offering their take on the six issues it covers: 1) Theological systems and the Testaments (this functions as an introduction to the key principles of both theological perspectives), 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.The essays are quite academic with extensive references and quotations from other scholars, thus it is quite comprehensive as it covers the major differences between the Covenantal and Dispensational schools.Personally, I found the articles written from a discontinuity (Dispensational) perspective more interesting. Perhaps this is because I was brought up in a Reformed framework and was familiar with the continuity arguments. I especially found Paul Feinberg's essay 'Hermeneutics of Discontinuity' and Douglas Moo's 'The Law of Moses or the Law of Christ' illuminating as they both state their methodologies in a clear way with examples of those principles in action.Walter Kaiser, Jr.'s 'Kingdom Promises as Spiritual and National' also proved thought-provoking as he offered a 'non-traditional' discontinuity position.Overall, the book wasn't an easy read as I stopped reading at certain points because I felt (at the time of reading) that some of the essays were written in quite a dry manner. Nevertheless, it still proved fruitful as it challenged many of my views about both Covenantal and Dispensational approaches to theologies. Reading this book will definitely help one identify the nuances of each camp, which should raise questions about how the reader approaches some of the big themes of the Bible.Being a Southeast Asian Christian, the issue of the Church's relationship to Israel isn't a hot-button topic, so this book does illustrate that the lessons and implications Christians draw from the Bible are (somewhat) shaped by their cultural, political, geographical and historical contexts. It did provide food for thought and I would recommend this as a serious reading to get an overview of both Covenantal and Dispensational approaches.

A most edifying read. I'm grateful that I found it. Heartily recommended.