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Covenant of Redemption in the Theology of Jonathan Edwards: the Nexus Between the Immanent and the Economic Trinity

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Covenant of Redemption in the Theology of Jonathan Edwards: the Nexus Between the Immanent and the Economic Trinity CALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY COVENANT OF REDEMPTION IN THE THEOLOGY OF JONATHAN EDWARDS: THE NEXUS BETWEEN THE IMMANENT AND THE ECONOMIC TRINITY A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF CALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY BY REITA YAZAWA GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN MAY 2013 CALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 3233 Burton SE • Grand Rapids, Michigan • 49546~4301 800 388-6034 fax: 616 957-8621 [email protected] www. calvinseminary. edu This dissertation entitled COVENANT OF REDEMPTION IN THE THEOLOGY OF JONATHAN EDWARDS: THE NEXUS BETWEEN THE IMMANENT AND THE ECONOMIC TRINITY written by REITA YAZAWA and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy has been accepted by the faculty of Calvin Theological Seminary upon the recommendation of the undersigned readers: /' ~George M. Marsden,~a, Ph.D·~. Richard A. Mulier, Ph.D. ~ ... ~ SJeVe:M:StUdebaker, Ph.D. Rona~e~ Date Dean of Academic Programs Copyright © 2013 by Reita Yazawa All rights reserved CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................... vi ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................ viii Chapter ONE INTRODUCTION: CRITICISM OF THE IMMANENT TRINITY IN CONTEMPORARY THEOLOGY ........................................................ 1 Present Status of the Problem ..................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem ............................................................ 8 Thesis Statement ........................................................................ 10 Present Status of Edwards Study ............................................... 11 Significance of the Study ........................................................... 17 Proposed Method ....................................................................... 18 Outline ........................................................................................ 29 PART I TWO THE COVENANT OF REDEMPTION IN REFORMED SCHOLASTICISM ............................................................................... 34 Covenant in General................................................................... 35 Definition of the Covenant of Redemption................................ 38 Biblical Foundation of the Covenant of Redemption................. 46 Doctrinal Formulation of the Covenant of Redemption............. 49 Relation of the Covenant of Redemption to the Immanent and the Economic Trinity.................................................................... 55 Implications of the Covenant of Redemption for Christian Practice ................................................................... 62 THREE TRINITY AND THE COVENANT OF REDEMPTION IN EDWARDS AND THE REFORMED TRADITION.................................................. 68 Jonathan Edwards’s Doctrine of the Trinity ................................68 Definition of the Covenant of Redemption in Edwards ..............76 Biblical Foundation of the Covenant of Redemption iii in Edwards .............................................................................. 89 Doctrinal Formulation of the Covenant of Redemption in Edwards .............................................................................. 94 The Unity of the Immanent and the Economic Trinity .............. 100 PART II FOUR COVENANT OF REDEMPTION, TRINITY, AND CREATION ........................................................................................... 106 Edwards’s Idealism ................................................................... 106 Edwards’s Typology of Nature ................................................. 113 Issues of Panentheism and Dispositional Ontology .................. 118 Creation as a Trinitarian Work .................................................. 136 FIVE COVENANT OF REDEMPTION, TRINITY, JUSTIFICATION, AND THE CHRISTIAN LIFE OF PIETY............................................ 140 Covenant of Redemption and Justification by Faith Alone ....... 141 Justification and Perseverance ................................................... 156 Christian Piety and Practice ....................................................... 170 SIX COVENANT OF REDEMPTION, TRINITY, CHURCH COVENANT, AND NATIONAL COVENANT.......................................................... 177 The Communion between Christ and the Church ..................... 178 The Communion Controversy in Light of the Covenant of Redemption ........................................................................... 182 Practical Significance of the Trinity for the Doctrine of the Church.............................................................................. 190 National Covenant ..................................................................... 193 The Practical Significance of the Doctrine of the Trinity for the View of a Nation .................................................................... 209 SEVEN COVENANT OF REDEMPTION, TRINITY, HISTORY, AND ESCHATON ......................................................................................... 214 Covenant of Redemption and History ....................................... 215 Typology in History .................................................................. 223 The Covenantal Dispensation in History .................................. 229 Eschatological Communion as the Fulfillment of the Covenant of Redemption ............................................................................244 Practicality of the Trinity in History and Eschaton .................. 257 iv PART III EIGHT CONCLUSION: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COVENANT OF REDEMPTION FOR TRINITARIAN THEOLOGY TODAY ........... 261 A Review of Contemporary Criticism of the Immanent Trinity.............................................................. 261 Concluding Remarks: Edwards’s Covenant of Redemption and Its Significance for Trinitarian Theology Today ........................ 268 APPENDIX: PROPOSITIONS FOR ORAL DEFENSE .............................................. 274 BIBLIOGRAPHY ...........................................................................................................276 v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am thankful to many people who provided me with support and encouragement to complete this project. My doctoral mentor Dr. John Bolt shared with me interests in pneumatology and the theology of Jonathan Edwards. He supported me during my seven years of graduate work in the Master of Theology and Doctor of Philosophy Program at Calvin Theological Seminary and spent a lot of time with me to make sure that my dissertation project is meaningful and viable. I am grateful to my colleagues in the Ph. D. program who participated in the Ph. D. Dissertation Seminar 2010-2011, 2011-2012, and 2012-2013. Every time I submitted the drafts of my dissertation for discussion, I received valuable input from them. Dr. Ronald J. Feenstra and Dr. Richard A. Muller led the seminars over these years and helped me with priceless feedback. My experience in the Dissertation Seminar helped me to learn the value of a community of learning and to appreciate the supportive accountability it provides. I had the privilege of having Dr. George M. Marsden (Professor Emeritus, University of Notre Dame) and Dr. Steven M. Studebaker (McMaster Divinity College, Ontario, Canada) on the Dissertation Committee. I learned from Dr. Muller and Dr. Marsden the importance of carefully studying the historical context of my research object even when I conduct a study in systematic theology. This lesson has been confirmed as I read the writings of Dr. Studebaker. Paul W. Fields and Lugene Schemper, theological librarians of the Hekman Library at Calvin College, helped me with conducting research and aligning the format and style of the dissertation. Kathleen Struck, the Interlibrary Loans (ILL) Program vi Coordinator of the Hekman Library kindly processed my numerous ILL requests to assist my research. Tom VanKeulen, the Systems Integration and Development Manager at Calvin Seminary, helped me resolve some technical difficulties in formatting pagination. Sally Van Noord, Rhetoric Center at Calvin Seminary, provided valuable help with proofreading the entire draft of the dissertation. Ina De Moor and Barbara Blackmore, two Assistants to the Director of Ph. D. Program over the years during my doctoral studies, provided excellent administrative assistance and warm encouragement throughout my doctoral studies at Calvin Seminary. Rev. Richard E. Sytsma, Dean of Students Emeritus, Calvin Seminary, and his wife Sandy Sytsma have been wonderful friends for my family, and, as former missionaries to my country Japan, know the challenges in cross-cultural experiences. Friends from John Knox Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), particularly Rev. Michael Baynai and Donna Baynai, gave valuable support during my study in the United States. They also helped me continue to grow as a pastor through various ministry opportunities. My parents Toshihiko and Kyoko Yazawa have been always constant supporters of my study and life decisions. They taught me, through their modeling, that parents are parents no matter what happens. Finally, but not the least, I thank my family. Our son Towa Richard and daughter Konomi have been joyful challenges and comforts in my life. I am grateful for all the good things that helped them to grow in God’s grace during our stay in the United States. I am thankful to my wife, Misako,
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