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The Covenantal Theology of Jonathan Edwards Paul James Hoehner

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The Covenantal Theology of Jonathan Edwards Paul James Hoehner The Covenantal Theology of Jonathan Edwards Paul James Hoehner Millersville, Maryland B.A., The Johns Hopkins University, 1983 M.D., The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1986 M.A. (Theological Studies), Reformed Theological Seminary, 2000 A Dissertation presented to the Graduate Faculty of the University of Virginia in Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Religious Studies University of Virginia May, 2018 P a g e | i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work is dedicated to Sheryl, who never gave up on my dreams and sacrificed so much of her self to make this possible. Without her this undertaking would not have been conceivable or desirable. It is her faithful commitment to such an “uncommon union” of ours that this degree is as much hers as it is mine. She has truly been my “Sarah.” It is also dedicated to my children, Christian, Timothy, and Carolyn. More than just a constant source of encouragement and inspiration, they have been my closest friends throughout. I owe many thanks to those scholars and friends who have made this accomplishment possible. My sincerest appreciation goes to Michael Payne, who first encouraged me to pursue doctoral studies as I was finishing my seminary degree. I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Jim Childress, my initial graduate advisor and mentor who stayed on my dissertation committee even after his retirement. Jim took an interest in my work and stuck with me from the very beginning of my time in Charlottesville and beyond, and without whose patient, gentlemanly, and persevering encouragement this would not have been possible. And a special appreciation and acknowledgement goes to my good friend, colleague, and greatest encourager, Jeong Koo Jeon. Thank you for all your prayers and fellowship. Our frequent all-morning breakfast discussions at Bob Evans kept me on track, focused, and fed, both nutritionally and spiritually. It’s an honor to call you my brother in the faith. And finally, thank you to the Mustard Seed Foundation for the financial support I received as a Harvey Fellow and to the Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale University for allowing me to participate in their Global Accelerated Sermon Editing Project in editing Jonathan Edwards’s unpublished sermon manuscripts. P a g e | ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................................................... VI ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION, READING JONATHAN EDWARDS IN COVENANTAL CONTEXT ................................................................................................................................................... 2 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 2 Importance of the Topic ........................................................................................................................ 4 Edwards as a Biblical Theologian ....................................................................................................... 12 Reformed Covenant Theology ............................................................................................................ 17 DISSERTATION OUTLINE .................................................................................................................. 27 Chapter 2 - The Covenant of Works ................................................................................................... 28 Chapter 3 - The Covenant of Redemption .......................................................................................... 29 Chapter 4 - The Covenant of Grace .................................................................................................... 31 Chapter 5 - The Mosaic Covenant ...................................................................................................... 32 Chapter 6 - Justification and Faith ...................................................................................................... 33 Chapter 7 - Evangelical Obedience ..................................................................................................... 34 CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................................... 34 CHAPTER 2: JONATHAN EDWARDS ON THE COVENANT OF WORKS ................................. 36 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 36 THE COVENANT OF WORKS IN REFORMED THEOLOGY .......................................................... 39 Terminology ........................................................................................................................................ 40 Logical Priority ................................................................................................................................... 41 Historiography and Debate ................................................................................................................. 42 The Law-Gospel Distinction ............................................................................................................... 51 JONATHAN EDWARDS ON THE COVENANT OF WORKS ........................................................... 56 Distinguishing between the Covenants ............................................................................................... 57 Scriptural Proofs ................................................................................................................................. 60 Law and Gospel .................................................................................................................................. 64 Law and Grace .................................................................................................................................... 65 Law as Revelation ............................................................................................................................... 69 P a g e | iii Law as Merciful .................................................................................................................................. 69 Law as Communion ............................................................................................................................ 71 Law and Love ..................................................................................................................................... 71 Law and Merit ..................................................................................................................................... 71 The Works Principle is Foundational to the Biblical Narrative of Redemption ................................. 78 CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................................... 94 CHAPTER 3: JONATHAN EDWARDS ON THE COVENANT OF REDEMPTION ..................... 97 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 97 THE COVENANT OF REDEMPTION IN REFORMED THEOLOGY .............................................. 99 A Speculative Doctrine ..................................................................................................................... 100 Biblical Foundations ......................................................................................................................... 103 In Systematic Theology .................................................................................................................... 104 Development and Confessionalization .............................................................................................. 106 JONATHAN EDWARDS ON THE COVENANT OF REDEMPTION ............................................. 110 Trinitarian Background ..................................................................................................................... 111 Philosophical Principles .................................................................................................................... 116 The Immanent Trinity ....................................................................................................................... 130 A New Arrangement between the Father and the Son ...................................................................... 142 The Role of the Holy Spirit ............................................................................................................... 146 A Work of the Whole Trinity ............................................................................................................ 148 The Eternal Decrees .......................................................................................................................... 151 Relation to the Covenant of Works ................................................................................................... 158 Implications for Evangelical Obedience ........................................................................................... 161 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................... 162 CHAPTER 4: JONATHAN EDWARDS
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