📘 Lexicon Entry: Covenant Theology

A theological framework emphasizing God’s covenant relationships with humanity through progressive historical arrangements, particularly the covenants of works, grace, and redemption

Covenant Theology is a theological framework that interprets the relationship between God and humanity primarily through the lens of covenant—binding agreements that establish the terms of relationship between divine and human parties. Originating in Reformed theology during the 16th and 17th centuries, covenant theology traditionally identifies several key covenants: the covenant of works with Adam, the covenant of grace established after the Fall, and the new covenant in Christ. While covenant theology in its orthodox form emphasizes God’s faithfulness and gracious initiative in establishing relationship with humanity, it becomes problematic when appropriated by Providential Identitarianism to justify claims of special divine favor for particular ethnic or national groups. This misappropriation transforms covenant from a gracious divine initiative into a claim of earned privilege, supporting forms of Christian Nationalism that conflate American identity with biblical chosenness. The distortion of covenant theology contributes to Dominative Christianism by providing theological justification for claims of supremacy rather than servanthood.

Theological Genealogy

covenant theology, Reformed theology, federal theology, covenant of grace, covenant of works, chosenness, election, providence

Geevarghese-Uffman, Craig. “Covenant Theology.” *Political Theology Lexicon*. https://www.commonlifepolitics.com/p/lexicon. Accessed [date].

Emerges in Reformed theology during 16th century as systematization of biblical covenant themes

Johannes Cocceius (1603-1669) developed federal theology emphasizing covenant as organizing principle

Westminster Confession (1647) provided classical statement of covenant theology

Scottish Presbyterian tradition transmitted covenant theology to American colonies

Puritan adoption of covenant theology as framework for understanding colonial mission

Early Reformed systematization of biblical covenant themes (16th century)

Federal theology development by Cocceius and Dutch Reformed theologians (17th century)

Westminster Standards codification of covenant theology (1640s)

Puritan adaptation for New World colonial context (17th-18th centuries)

Modern Reformed covenant theology development (19th-20th centuries)

Contemporary appropriation by nationalist and supremacist movements (20th-21st centuries)

Covenant of Works: God’s original relationship with Adam based on perfect obedience

Covenant of Grace: God’s gracious arrangement for salvation after the Fall

Progressive revelation through various historical covenants (Noah, Abraham, Moses, David)

New Covenant in Christ as fulfillment of all previous covenantal arrangements

Federal headship: Adam and Christ as covenant representatives for humanity

Divine election: God’s choice of covenant people for blessing and service

Reformed orthodoxy and systematic theology development

Puritan theology and practice in New England colonies

Scottish Covenanting movement and Presbyterian ecclesiology

American Presbyterian and Reformed denominations

Contemporary Reformed covenant theology scholarship

Appropriation by white supremacist and Christian nationalist movements

Johannes Cocceius (1603-1669): Developer of federal theology

William Ames (1576-1633): Puritan covenant theologian

Westminster Divines: Authors of Westminster Confession

Charles Hodge (1797-1878): Princeton theologian and covenant theology systematizer

Herman Bavinck (1854-1921): Dutch Reformed covenant theologian

Michael Horton (1964-present): Contemporary Reformed covenant theologian

Reading Old Testament through lens of progressive covenant revelation

Emphasis on continuity between Old and New Testament covenants

Christological interpretation of covenant promises and fulfillment

Appropriation of Old Testament chosenness language for contemporary groups

Selective reading emphasizing covenant privilege over covenant obligation

Misreading of covenant particularity as ethnic or national exclusivity

Appropriation by Providential Identitarianism to justify ethnic and national supremacy

Use by Christian Nationalism to sacralize American exceptionalism

Distortion by Dominative Christianism to transform service into supremacy

Misreading by Primitive Biblicism without attention to Christological fulfillment

Employment by Binary Apocalypticism to divide world into covenant community versus enemies

Classical covenant theology scholarship by Charles Hodge and Herman Bavinck

Contemporary covenant theology by Michael Horton and Scott Hahn

Critical analysis of covenant theology’s appropriation by white supremacy by Willie James Jennings

Historical studies of Puritan covenant theology by Perry Miller and Sacvan Bercovitch

Political theological analysis of covenant and American exceptionalism by Steven Hahn

Related Primary Concepts: Providential Identitarianism, Christianism, Dominative Christianism

Key Mutations: Primitive Biblicism, Binary Apocalypticism, Cotton Hermeneutic

Contemporary Movements: Christian Nationalism, Identity Synthesis

Theological Alternatives: Prophetic Patriotism, Counter-Imperial, Participatory Freedom

Historical Context: Civil Religion, [Cotton Evangelicalism](placeholder-url), [Syncretism](placeholder-url)

May 22, 2025

*This entry is part of the Political Theology Lexicon, accessible exclusively to subscribers. View the complete lexicon to explore related concepts and the full theoretical framework.*