Adam, Christ and Covenant

Covenant theology as enshrined in the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) became the standard position held by the Reformed theologians around the world. It teaches that the whole Bible revolves around a 'covenant of works' made with humanity in Adam and a 'covenant of grace' made with the elect in Christ.

Covenant theology brought together two important Scriptural themes: first, all human beings are either 'in Adam' or 'in Christ'; second, that God's relationship with his chosen people is covenantal in nature.

McGowan reviews challenges to and disagreements over Reformed covenant theology and proposes that its strengths can be retained by separating the two key ideas of union with Adam/Christ and God's covenantal dealings with his people.