Canon, Covenant and Christology: Rethinking Jesus and the Scriptures of Israel

‘All Scripture is breathed out by God …’ (2 Timothy 3:16). From Paul’s epistles the divine inspiration of Scripture may be confidently affirmed, as well as its corollary attributes. However, on turning to Jesus and the Gospels, it is hard to find an explicit approach like Paul’s. Matthew Barrett argues that Jesus and the apostles have just as convictional a doctrine of Scripture as Paul or Peter, but it will only be discovered if the Gospels are read within their own canonical horizon and covenantal context. The nature of Scripture presupposed by Jesus and the Gospel writers may not be addressed directly, but it manifests itself powerfully when their words are read within the Old Testament’s promise–fulfilment pattern. Nothing demonstrates Scripture’s divine origin, divine authorial intent and trustworthiness more than the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the advent of the Son of God, the Word has become flesh, announcing to Jew and Gentile alike that the covenant promises Yahweh made through the Law and the Prophets have been fulfilled in the person and work of Christ.

Publisher: IVP
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781783595440

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Matthew is Associate Professor of Christian Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the executive editor of Credo Magazine. Author of numerous books, including None Greater, God’s Word Alone, 40 Questions About Salvation, John Owen on the Christian Life and Salvation by Grace. Editor of The Doctrine by Which the Church Stands or Falls and Reformation Theology. Host of the Credo podcast where he talks with fellow theologians about the most important doctrines of the faith.

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In a wide-ranging discussion, Matthew Barrett explores [biblical theology] from the perspective of the Gospels, deploying interesting and stimulating insight that will certainly be picked up and developed by many pastors and theologians. Jesus himself ties together the old and new covenants. He fulfills the Scriptures, but effectively does so only by being obedient to them. The dynamic casts fresh light not only on Christ, but on the Scriptures themselves. D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, USA