Book Review: Sacred Bond (Covenant Theology)

Many Christians spend their whole lives examining their Bibles as though it were a bunch of pieces tied together and haphazardly presented as a single book. Such a view not only confuses them but can also stunt their spiritual growth. In their book Sacred Bond, Brown and Keele take the Christian through the Bible and unfold how the story of Scripture is a unified picture, from beginning to end.

The authors guide the reader through each of the major biblical covenants: the Covenant of Redemption, Covenant of Works, Covenant of Grace, Common Grace Covenant, Abrahamic Covenant, Mosaic covenant, Davidic covenant, and the New Covenant. They begin each chapter with a short description of the covenant followed by a survey of where it is in Scripture. They then relate the biblical evidence to what the historic reformed church has said on the topic and close with an application section to encourage the heart of the reader.

Although the authors take the time to survey the biblical covenants, their main goal with the book is not the specifics of theology, but rather, “What is covenant theology and why should I care?” (p. 11). The authors argue that covenant theology is not only good for study but is necessary to our understanding of the Bible. It is key for making sense of the unfolding glories of the gospel from Genesis to Revelation (p. 23). Without it, we miss much of the very fabric of Scripture itself.

One of the strongest features of this book is its accessibility to the common Christian. Without sacrificing any accuracy or nuance, Brown and Keele successfully take the Christian from being new to the subject to a solid, grounded understanding of the covenants and why they matter. For example, in the new covenant chapter, they begin by walking through the defining characteristics of the covenant. What is it? Why is it called “new”? What is its relation to the other covenants? What marks it out uniquely? Following these questions, they take a sweep through Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Galatians, and Hebrews, showing the reader where it is in the Bible. They then apply that in their final section: the new covenant teaches us to avoid living by the law, grants us communion with God in worship, and pushes us to serve the Lord in freedom (p. 137-153). Prior knowledge of covenant theology is not required for a firm grasp on much of the material in this book.

Another highlight of the book that has been touched on so far is the application. Although many volumes have been written on covenant theology, this does not read like something from O. Palmer Robertson, John Owen, Pascal Denault, or other typical books on the subject, helpful as they may be. Just as quickly as the authors explain the doctrine, they bring it home to the heart. For example, the Abrahamic Covenant “shows us that God is a God of promise…This is vital for our faith as we travel through this wilderness age like pilgrims, looking forward to the promised land of the new heavens and new earth.” (p. 100). Does not this spark perseverance in the faith for the Christian? Does not this encourage your heart? A move from right doctrine to right practice is key in theology, and the authors rightly take ready aim at the heart of the reader with what they have written.

In all, I would wholeheartedly recommend Sacred Bond to a variety of people. If you are new in the faith and hope to get a better grasp on how the books of the Bible work together as a story, this book is for you. Be encouraged that there is a way to understand the massive book of Scripture. Sacred Bond will set you on the right path.

If you were raised around covenant theology like I was but need clarification and/or refreshing, you too are in the right place. Although I had a framework for the covenants prior, this book put meaningful application to the theology and clarified some things I had heard and read but not thought out. In this case, Sacred Bond could also be a helpful primer to reading the Puritans on covenant theology. It will help you make sense of the concepts and terms they use throughout their writings.

If you are well versed in the nuts and bolts of Presbyterian covenantalism, you may not have need of this book. Although it is an excellent work, it was designed to be introductory. For the veteran theologian, turn your sights to things more complex; however, if you are looking for a place to point people in the beginning of their journey, this is a perfect book for that.

I hope you have the chance to get your hands on this book and read it. It will likely teach you things. It will certainly encourage you. Most importantly, it will point you to Christ and admonish you to give him all the glory for his unfolding redemptive work in the gospel, uniting sinners to a God who lovingly and freely covenants with his people for their good and his glory.

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Brown, Michael G, and Zach Keele. Sacred Bond: Covenant Theology Explored, 2nd ed. Middleville, MI: Reformed Fellowship Inc., 2017.