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Originally Posted by BertMulder  Richard, why do you think his covenant view is problematic though?
(Although he further developed this view, it is not unique to Hoeksema. You find many elements of this covenant view in divines such as Witsius and Brakel) |
No one denies that the covenant
establishes a relationship. Note Dickson, "The Covenanting of God with man, tended of its own nature to man's good and happiness...because a singular respect and honour was put upon man, when he was made a confederate friend of God: for, if it be an honour to a mean and poor man to be joined with a King or Prince in a formal bond of mutual friendship, how much greater honour is it unto man, to be joined in a bond of mutual love and friendship with God?" And it can be argued that essence of covenant is relationship and communion but to ignore the rest of what Scripture teaches on the covenant is not the best way to approach things. Whilst it is common for the PRC to argue that Hoeksema's view was just a development on Witsius etc if you read them you find a very different conception of the covenant.
Hoeksema's denial of the covenant of works is very problematic on a number of grounds. Most importantly it ignores the law element of the covenant made with Adam, the law which Christ kept for us and so merited us eternal life.
Also, it was wrong to say that the traditional view ignores the place of the Holy Ghost in the
pactum salutis and to say that when Jesus addressed his Father he is speaking to the Triune God as opposed to his Father the first person of the Godhead does not do full justice to the NT texts.
I would suggest a read of
John Gill:
7. Of the Everlasting Covenant of Grace, Between the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 8. Of the Part Which the Father Takes in the Covenant. 9. Of the Part the Son of God, the Second Person, Has Taken in the Covenant. 10. Of Christ, as the Covenant-Head of the Elect. 11. Of Christ, the Mediator of the Covenant. 12. Of Christ, the Surety of the Covenant. 13. Of Christ, the Testator of the Covenant. 14. Of the Concern the Spirit of God Has in the Covenant of Grace.
And of
David Dickson:
Therapeutica Sacra: Chapter 4: Of the Covenant of Redemption. Therapeutica Sacra: Chapter 5: Of the Covenant of Works. Therapeutica Sacra: Chapter 6: Of the Covenant of Grace.