The Economy of the Covenants Between God and Man

by Herman Witsius

In ePub, .mobi, .pdf & docx formats

HT: Thanks to Lionel Dyck for his help with the Docx formats

This is one of the greatest theological classics of all time. Witsius originally wrote his magnum opus on the covenants to promote peace among Dutch theologians who were divided on covenant theology. Witsius sought to be a theologian of synthesis who strove to lessen tension between the Voetians and the Cocceians. He wrote in his introduction, "the enemies of our church...secretly rejoice that there are as many and as warm disputes amongst ourselves, as with them. And this, not very secretly neither: for they do not, nor will ever cease to cast this reproach upon us; which, I grieve to say is not so easily wiped away. O! how much better would it be to use our utmost endeavours, to lessen, make up, and, if it could be, put an end to all controversy!"

Economy of the Covenants is not a complete systematic theology, though its title claims that it comprehends "a complete body of divinity." Several major doctrines not addressed here, such as the Trinity, creation, and providence, were dealt with later in Witsius's exposition of the Apostles' Creed.

For Witsius, the doctrine of the covenants is the best way of reading Scripture. The covenants are for him what J. I. Packer calls "a successful hermeneutic," or a consistent interpretative procedure yielding a proper understanding of Scripture, both law and gospel.30 Witsius's work is divided into four books:

Book 1: The Covenant of Works (120 pages)
Book 2: The Covenant of Redemption, or The Covenant of Grace from Eternity between the Father and the Son (118 pages)
Book 3: The Covenant of Grace in Time (295 pages)
Book 4: Covenant Ordinances throughout the Scriptures (356 pages)

Supplementary Reading
Read Intro to  Witsius' "The Economy of the Covenants between God and Man" by J. I. Packer
Read A Short Overview of Witsius’ Economy of the Covenants By Dr. C. Matthew McMahon

-----

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A Pacific Address

The Life of the Author

Book I

Chapter I: The Divine Covenants in General

Chapter II: Of the Contracting Parties in The Covenant of Works

Chapter III: Of the Law or Condition of the Covenant of Works

Chapter IV: Of the Promises of the Covenant of Works

Chapter V: Of the Penal Sanction

Chapter VI: Of the Sacraments of the Covenant of Works

Chapter VII: Of the First Sabbath

Chapter VIII: Of the Violation of the Covenant of Works on the Part of Man

Chapter IX: Of the Abrogation of the Covenant of Works on the Part of God

Book II

Chapter I: Introduction to the Covenant of Grace

Chapter II: Of the Covenant between God the Father and the Son

Chapter III: The Nature of the Covenant between the Father and the Son more fully explained

Chapter IV: Of the Person of the Surety

Chapter V: Of the Suretiship and Satisfaction of Christ

Chapter VI: What Sufferings of Christ are Satisfactory

Chapter VII: Of the Efficacy of Christ's Satisfaction

Chapter VIII: Of the Necessity of Christ's Satisfaction

Chapter IX: Of the Persons for whom Christ Engaged and Satisfied

Chapter X: After what manner Christ Used the Sacraments

Book III

Chapter I: Of the Covenant of God with the Elect

Chapter II: Of the ONENESS of the Covenant of Grace, as to its Substance

Chapter III: Of the different Economies or Dispensations of the Covenant of Grace

Chapter IV: Of Election

Chapter V: Of Effectual Calling

Chapter VI: Of Regeneration

Chapter VII: Of Faith

Chapter VIII: Of Justification

Chapter IX: Of Spiritual Peace

Chapter X: Of Adoption

Chapter XI: Of the Spirit of Adoption

Chapter XII: Of Sanctification

Chapter XIII: Of Conservation

Chapter XIV: Of Glorification

Book IV

Chapter I: Of the Doctrine of Salvation in the first age of the World

Chapter II: Of the Doctrine of Grace under Noah

Chapter III: Of the Doctrine of Grace from Abraham to Moses

Chapter IV: Of the Decalogue

Chapter V: Of the Doctrine of the Prophets

Chapter VI: Of the Types

Chapter VII: Of the Sacraments of Grace down to Abraham

Chapter VIII: Of Circumcision

Chapter IX: Of the Passover

Chapter X: Of the Extraordinary Sacraments in the Wilderness

Chapter XI: Of the Blessings of the Old Testament

Chapter XII: Of the Imperfections falsely ascribed to the Old Testament

Chapter XIII: Of the real defects of the Old Testament

Chapter XIV: Of the Abrogation of the Old Testament

Chapter XV: Of the Benefits of the New Testament

Chapter XVI: Of Baptism

Chapter XVII: Of the Lord's Supper

By Topic

Joy

By Scripture

Old Testament

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

Song of Solomon

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Ezekiel

Daniel

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

New Testament

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Hebrews

James

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jude

Revelation

By Author

Latest Links