Review of Gentry and Wellum’s God’s Kingdom Through God’s Covenants
Introduction
Gentry and Wellum has presented “God’s Kingdom through God’s Covenants” as a
milestone research book in biblical theology with the intent to elucidate how the promised
kingdom of God relates to the various covenant administration under both Old and New
Testaments. In this narrative the book sets on a mission, by walking through the Holy
Scriptures and trying to discover the plot on the salvation of man through the Grace of God in
His different covenants with mankind. Here in the introduction, this chapter will explain the
general aim and the areas of focus encompassing the book in order to pave clear way for the
further detailed analysis of its concept and arguments.
In the very core of the Gentry and Wellum’s concept the authors embrace a hypothesis
that can be briefly summed up as follows: God’s kingdom, and the covenant are interrelated
realities. By examining focuses on these historical covenants, namely the Abrahamic, Mosaic,
Davidic and the New Covenants, the authors seek to reveal the drama of what God has been
undertaking in history. Through this narrative showcasing of the revelation of the kingdom of
God from creation to the ‘end-time’, Gentry and Wellum present a comprehensive picture of
God’s reign over His people and the entire creation. As a footnote, it is indeed pertinent to
examine the book’s thesis properly in this discussion to outline its significance to interpret
scriptural text and its implications for modern Christian life.
With this background as the introduction, it is now about time for this author to begin
a systematic and exhaustive survey of the key themes and Van Gentry and Wellum’s
arguments in the “God’s Kingdom through God’s Covenants.”
Overview of Main Theme and Narration
God’s Kingdom through God’s Covenants is an able presentation of biblical theology
composed by Gentry and Wellum in the later that analyse the essence of the kingdom and
God’s covenants with people. The authors preface their discussion by presenting a clear,
historical conception of the kingdom of God, emphasizing the gospel-centered concept of
God’s reign over creation and his people. They argue that the Luke’s concept of the kingdom
of God is not only a expectation of the future, but also God’s reign over the universe, both in
the present and future epoch. The authors give due focus on the interconnectivity of God’s
kingdom to His covenants since the covenants become the channels by which God brings into
fruition and governance of His kingdom in history and time domain? Covenants in the Bible
involve God coming into contact and engaging his people by providing and expecting
something in the covenantal partnership for kingdom purposes.
Moving further down to specifics, both Gentry and Wellum provide an intricate
analysis of key covenants that include Abraham, Moses, David, and New Covenants.
Covenant by covenant, each relates to its historical, theological and eschatological
considerations is analysed and scrutinized. Historical covenants such as the Abrahamic
Covenant whereby God bingo all the nations of the world through the seed of Abraham and
fulfilled in Christ are outlined in this book. The Mosaic Covenant, nevertheless, is described
as a conditional covenant provided to Israel at Sinai, for an adhesive purpose prior to the
preparation of New Covenant by Christ.
The covenant fastened in the book is depicted as the covenant that God make a
faithful promise to David to provide him and his descendant a perpetual kingdom and throne
fulfilled in Jesus Christ as the true Son of David. And lastly, the New Covenant is portrayed
as the ultimate fulfillment of the divine plan of salvation, purchased through Christ’s
crucifixion and His resurrection, meaning forgiveness of sins, the presence of the Holy Spirit
as well as enjoying fellowship with God for those who accept the Lord.
Moreover, Gentry and Wellum relate the hist tense of the kingdom of God from
creation to consummation. They stress continuity and the development of the divine scheme
of redemption; they focus on the narrative of salvation history to point to the drama by which
God aims to bring His rule over the world. As for the kingdom of God in each group, they
insist that this reality is addressed through the different covenants between God and man in
the course of redemption. Thus, this developmental framework allows the reader to
understand not only how biblical themes are interconnected from one chapter to the next but
from Genesis to Revelation as well, ultimately with the climactic goal of the new heavens and
new earth. By engaging in patient and careful interpretation of specific texts and themes, but
also by thinking expansively, systematically, and theologically, Gentry and Wellum entice the
readers into the story of the kingdom and covenants, and persuade the readers to consider
what it means for their personal and communal Christian experience.
Overview of God's Kingdom and Covenants
Gentry and Wellum offer a rather strong analysis of what they consider to be the
biblical perspective of God’s kingdom and the sanctuary. The authors robustly reject a purely
eschatological understanding of the Gospel promise that God’s reign is not only future, but is
the present sovereignty of God over every aspect of creation. They well expound on how the
kingdom of God and covenants work hand in hand with each other pointing out that it is
through these covenants that the Lord makes and sustains His kingdom interests and agenda
throughout history. In these covenants, God enters into voluntary relationship with the people
conferring upon them both privileges and obligations in order to become partners in his plan
and purpose. It will help to first develop an understanding of how these covenants are
depicted within the storyline of scripture and what they portend for interpreting the scope of
the divine plan of salvation.
There is no better source than Gentry and Wellum to look into the marked biblical
covenants and with an impressive clarity, the authors review all the Abrahamic, Mosaic,
Davidic, and New Covenants. Every covenant is analysed in detail in terms of its historical
context, author’s message and intent, and eventual eschatological implications. The authors
underscore that the basis of redemptive history which concerns this article is the Abrahamic
Covenant whereby God tells Abraham that all nations will be blessed through him and indeed
through Christ Jesus. On the other hand, the Mosaic covenant comes out as an openly
conditioned covenant, established at Sinai following the call of Israel as a preparation for the
coming of the new covenant inaugurated by Christ. The Davidic covenant is a covenant that
God made with David that assures the descendant of David of an eternal dynasty, which will
be fulfilled in Jesus Christ as the rightful King of kings. Last, the New Covenant depicts the
climax of God’s salvation where through the death of Jesus on the cross, the forgiveness of
sin, regeneration, and fellowship with God are bestowed upon those who place their faith in
the Lord Jesus Christ. In this way, readers receive thorough knowledge about how these
covenants are related and create a preliminary path towards the appearance of the kingdom of
God.
In order to accomplish the said task of explaining the progress of the kingdom of God,
Gentry and Wellum take time to explain the process starting from creation until the last phase
of the end times. They consist faceted through the biblical storyline and in the kinds of stages
carefully revealing the gradual development of the divine salvation. Using Genesis as the
protoevangelium, the author demonstrates how each stage of the covenant progressively
unfolds and coherently leads toward the age of God’s kingdom reign in the new heavens and
new earth. Cole and Arcgisbo expand on this distinction and demonstrate the organic
relationships between successive covenantal epochs and how each fits within the framework
of God’s kingdom plan. This developmental framework helps the readers clearly perceive the
presence of God’s providence during the evolution of history, resulting in confidence and
hope in the victory of goodness over depravity. By carefully performing careful exegetical
and theological work, Gentry and Wellum take readers on an exciting hermeneutical journey
of the study of the Scripture and apply the theological truths of the kingdom and covenants
effecting their practices and ethos of their churches and homes.
Areas for Critique
More specifically in this section of the paper, I will aim to raise questions and/or
object to or analyze the potential problems that may lie with Gentry and Wellum’s theological
understanding and employment of a covenant theology
Despite this, the finding of the study is that Gentry and Wellum has constructed a
strong theological narrative, even if it can be argued that in certain exegetical contexts it may
seem forced. One such area may be how they handle the Mosaic Covenant in relation to what
Paul refers to as the New Covenant. Certain critics will suggest that the authors may not give
the Mosaic Covenant apparatus any importance by itself but just as a building block to the
New Covenant. One may also question some aspects of this event and how authors addressed
specific prophecy passages and their relevance to the concept of God’s kingdom brought to
consummation. Some critics could argue that their approach to these texts might omit other
possible meanings that original readers might have interpreted from the biblical texts.
The familiar principle of never putting words into someone else’s mouth is valid when
one has to argue against a particular opinion. It can be easily assumed that academic authors
may provide different explanations of specific scriptural passages especially as they relate to
the nature and ratification of specific covenant(s). For example, while some theologians
believe that it was fulfilled through the various ways David honoured God and through the
Lord’s anointed, others argue that the Davidic Covenant was fulfilled differently with a view
to highlighting a restoration of Israel and a future earthly kingdom. Further, the exegetical
views on the historical role of the church and its relation to Israel may challenge some of the
aspects of interpretation proposed by Gentry and Wellum with reference to eschatological
themes. Through exploring such cultural bias meanings, one can get a fuller appreciation of
the issues that are bound to arise when one is dealing with the interpretation of Biblical texts
as well as with theological disputes.
Now that we have offered a broadly critical reading of Gentry and Wellum’s work, it
is time to turn to the authors’ own endorsements of this topology and its personal and
practical implications. The analysis and discussion of God’s kingdom and covenants made by
Gentry and Wellum provides a valuable perspective of the task of forming a Christian’s
worldview. Making the metanarrative of Redemption master narrative, readers are thus
enticed to appreciate the historical, contemporary and even personal realities with reference
to God’s supremacy and design. This view provides the believer with hope and a meaning in
suffering and adversity, for these people are not abandoned or left to their own devices – God
is faithful and sovereign over all things.
Furthermore, the handling of the writings of Gentry and Wellum has some implication
on ethical reasoning and theological practicum on the church. So, by biblicizing the ethical
norms and the church as institution, the believers are ready to respond rightly and responsibly
to the ethical issues of life and to build the churches and the world as to the covenantal
kingdom of the God. This approach with ethics intertwines with ecclesiology can provide a
spirited approach towards handling both individual as well as communal aspects of
Christians.
Applying theological concepts is crucial for positive change in discipleship and
ministry that is encouraged by the word of God, therefore application of the insights is
significant for obtaining the goals of the study. The theological structure created by Gentry
and Wellum also appears to me as suitable to orient believers’ practices and ministries in
today’s world. For example, God’s love and the promise to fulfill His covenant generate trust
and obedience in trusting relationships in believers and other persons. Furthermore, the
picture of the realising of the eschatological hope ignites in the believers the various
righteous virtues that reflect the activity of God’s kingdom on earth that is expressed in
justice, mercy and reconciliation. Thus, when opposing daily living and ministry practices to
the systematic theology detailed by Gentry and Wellum, the readers are enabled to live out
the modes of the kingdom of God and bear witness to the whole gospel of God’s transforming
grace in our world.
Impact on Christian Worldview
The impeccably logical and theologically sound approach Gentry and Wellum adopt
in Defending discontinuity leaves Christian culture enriched by endorsing a clear conception
of Christian worldview largely credited to Grudem’s definition. These covenants and God’s
kingdom are the themes which many authors work out in detail, providing a clear framework
of time, history, human experience, and the rest of the universe, which makes available a
powerful story for believers. The Bible itself has a grand narrative that gives life a much-
needed context, for Jesus followers, life is a divine drama in which everyone takes his or her
part. Moreover, according to Gentry and Wellum, God’s kingdom was not only inaugurated
but also will be inaugurated in the future, and the recognition of the present and the future’s
handwriting of the Kingdom infuses those who believe with a deeper sense of confidence and
hope on the future.
While examining the source of Gentry and Wellum’s conceptual cube, one can
identify the Trust axis, according to which believers develop the confident reliance on God’s
faithfulness. This trust is not just a reliance upon what God has said, but it is this word of
God and faith of believers actually living out the word in the face of life’s circumstances.
Thus, with their understanding of life based on trust in the election and the Word of God as
the essential foundation and guidance for their lives, believers are able to face life’s
challenges with confidence and firmness, as their destiny is saved in the unfolding plan of
God. It is these practices of steadfast prayer and gratitude which hold oneself up to a faithful
God become other sources of comfort and stability when believers face trial and tribulation in
life.
Consequently, Gentry and Wellum’s theological framework also deepens Christian
worldview further by presenting a coherent metanarrative that not only gives believers their
necessary collective identity for the church but the proper way to view the world and to
persevere and hope in the context of God’s grace as revealed through the Scriptures. Thus, the
authors offer the readers a vision of the Divine Plan that is still unfolding in the history of the
humanity and encourage the faithful to be not only the observers of this history but the actors
as well. This lays the foundation for a sense of purpose and agency in the world because
believers are not just waiting for God’s kingdom to come in a distant future; they are working
towards the accomplishment of God’s will and purposes on earth.
Further, the dimension of the theological conviction, which Gentry and Wellum arrive
at, is more than theological reflection, but it becomes a vital influence on ethics and
ecclesiology within the Christian Church. In the same way, the ethic of the kingdom
reconciles the two by presenting ethical principles and ecclesial practices in light of the
scripture’s covenant and ultimately prepares believers to live out the values of the kingdom in
their everyday lives. Through painting a picture on God’s kingdom as a realm of justice,
righteousness and Shalom; they challenged the believers to live holy and socially just,
meaningful and purposeful life as they bring the kingdom of God as close as possible to their
communities.
Moreover, Gentry and Wellum helped me to cement the worshipping community, as
their presentation of the covenantal faithfulness of the Lord encourages people to feel
responsible for one another, to support and love one another as the members of the Body of
Christ. This relational ontology of existence becomes foundational for framing and
constituting the identity, structure, and function of the church among the believers. The
insight of Gentry and Wellum in presenting a covenantal ecclesiology for the people of God
undergirds this vision of the church as the material embodiment of the kingdom of God in the
world; and in its life together, the culture of the church must reflect divine grace, humility,
and care for one another.
Also, the authors bring the advance focus on the eschatological context of God’s
kingdom, calling the believers to envision this divine rule and practice its textures in the now.
This generates innovative expressions of ministry and evangelism that attest to the changing
grace of God. They who have their hearts and minds formed by the gospel in terms of the
kingdom of God cannot help but theologize the questions of their context: to challenge
systems of power that perpetuate oppression, to seek justice, to cultivate peace, and to bear
witness to the kingdom of God through their words and actions. In this way, believers should
try to live out the values of God’s kingdom in their lives and the ministries, so they will be
witnesses transforming their society by revealing the power of God’s love and justice to be
effective in this sin-sick world.
Therefore, while the hermeneutical vision proposed by Gentry and Wellum does not
have a direct bearing on mechanical process of interpretation and application of the biblical
texts in chaplaincy and counseling context, it has profound impact on the heart and soul of
ethics and ecclesiology within the Christian community of faith. Thus, by incorporating the
revealed Word of God as their determinant of a biblically correct worldview, ethical
standards, and the role and functions of the Church as espoused by Gentry and Wellum, the
faithful are equipped to pursue the kingdom values and objectives in their everyday living
and bearing witness to the Gospel.
Examples of Practical Application in Daily Living and Ministry
Applying the observations offered by Gentry and Wellum is central for advancing
theological understanding in discipleship transformation as well as ministry deployment in
the context of Christianity. When ordinary living and working is done with understanding and
application of the theological insights provided by the authors, Christian becomes equipped
to live in ways that befit His kingdom and demonstrate the reality of the Gospel
transformation to the world. While one practical implication originates from comprehending
God’s covenantal faithfulness and hence nurtures belief in the earthly relationship with God
and beings, overall. This increases a degree of reliance on God’s daily preservation and
power which pervades the Renaissance lifestyle. For those who take the League of Nations
covenantal provisos to heart, they are firmly grounded by the fact that God does not lie, and
that His people will also not let them down no matter how high the hills may loom or how
deep the valleys may get low. This assurance literally means an unwavering determination to
live a life that will obey the word of God and uphold the principles that state that we need to
be faithful to the word of God in everything that we do.
In addition, being reconciled to God and experiencing His ongoing work to redeem
the creation through the announcement and proclamation of the Gospel also inspires believers
to embrace God’s justice, mercy, and pardon as they partake in God’s mission of restoration
in the eschaton. This hope encourages people to go the extra step in the provision of care and
recognition of the rights of others and the mend of all damaged relationships and systems that
have gone wrong. For example, religion could prompt dedicated individuals into fighting for
the rights of the oppressed or those denied justice, and to show mercy and provide for those
in need. The believers, in their roles as managers, businesspersons, parents, and citizens of
the world, are called to actively and consciously pursue the manifestation of the values of
God’s kingdom in their daily practice, and in this way bring the light of the gospel to a world
that is obscured by darkness.
Furthermore, the theological and exegetical hermeneutics that Gentry and Wellum
propose is an insightful and stimulating proposal for new ministerial approaches that
represent the social, oral, and performative aspects of the divine sovereignty. This involves
missional endeavours that seek to bring about change for the better in unfair societies in
issues such as poverty, injustice and oppression. God’s people who have been grounded in the
doctrine of the gospel must be involved in these matters more than in a translucent way but
also at the very core of the problem and seek the best way to deliver humanity and especially
society. Also, practices of prayer and devotion or disciplines that bring people into closer
relation with God as well as with others in community are fundamental to being and doing
kingdom values in everyday living for clergy or other Christian workers. These practices of
prayer, worship, fasting, and gatherings stir up the guts and goals of Christian communities,
as the values of God’s Kingdom are made seen and appreciated.
Acknowledging these theological distinctives within daily living and the ministries of
the people of God permits believers to carry out their calling as faithful witnesses and agents
of redemptive change in response to the teachings of Gentry and Wellum. The entire domain
of their existence both individual and social, private and professional is saturated with the
principles and values of the Kingdom of God, characterizing every personal, interpersonal,
and vocational endeavour in accordance with the divine blueprint. While the evangelism
emphasis in the Lord’s prayer may not be as straightforward as asking the Lord for the earth,
it is about saints living out the values of the Kingdom of God and realizing the reality of the
gospel within their daily lives so that whoever they encounter experiences the invitation to be
in relationship with God and His grand purposes for the salvation of humanity. Accordingly,
it is seen that the implementation of the Gentry and Wellum’s theological model complements
the process of personal sanctification but also empowers the mission and ministry of the
Church in order to bring about personal and corporate change to the praise of God’s glory.
Conclusion
Overall, Gentry and Wellum’s work, God’s Kingdom through God’s Covenants, is
beneficial for the study of biblical theology because it connects the concepts of the kingdom
and covenants with the broader framework of the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan in
history. In the books the authors deliver an accurate and sometimes intricate understanding of
some of the primary covenants found in the Bible, as well as map out God’s kingdom from
beginning to end. In this way, they encourage its readers to think through the implications of
their beliefs for scripture and life and to seek to embody aspects of God’s kingdom in the
practical outworking of their faith and ministry. To conclude, the book by Gentry and Wellum
offers encouraging answers to authentic biblical questions and raises a challenge of personal
transformation in light of the gospel redemption for one’s life and the whole Body of Christ.
