{Book Review} Backdrop for a Glorious Gospel: The Covenant of Works According to William Strong

Backdrop for a Glorious Gospel by Thomas Parr shows that the condemnation from a covenant of works serves as a dark backdrop to display the glory of the covenant of grace.

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Backdrop for a Glorious Gospel: The Covenant of Works According to William Strong

Reformation Heritage Books has recently published a new book called Backdrop for a Glorious Gospel: The Covenant of Works According to William Strong. This book is authored by Thomas Parr, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Washington state.

Parr’s goal is to introduce the reader to William Strong and his teaching on covenant theology and its application to the hearts of God’s people as well as the lost. He is specifically looking at Strong’s teaching on the covenant of works and how it produces a dark backdrop to display the light and beauty of the covenant of grace. 

I want to say at the outset that this book is excellent! It is one of my favorite books on covenant theology in particular, and in general it is likewise one of my favorite books, finding its place on my top 10 list! I feel the need to explain myself at this point.

Here are the reasons that I love this book (or to be more formal, these are the strengths of the book): 

Strengths of Backdrop for a Glorious Gospel

1. Historical Theology

Parr’s task at hand is to present William Strong (a very influential leader at the Westminster Assembly) and other Puritans who have taught on the topic of covenant theology. Strong wrote a large tome called A Discourse of the Two Covenants, a work which has been neglected for centuries. Parr mentions that part of the reason for the neglect is the difficulty in reading his work due to its very poor presentation and outlining which make Strong’s flow of thought difficult to follow. Parr takes on the task of re-presenting Strong’s work in a way that is much easier to follow and understand.

A great strength of the book is Parr’s constant references to other Puritans in which he is comparing and contrasting Strong and his contemporaries or others who had gone before him (i.e. Calvin). By and large, we see a lot of harmony between Strong and others. It’s also nice to see where there are differences, though.

Parr references John Ball, Francis Roberts, John Flavel, John Bunyan, Samuel Bolton, and many others. John Ball possibly receives the most attention apart from Strong himself. As one sees the similarities and differences between Strong and others, the strengths of Strong shine all the brighter. Perhaps it is also worth noting here that Parr provides a very nice, concise biography of Strong in the prologue of the book. 

2. Covenant Theology

Though the covenant of works is found in the title of the book, this is one of the greatest books on covenant theology in general in my opinion. Parr shows us Strong’s teaching on not just the covenant of works, but largely the covenant of grace as well. As a matter of fact, Strong’s commitment to preaching and teaching on the covenant of works was primarily to show people their need for the covenant of grace and their transference into it!

Strong was a passionate preacher who sought to proclaim the glorious covenant theology that is found on the pages of God’s Word. Strong has proven to be a magnificent exegete of the Bible, and he has shown, perhaps in greater ways than anybody else, how covenant theology is the theology of the Bible when rightly interpreted from the Word of God. This is not a system imposed on the Bible; instead, it is the theology that emanates from the Scriptures!

A beautiful example of this is how Strong, in his excellent exegesis, shows why the covenant of works and grace are being referenced in Colossians 1:13 (the domain of darkness and the kingdom of light). He doesn’t make assumptions; he proves his case from the exegesis of God’s Word. 

Parr shows how Strong didn’t view covenant theology as a discipline only for scholars and theologians, but it’s for every Christian. To rightly understand God’s dealing with mankind via covenant is to rightly understand how the Gospel affects us. Parr also provides a lot of discussion on the relationship between law and gospel, and the right use of the law within the Christian life.

There is also an absolutely excellent discussion on the relationship of the Mosaic covenant to the covenant of works and the covenant of grace. This is where Parr leads into the issue of the “republication” of the Mosaic covenant as a covenant of works. The word “republication” can be a rather ambiguous word given the many different perspectives on the relationship between Moses and the covenant of works. Parr repeated quite a few times that Strong viewed the Mosaic covenant as an administration of the covenant of grace as well as a foedus subserviens (though this term, according to Strong, does not imply that the Mosaic covenant is distinct from the covenant of grace and hence a third kind of covenant; not everybody uses this term in that way, i.e. Samuel Bolton). I really appreciate Parr’s comments on Strong’s understanding of Moses: 

If it is true that the best interpretation is the one that takes into account the most details, then Strong must be in the running for the best interpretation on the matter of the Mosaic covenant. His use of the concept of subservience, his integration of the ‘twofold abolition’ of the first covenant, his perspectivalism, his upholding the Mosaic covenant as primarily a covenant of grace, his understanding of the external and internal covenant, and his use of the ‘largely/strictly’ distinction–all these and more show Strong’s diligence as a theological spelunker.

Thomas Parr, Backdrop for a Glorious Gospel

3. Experiential Theology

Strong’s understanding of covenant theology had led him to highly emphasize both evangelism and experiential preaching (preaching that focuses on how Christians experience Christian doctrine in all of life).

Parr provides seven points of how covenant theology led Strong to emphasize these things:

• “Strong keeps in mind the currency of the covenant of works.”
• “Strong united covenant theology with experimental theology by remembering the twofold abolition of the covenant of works.”
• “Strong emphasizes the psychological condition of being in the covenant of works.”
• “Strong’s experimental emphasis is seen in his continual contrasting of the two covenants.”
• “Strong emphasizes covenantal transference.”
• “Strong supports his experimental teaching by using exegesis to show the ubiquity of covenantal thought in the Bible.”
• “Strong is an excellent systematic theologian…his systematic bent serves his experimental purposes.”

This book has many more strengths, but these are some of the best in my opinion.

Conclusion

I want to emphasize again that this book is an incredible resource on covenant theology in general, not only the covenant of works. By better understanding the covenant of works, one will surely grow in their love and appreciation for the covenant of grace! Parr shows how Strong firmly believed this and taught and preached accordingly.

You will indeed grow in your understanding of the Bible’s covenant theology when you read this book, and you will, as a result, grow in your love for the Lord who has condescended to make this glorious covenant with us! I simply cannot recommend this volume highly enough!

Tolle lege, take up and read!

Disclaimer: My thanks to Reformation Heritage Books for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own.