The Doctrine of the Covenant and Testament of God by Johannes Cocceius is published by Reformation Heritage Books (2016). This edition by RHB is translated by Casey Carmichael and introduced by Willem J. van Asselt. This book is volume #3 in the Classic Reformed Theology series.
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The Doctrine of the Covenant and Testament of God
What a gift this book is to the church today! Cocceius lived from 1603-1669, and he wrote this book originally in 1648. This book begins by providing a biographical and historical introduction that is most helpful in understanding the context of this work. Most people may not notice this, but the index of chapters in the beginning of the book is likewise very helpful. Since Cocceius presented his work in numbered paragraphs, all 650 paragraphs are listed in this index of chapters. It’s extremely helpful if you’re using the book as a reference and desiring to find something specific that Cocceius addressed.
The translation of this book was extremely well-done! It is very easy to understand, and even when Cocceius gets more technical by using Greek and Hebrew, there is always an English translation provided for those who aren’t proficient in those languages. The content is phenomenal! Cocceius is masterful at presenting his case for covenant theology, specifically the idea of two overarching covenants in Scripture (the covenants of works and grace). I was delighted to also see some chapters in this book about the sacraments of the New Covenant and the government of the church.
I really enjoyed the format of the book. I like how Cocceius presented his material in numbered paragraphs. As I mentioned above, it makes it easy for referencing purposes, but I also find it to be a very neat, clear way of organizing your arguments. I also want to mention that this is a very beautiful hardcover book! The maroon cover with gold lettering is classy and makes for a very aesthetically pleasing look.
I hope that many people will pick up this book and learn from a giant Covenant Theologian! Again, if you disagree with some of Coccieus’ conclusions, you will still be much better off after reading from such a careful, precise theologian. 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.
Matt became a joyful follower of Jesus at the age of 21. He is very grateful to be a husband to Lindsey, and a father to four boys. He is an ordained minister (teaching elder) in the PCA. He previously served as a pastor of biblical counseling and is currently a corporate chaplain in southern Delaware. Matt received his Master of Divinity degree in Biblical Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and holds an advanced certification in biblical counseling from the Association of Biblical Counselors. In his free time, he loves playing with his boys, traveling with his wife, and reading (and buying!) books.
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