Articles by Other Guests

John G. Reisinger Interviews Gary D. Long, Faculty President of the New Theological School—Providence

Theological Seminary

(*Since New Covenant Theology is being developed hermeneutically, the Editor and Questioner, John G.

Reisinger, asked for answers to the following questions from the Seminary’s Faculty President to sharpen

the reader’s understanding of the need for this new theological school.)

JGR: Where is Providence Theological Seminary located?

GDL: It will be located in Colorado Springs.

JGR: In view of the fact there are many fine seminaries, why is there a need for Providence Theological

Seminary (PTS)?

GDL: John, we have known one another for many years. We have labored for the development of New

Covenant Theology (NCT) over the past 25 years. We are convinced that there is a better way to interpret

the Scriptures than that found in the systems of Dispensationalism’s two redemptive purposes—one for the

Church and one for Israel—and that found in the one covenant of grace teaching held by traditional

Covenant Theology. We have seen during this time that Baptist pastors and teachers who have come to

love the doctrines of grace have had increasing difficulty in wholeheartedly embracing either Dispensational

or Covenant Theology. The vast majority, if not all, conservative evangelical seminaries teach one of these

two theological systems. Practically, this has meant that young men being trained in churches as future

ministers have been greatly influenced by one of these two systems. The Board of Directors and Faculty at

PTS believe that there is a definite need in this sin-wrecked world for the “middle walls of doctrinal partition”

among evangelical theological systems to be broken down with a better biblical hermeneutic undergirding

the proclamation of the gospel of Christ. This is a major objective that emphasizes the need for PTS.

A friend of our theological institute says that he, as a Baptist pastor over the last 40 years, has “trained up”

more Presbyterian elders than many Presbyterian churches have, simply because they have gone to

seminaries that emphasize Covenant Theology. We need the perspectives of NCT taught for the kingdom

of Christ.

JGR: What are the perspectives of New Covenant Theology?

GDL: These perspectives are Christ centered. By saying that, we don’t mean to suggest that either

Dispensationalism or Covenant Theology has a deficient view of the work of Christ. What we are saying is

that NCT focuses upon Christ as the center in a way that Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology do

not. This includes clarifying the absolute and covenantal nature of Divine law and understanding the “now-

not yet” fulfillment of the promises and prophecies of Scripture. JGR: What do you mean in view of the fact

that both camps believe strongly in the fulfillment of prophecies from the Old Testament?

GDL: We mean that the person and work of Christ fulfills the Old Testament shadows, types and concepts

so that the key to understanding the Bible is Christ Himself. He is our great high priest, perfect sacrifice

and Messiah. He is our Passover, our Sabbath rest and the Prophet who was to come, giving to us God’s

ultimate revelation. He is the promised Seed and the Mediator of the New Covenant. The Old Testament,

therefore, should be read with this perspective in mind. This will help us to be less confused and arbitrary

on issues of continuity and discontinuity between the Old and New Covenants.

JGR: How is it less confusing and arbitrary?

GDL: We do not structure the entire Bible around one “covenant of grace” and make everything fit that

model. Neither will we fail to do justice to the instruction and direction (law) in the Old Testament that still

applies to us today. New Covenant Theology gets its strong emphasis on continuity from God’s plan of

redemption, purposed in eternity past, rather than from a theologically deduced covenant of grace made in

time. God’s eternal purpose is fulfilled in time through His providential working according to His eternal

decree and is not dependent upon mankind for its fulfillment.

JGR: But aren’t there those who would say that such a covenant of grace in time is simply the declaration

of that eternal plan of redemption?

GDL: Yes, there are. However, the covenant of grace model turns out to be problematic. The clearest

biblical revelation of the eternal purpose of God comes in the seed theme of biblical covenants which was

revealed in the Garden of Eden, carried forward in the seed (descendant) promise of the Abrahamic

covenant, and fulfilled in Christ as the Seed. All who believe in Him are in Christ, the Seed, and, therefore,

are partakers of all God’s promises.

JGR: What are the practical applications of this distinction?

GDL: One is believer’s baptism. It is only for those who are in Christ by means of faith. Another is the

doctrine of the Lord’s Supper. It is only for those who are capable of self-examination and who then may

receive the sign of the New Covenant, the cup of blessing. Finally, we have a relationship to Christ as our

Lord, which means that we acknowledge ourselves to be under the authority of the law of Christ.

JGR: What relationship does the law of Christ have to the law of Moses?

GDL: This is a more complex issue than either Dispensationalism or Covenant Theology teaches. The first

thing that must be recognized is that all people from Adam to the present time have been under God’s law.

From Jesus Himself we learn that the essence of God’s unchanging law is twofold: loving God without

reservation and loving our neighbor as ourself. As we survey the Bible, we see that all of God’s laws under

each successive biblical covenant have fallen under these two categories. The challenge is to ascertain

which laws and principles are applicable to us today in view of the fact that there is not a person alive who

is still under the Old Covenant, per se, because it has been fulfilled in Christ and done away with.

JGR: Where does a New Covenant Theology theologian go for help on this issue?

GDL: Well, that is why we believe there is a need for a New Covenant school of theology. Not only is there

a challenge for a more biblical hermeneutic, but there is the challenge in answer to NCT’s critics to

energetically affirm that: (1) we are not antinomian, but very much under the New Covenant law of Christ,

not under the Old Covenant law of Moses; (2) the New Covenant law of Christ is closely related but not to

be equated with the Old Covenant’s Ten Commandments; and (3) the Old Covenant Sabbath

Commandment is not a creation ordinance. In sum, New Covenant scholars are working out the

hermeneutical implications of understanding the absolute and covenantal nature of Divine law.

JGR: Are you saying there is an abiding moral law of God or do you say that laws change from covenant to

covenant but some abide?

GDL: Let me answer this way. NCT acknowledges that the two greatest commandments are abiding

throughout all covenantal administrations. Also NCT recognizes that some laws are temporary, given for a

period of time for a specific purpose. Once that purpose is fulfilled they are either modified or rescinded.

Attaching the word “moral” to the word “law” is not the best way to explain the permanence of God’s laws.

Why? Because the word “moral” used in this way is misunderstood and redundant—redundant, for in one

sense all Divine law is moral coming from an infinitely holy God.

Our best guide is to see how Jesus and the New Testament writers interpreted the Old Testament. They

identified some laws they considered permanently binding and others they modified or rescinded. God has

spoken by His Son about law and all other necessary matters concerning eternal truths—truths which

result either in blessing or judgment for all mankind.

JGR: Does that last statement summarize a New Covenant hermeneutic?

GDL: In brief and in part, it does. The New Testament interprets the Old. Christ is the authoritative

interpreter of the Old Testament. He taught the apostles personally and through the Holy Spirit to view the

Old Testament from His perspective. “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him.”

JGR: How do you believe Scripture explains previous biblical covenants?

GDL: The biblical covenants before the New Covenant were neither different administrations of “one

covenant of grace” nor discrete dispensations applied differently to one of “the two peoples of God.”

Instead, biblical covenants progressively reveal the eternal plan of redemption and reach their apex in

Christ and the redemption of His people in the final covenant that he inaugurated, the New Covenant. The

redemptive consummation of the manifold wisdom of God in the Church, which is the spiritual body of

Christ, awaits Christ’s Second Advent.

JGR: What will PTS have in common with other conservative seminaries?

GDL: Many of the courses offered will be virtually the same. PTS has plans for courses that will include

exegetical study of both Old and New Testament languages, systematic theology, biblical theology and

exposition, and church history. There will also be courses in pastoral ministry, expository preaching,

missions, women’s ministries, and other areas, such as apologetics.

JGR: What programs of study will be offered?

GDL: In brief, PTS plans to inaugurate its program of instruction in 2007 commencing toward a special

one-year Diploma in Theological Studies leading to a three-year Master of Divinity degree. All courses are

open to spiritually gifted men and women, except certain pastoral courses which will be limited to men.

JGR: How can the reader find out more about PTS and its plans?

GDL: PTS has a website, email and physical mailing addresses, and a phone number. The readers may

avail themselves to frequently asked questions (FAQs) and other information by going first to our website

www.ptsco.org.

JGR: Thank you, Dr. Long, for providing information about Providence Theological Seminary. I’m confident

that there are many like-minded churches, pastors and individuals who will be most interested in seeing

this theological school come into being and grow to teach godly men and women the distinctives of NCT to

enhance the cause of Christ and His Church.