[Thesis] The Relation Between the Abrahamic Covenant and the New Covenant in Galatians

This thesis tries to examine how the book of Galatians presents the nature of and relationship between the Abrahamic Covenant and the Mosaic Covenant. It tries to generate a clear doctrinal statement on the relation between the two Covenants, a description of how the Apostle Paul wants Galatians and Christians in general to view and understand these two Covenants in light of their justification and life in Christ. Also, it is aiming to find out how the understanding of the relation between these two Covenants presented in Galatians shapes the understanding of God’s will and purpose in giving out the Abrahamic promises and the Mosaic law and how Christians should view the law. Thus, it will dialogue with various understandings and views. The purpose then is to contribute to scholarship both in the studies of Galatians and in the studies of Biblical Covenants, help the readers understand God’s saving grace in a more accurate way, and teach the law and the gospel faithfully. 

More especially, to put it into a nutshell, the thesis will try to argue for a position that according to Paul’s interpretation in Galatians, the Abrahamic Covenant and the Mosaic Covenants are two distinct Covenants. The former gives eternal life freely upon faith, the latter gives eternal life conditional upon full and continuous obedience. However, the purpose of giving the Mosaic Covenant is not to give eternal life to sinners, but to show them that they cannot fulfill the conditions of this Covenant. Therefore, they need to run to another Covenant, the Abrahamic Covenant for mercy. 

In order to reach the goals, this thesis will use a combination of methods to generate doctrinal statements. It will apply a biblical studies method of the use of the OT in the NT on the Galatians texts and a systematic theological studies method on the relation between the two Covenants. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Dan Mingyang Xie is a current PhD student at Columbia International University. His current research title is “The Relation Between the Abrahamic Covenant and the New Covenant Considering the Differences Between Seventeenth-Century Reformed Paedobaptists and Reformed Credobaptists Concerning the Issue of Infant Baptism.” Just as the ThM Thesis shows, his research interest is in Covenant Theology. 

He received a Master of Theology (ThM) from Bethlehem College and Seminary and a Master of Ministry from a seminary related to RTS. Now he is also a faculty member in a seminary with a background in Reformed Baptists. 

He is also the translator of an upcoming book, “The Distinctiveness of Baptist Covenant Theology: A Comparison Between Seventeenth-Century Particular Baptist and Paedobaptist Federalism” by Pascal Denault.