Kingdom and Covenant in the New Testament

Kingdom and Covenant in the New Testament cover art
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Lessons: 3
Forums: 3
Discipline: New Testament
Course Group: Introduction to the New Testament

Have you ever wondered why the New Testament gives so much attention to the kingdom of God? Or how this central theme relates to the new covenant in Christ? This series explores these two fundamental features of the New Testament by examining where they originated and what they mean for us today.

Course Goals:

  • Orient viewers to the overarching message of the New Testament.
  • Summarize the theological emphases of the New Testament.
  • Provide a strategy for applying the New Testament to modern life.

65 min.

Lesson 1: Why Study New Testament Theology?

Examines why it's important to devote ourselves to the careful, in-depth study of New Testament theology.
66 min.

Forum 1: Why Study New Testament Theology?

A companion video to lesson 1 of the same series that asks the following questions:
  • Why is it important to study the New Testament?
  • What authority did God give New Testament apostles and prophets?
  • How was the canon of the New Testament formed?
  • What is organic inspiration?
  • How can the New Testament be considered authoritative for us when it was not written directly to us?
  • How does the fact that New Testament authors addressed specific circumstances affect our modern application?
  • How can a book that was written 2000 years ago still have any relevance for our lives today?
  • What were some of the main theological questions that faced the New Testament's original audiences?
  • Why is it helpful to study the cultural context of the writers and original audiences of the New Testament?
  • Why should different kinds of modern people apply the same New Testament passages differently?
66 min.

Forum 1: Why Study New Testament Theology?

A companion video to lesson 1 of the same series that asks the following questions:
  • Why is it important to study the New Testament?
  • What authority did God give New Testament apostles and prophets?
  • How was the canon of the New Testament formed?
  • What is organic inspiration?
  • How can the New Testament be considered authoritative for us when it was not written directly to us?
  • How does the fact that New Testament authors addressed specific circumstances affect our modern application?
  • How can a book that was written 2000 years ago still have any relevance for our lives today?
  • What were some of the main theological questions that faced the New Testament's original audiences?
  • Why is it helpful to study the cultural context of the writers and original audiences of the New Testament?
  • Why should different kinds of modern people apply the same New Testament passages differently?
56 min.

Lesson 2: The Kingdom of God

Points out one of the most prominent teachings of the New Testament: the kingdom of God.
68 min.

Forum 2: The Kingdom of God

A companion video to lesson 2 of the same series that asks the following questions:
  • What is the gospel of the kingdom?
  • What is the kingdom of God?
  • How did hope for the coming kingdom of God develop through the Old Testament prophets?
  • How did Jesus' contemporaries distinguish between "this age" and the "age to come"?
  • What do theologians mean by the term "inaugurated eschatology?"
  • How was Jesus victorious over the enemies of God's kingdom in the inauguration of God's kingdom?
  • How will Jesus' victory over his enemies be complete when he returns?
  • Can the doctrine of substitutionary atonement be held alongside christus victor theology?
68 min.

Forum 2: The Kingdom of God

A companion video to lesson 2 of the same series that asks the following questions:
  • What is the gospel of the kingdom?
  • What is the kingdom of God?
  • How did hope for the coming kingdom of God develop through the Old Testament prophets?
  • How did Jesus' contemporaries distinguish between "this age" and the "age to come"?
  • What do theologians mean by the term "inaugurated eschatology?"
  • How was Jesus victorious over the enemies of God's kingdom in the inauguration of God's kingdom?
  • How will Jesus' victory over his enemies be complete when he returns?
  • Can the doctrine of substitutionary atonement be held alongside christus victor theology?
59 min.

Lesson 3: The New Covenant

Explores how New Testament authors relied on the concept of the new covenant to shape some of their most significant theological perspectives.
60 min.

Forum 3: The New Covenant

A companion video to lesson 3 of the same series that asks the following questions:
  • What role did covenants have in the Old Testament?
  • How is the kingdom of God rooted in the theology of the Old Testament?
  • What does Scripture reveal about the organic development of God's kingdom?
  • How does Jesus continue David's royal dynasty as God the Father's vassal king?
  • Does the author of Hebrews consider the new covenant to be a covenant renewal or something completely new?
  • Can we say that those in the church that reject Christ have received saving grace?
  • How does Scripture describe God's benevolence to believers and unbelievers alike?
  • In what ways did the Old Testament require inward devotion to God as well as outward obedience?
  • Why did Jesus have to remain loyal to God the Father and obey the Law during his earthly life?
  • Why does God require loyalty to Christ as he is revealed in the New Testament?
  • Do unsaved people benefit from involvement in the church?
  • What blessings will God's people receive after final judgment?
60 min.

Forum 3: The New Covenant

A companion video to lesson 3 of the same series that asks the following questions:
  • What role did covenants have in the Old Testament?
  • How is the kingdom of God rooted in the theology of the Old Testament?
  • What does Scripture reveal about the organic development of God's kingdom?
  • How does Jesus continue David's royal dynasty as God the Father's vassal king?
  • Does the author of Hebrews consider the new covenant to be a covenant renewal or something completely new?
  • Can we say that those in the church that reject Christ have received saving grace?
  • How does Scripture describe God's benevolence to believers and unbelievers alike?
  • In what ways did the Old Testament require inward devotion to God as well as outward obedience?
  • Why did Jesus have to remain loyal to God the Father and obey the Law during his earthly life?
  • Why does God require loyalty to Christ as he is revealed in the New Testament?
  • Do unsaved people benefit from involvement in the church?
  • What blessings will God's people receive after final judgment?