愛戀 ‧ 情曲 ‧ 神の語

        Dr. Kaiser’s Promise Theology states that there is a Promise-Plan of God, in which is the unifying theme of the whole Scriptures. It is in essence a plan of salvation of mankind through the work of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah. He is, therefore, the central figure of the Bible. The Old Testament does not just contain scattered predictions about Him, but His coming and mission to save the Adamic Race was thoroughly designed and put in motion from the first book of the Bible Genesis to the last epistle Revelation. Hence, all things in the Old prepare for His First Coming, for this is the key promise God made to His people through the various covenants. This promise was gradually revealed in more detail through the voice of the prophets; these prophecies also served as reminders, warnings, and encouragement. The basis of the Promise-Plan was God’s own graciousness and lovingkindness; therefore, it is fundamentally not dependent upon human choices, although free will has always been intact. When Jesus dawned on the earth in bodily form and died on the cross for the sins of the whole world and rose again, He has thus fulfilled the promise. The Gospels recorded the life of Jesus and this pivotal event as witnessed by the early church. The New Testament epistles show believers how to live in light of the new covenant sealed by the blood of Jesus in the present. They also foretell the final working out of the promise, namely the giving of the new spiritual bodies and the complete purge of evil and restoration of the planet earth, which are all only possible through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. All the blessings of God, such as physical provision, healing, protection, flow from the new covenantal grace of God. The Old Testament saints looked forward to Christ and His propitiation, while New Testament believers look back to what He has done for them. The Promise-Plan is the thesis of the Bible. It is the reason why Genesis started with the creation of the world and the Fall of Man, and ended with the full salvation of Man and renewal of the earth.

In general, I have found Dr. Kaiser’s Promise Theology to be intensely biblical and convincing. In fact, it only makes Scriptural sense that the Fall of Adam, and hence the redemptive provision, was never outside of the omniscience and omnipotence of God. 1 Peters 1:20 delves into this and explains that the Second God-Person of the Trinity indeed was “foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times.”[1] The Promise-Plan did not begin when Adam fell, but way before even the creation of the world. Revelation 13:8 also expressly says that the Lamb of God was “slain from the foundation of the world.” Thus, when sin entered the Garden of Eden and God gave the first Messianic hope to Adam and Eve, His Promise-Plan was effective in the earthly dimension (Gen. 3:15). Since then, all the Old Testament major characters, stories, and writings surround this divine pledge (Luke 24:27). This revelation was only disclosed to mankind progressively, measure upon measure. During the Patriarchal Period, the Abrahamic Covenant centered on the Seed of Abraham, and the vicarious sacrifice for Isaac on Mount Moriah all pointed to the real Son of sacrifice (Gen. 22). During the Mosaic period, the official institution of the sacrificial system, the granting of the Law, and the Tabernacle, all referenced the various aspects of Christ’s work (Rom. 10:4; Heb. 8:5). In Monarchical times, God further promised David in the Davidic Covenant that his Offspring will have a Kingdom and sit on the royal Throne forever, which ultimately referred to the King of kings Jesus Christ and His Kingdom (2 Sam. 7; Luke 1:33). When the split kingdoms of Israel and Judah were annihilated as a result of their persistent rebellion against God, the prophets continued to prophesy of comfort and hope regarding the coming Deliverer that will save (Mal. 4:2). God repeatedly referred to His covenant with Israel (Mal. 2:4-5). Jeremiah prophesied of a new covenant that will be established in lieu of the Sinaitic Covenant, as that in itself was insufficient (Jer. 31; Heb. 8:13).

When Jesus finally came and fulfilled the Promise by His death and resurrection, the New Testament looks back at what He has accomplished as well as detailing the other facets of the New Covenant as a result of the atonement (Heb. 7:22; 8:6; 12:24). Jesus explicitly said He has established the new covenant with His own blood (Matt. 26:28). On the road to Emmaus after His resurrection, He explained to the two disciples that the Old Testament Scriptures were written concerning Him (Luke 24:27). The author of Hebrews stated that Jesus Christ is the divine Lamb of sacrifice, High Priest, and Mediator between God and Man (Heb. 12:24). He said “Abraham rejoiced to see [His] day, and he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56). Despite the fact that he did not fully know all the details, Paul said that the same Gospel of Jesus Christ was preached to Abraham (Gal. 3:8). It is no coincidence that Revelation was penned as the last book of the Bible. It describes the complete purge of evil, the full working out of the salvation of mankind, and the new heaven and earth (Rev. 21:1). For this reason, Rev. 22:18 deliberately warns that no one should add to the content of this book, implying the closure of the canon, because the Promise-Plan has concluded for the particular dispensation. Man is now restored back to an even greater glory than the original state, as well as the whole planet earth (Eph. 1, 3; Rev. 21-22). At that time, Jesus will be exalted and worshiped as King of all the earth, and “every tongue should confess that [He] is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:11; Rev. 22).

A systematic study of the entire Scriptures seem to support Dr. Kaiser’s Promise Theology strongly. Although I have minor disagreements with him on the exact meaning of some passages; however, in general, I believe Dr. Kaiser is highly biblical in the overall theological framework. With the Promise-Plan of God, we can summarize the Bible accurately and succinctly. Under this broad scaffold, all the Scriptural topics can be aligned and interpreted accordingly. God is always perfectly consistent and exquisitely organized. Although comprised of many individual books by different authors across a wide range of timespan, the Word of God, therefore, has a redemptive motif in Jesus Christ through the Promise-Plan of God.

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:28-30).

“But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, ‘Not one of His bones shall be broken.’ And again another Scripture says, ‘They shall look on Him whom they pierced’” (John 19:34-37).

Bibliography:

Books and Commentaries:

Beecher, Willis J. The Prophets and the Promise. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1975.

Dyrness, William. Themes in Old Testament Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1977.

Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994, 2000.

Hayford, Jack. Hayford’s Bible Handbook. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1995.

Herbert, A.G. The Throne of David. Madison, WI: The Adult Christian Education Foundation, 1984.

Kaiser Jr., Walter C. (ed.) Classical Evangelical Essays in Old Testament Interpretation. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House Company, 1972.

Kaiser Jr., Walter C. Toward an Old Testament Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1978.

Martens, Elmer A. God’s Design. N. Richland Hills, TX: D. & F. Scott Publishing, Inc., 1998.

Tang, Thomas. New Bible Commentary (21^st Century Edition) Volume I - II. Kowloon, Hong Kong: Christian Communications Limited, 1999.

Youngblood, Ronald. The Heart of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House Company, 1971.

Annotated Bibles:

Hayford, Jack W. et al. (ed.) New Spirit-Filled Life® Bible (New King James Version). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2002.

MacArthur, John (ed.) The MacArthur Study Bible (New King James Version). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1997.

Radmacher, Earl D. et al. (ed.) Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1997.

Stamps, Donald C. et al. (ed.) NIV Life in the Spirit Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003.

Yu, Timothy et al. (ed.) The Chinese Study Bible (Popular Edition—Chinese Union Version). Hong Kong: The Rock House Publishers, Ltd., 1998.