Reformed Covenant Theology: An Interview with Harrison Perkins

Harrison Perkins is the author of Reformed Covenant Theology: A Systematic Introduction. In his new book, he shows how Christ and his work are the heart of that covenant relationship. Since God lives in covenant with his redeemed people, covenant theology provides a framework for Christians to grow in their life with God, to read the Bible, and to love the church.

In our interview below, Perkins shares how his love for being a pastor “was renewed and deepened” in writing this book. 

Harrison Perkins is pastor of Oakland Hills Community Church (OPC), online faculty in church history at Westminster Theological Seminary, and visiting lecturer in systematic theology at Edinburgh Theological Seminary.

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Lexham Press: What is the story behind Reformed Covenant Theology: A Systematic Introduction and what is your book’s basic thesis?

Perkins: This book grew out of a desire to break the rut forming in the literature about covenant theology. Although biblical theology is highly important, books on the covenants have fallen into a standard pattern of simple regurgitation of the biblical narrative, closing with a denominational argument about sacraments and ecclesiology. This book hopes to recover how systematic theology helps us see the wider value of covenant theology as it informs the nature of grace, the place of works, the necessity of the church, and most of all the centrality of Christ. The basic thesis of this book is that covenants structure our relationship with God, providing assurance about how we might know him for blessing.

LP: What contribution do you hope to make with Reformed Covenant Theology?

Perkins: We need to recover how covenant theology is about our present relationship with God, understanding that the covenants are how he applies his grace to us. He binds us into a community where he has promised to meet us. He has always given grace to sinners in Christ alone.

LP: Describe a particularly surprising or enjoyable aspect of writing Reformed Covenant Theology. 

Perkins: I was surprised at how much I learned in developing the material about the administration of the covenant of grace. My love for being a pastor was renewed and deepened as I came to appreciate more how God has given me the privilege to distribute the means of grace that he truly uses to give Christ to his people.

LP: Share with us something surprising about yourself that only your friends would know.

Perkins: I love peanut butter.