Released in the UK November 2024
Released in the US November 2024
Large trade paperback | 384 Pages
9781527111578 • £17.99 $24.99
BISAC – REL067110
Righteous By Design
Covenantal Merit and Adam’s Original Integrity
Harrison Perkins
Covenant of Works
Underscores grace on the basis of Christ’s merits
Part of Reformed Exegetical Doctrinal Studies
The quest for eternal life intersects with theological debates on grace, works, and human nature. While medieval and Roman Catholic traditions suggested that merit was earned through works, the Reformation tradition emphasized salvation by grace alone, due to humanity’s corruption by sin. Perkins examines historical, biblical, and systematic theology to argue for Adam’s original righteousness, emphasizing the sufficiency of Christ’s merits over human effort, and reinforces the law–gospel distinction and the significance of grace.
Harrison Perkins
Harrison Perkins (PhD, Queen’s University Belfast) is pastor at Oakland Hills Community Church (OPC), Senior Research Fellow at the Craig Center for the Study of the Westminster Standards, online faculty in church history at Westminster Theological Seminary, visiting lecturer in systematic theology at Edinburgh Theological Seminary, and author of ‘Reformed Covenant Theology: A Systematic Introduction’.
Related Titles
9781527109148 |
9781527109131 |
9781527102354 |
9781781919798 |
Mentor
… Harrison Perkins tackles some difficult and nuanced questions over law and gospel, merit and mercy, and nature and grace. … Particularly, his painstaking attention to nuances in medieval views on righteousness and merit, with their lasting implications, represents ground rarely covered by Reformed Protestants.
Ryan M. McGraw
Morton H. Smith Professor of Systematic Theology, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Greenville, South Carolina
This is a deep and detailed study of God’s covenantal relationship and promise to Adam, rich in exegetical, historical, and doctrinal insights and pastoral reflections. Fruitful reading for anyone interested in this fascinating topic!
Lee Gatiss
Director of Church Society, and Adjunct Lecturer in Church History, Union School of Theology, Bridgend, Wales
… a powerful argument that the covenant of nature was properly meritorious of eternal life. Perkins’s study is a stellar orientation point for the ongoing discussion on the nature–supernatural relationship.
Hans Boersma
Professor of Ascetical Theology, Nashotah House Theological Seminary, Nashotah, Wisconsin
Perkins’ volume showcases God’s wisdom, goodness, and grace in his works of creation and redemption, as well as our high human calling—from the beginning and finally realized in Christ. This book will enrich and bless its readers.
David VanDrunen
Robert B. Strimple Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics, Westminster Seminary in California, Escondido, California