LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW - Brock University

70 LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW XV
theology. Present in part earlier, this covenant theology comes to dominate
his soteriology of the mid 1530s. 46 At times Tyndale’s mature writings
become rather legalistic, giving the impression that God regards the believer
as righteous so long as he strives to fulfil the law. For example, he writes in
his Prologue to Matthew (1534):
The general covenant, wherein all other are comprehended and included, is
this: If we meek ourselves to God, to keep all his laws, after the example of
Christ, then God hath bound himself unto us, to keep and make good all the
mercies promised in Christ throughout all the scripture. 47
Tyndale further elaborates the conditional aspects of this covenant in his
Exposition of Matthew (1533):
… all the good promises which are made us throughout all the scripture, for
Christ’s sake, for his love, his passion or suffering, his blood-shedding or
death, are all made us on this condition and covenant on our party [part], that
we henceforth love the law of God, to walk therein, and to do it, and fashion
our lives thereafter …. 48
Tyndale expressed the same covenant theology in his Exposition of Tracy’s
Testament (1536):
‘… whosoever believeth and is baptized shall be saved’: by which words he
declareth evidently, that he meaneth that faith that is in the promise made
upon the appointment between God and us, that we should keep his law to
the uttermost of our power; that is, he that believeth in Christ for the
remission of sin, and is baptized to do the will of Christ, and to keep his law
of love, and to mortify the flesh, that man shall be saved …. 49
This answer begged a question from Thomas More, and it might from us
as well: if justification is given on the promise that God will save us if we
keep our part of the covenant, how can it be said that we are justified by faith
alone Tyndale responds that on the one hand justification is the full
forgiveness of sins, but it is also the state of grace which gives power for
righteousness:
[thou wilt say] ‘if I must profess the law, and work; ergo, faith alone saveth
me not.’ … Faith justifieth thee; that is, bringeth remission of all sins, and
setteth thee in the state of grace before all works, and getteth thee power to
work before thou couldst work. But if thou wilt not go back again, but
46 For a broader discussion of Tyndale’s covenant theology, see Trueman, Luther’s Legacy,
109-19.
47 Works 1:470.
48 Works 2:6.
49 Works 3:276.