John Locke's Covenant Theology

Abstract


 
 
 That Locke propounded a covenant theology in The Reasonableness of Christianity (1695) is a fact that deserves more attention than it has received. Indeed, given the number and variety of scholarly writings on Locke, the lack of attention is striking. One explanation is the modern animus against theology itself. Another is that the role of Christianity generally in Locke’s thinking has been, and to some extent still is, a matter of some contention in Locke studies. By paying Locke’s covenant theology its due, this article aims to cast new light on the place of Christianity in Locke’s thought, and on the theological assumptions in which his view of Christianity was anchored.