COVENANT
The concept of a “covenant” in the Bible refers to a solemn agreement or promise between God and His people, or between two parties, in which mutual commitments and responsibilities are established. The Bible outlines various covenants that serve as a foundation for understanding God’s relationship with humanity throughout history. These covenants often have specific promises and conditions, and they reveal God’s plan for salvation and the restoration of mankind.
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Etymology
1.Hebrew
The primary Hebrew word for covenant is בְּרִית (berith), which appears frequently in the Old Testament.
בְּרִית (berith) comes from the root בָּרָא (barah), which means to bind or to select. In its use, berith conveys the idea of a binding agreement or a contract, often a sacred and formal bond between two parties, typically between God and His people.
The term implies not only an agreement but also a relationship that is ratified and sealed, often with signs or symbols (such as the rainbow in the Noahic covenant or circumcision in the Abrahamic covenant).
2. Greek
In the Greek New Testament, the term for covenant is διαθήκη (diathēkē), which is used extensively in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) and in the New Testament.
διαθήκη (diathēkē) comes from the verb διατίθεσθαι (diatithesthai), which means to arrange, to dispose, or to set in order. It conveys the idea of a will, testament, or agreement, often with a sense of one party being the giver or disposer of the covenant’s benefits, while the other party is the recipient.
Diathēkē can also refer to a last will and testament, which is a significant aspect in understanding God’s covenantal promises, particularly in relation to salvation and inheritance in the New Testament
Types of Covenants in the Bible
1. The Covenant with Noah
The flood that wiped out the corrupt world, God made a covenant with Noah and his descendants, which includes all of humanity.
( Genesis 9:8 -17 )
Promise:
God promised never again to destroy the earth with a flood. The rainbow is given as the sign of this covenant. It serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and the promise of preservation.
“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”
( Genesis 9: 13 )
This covenant is unconditional. God takes the initiative, and there are no specific requirements for humanity to fulfill, other than the understanding that God will never destroy the earth in such a manner again.
2. The Abrahamic Covenant
( Genesis 12: 1 -3 ) ( Genesis 17: 1 -14 ) ( Genesis 22: 16 -18 )
God made a covenant with Abraham, promising him land, descendants, and blessings. This covenant is foundational for the Jewish people and ultimately leads to the coming of Jesus Christ.
Promise:
- Land:
God promises Abraham the land of Canaan (later known as the Promised Land).
- Descendants:
Abraham will be the father of many nations.
- Blessing:
Through Abraham’s descendants, all nations will be blessed, which is ultimately fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.
The sign of this covenant is circumcision. Every male descendant of Abraham must be circumcised as a symbol of their commitment to the covenant.
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”
( Genesis 12: 2 )
This covenant is an unconditional promise from God, though Abraham’s descendants are called to live in obedience to God’s commands.
3. The Mosaic Covenant
The LORD replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the LORD, or he will break out against them.”
( Exodus 19 -24 )
( Deuteronomy 5: 1 -21 )
God establishes a covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai after their Exodus from Egypt. This covenant is based on the laws and commandments God gives to the Israelites.
Promise:
God promises to make Israel His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation if they obey His commands.
This covenant is conditional, based on Israel’s obedience to the Law (the Torah), including the Ten Commandments and other statutes. The sign of the Mosaic covenant is the Sabbath, a day of rest that is to be kept holy.
“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.”
( Exodus 19: 5 )
This covenant is conditional on Israel’s adherence to God’s law. Blessings would come with obedience, and curses would come with disobedience.
( Deuteronomy 28 )
4. The Davidic Covenant
( 2 Samuel 7: 12 -16 ) ( 1 Chronicles 17: 11 -14 )
God makes a covenant with King David, promising that his descendants will rule Israel forever.
Promise
God promises David that his throne and kingdom will endure forever, and that his offspring will be the one to build God’s temple. This covenant points to the future Messiah, who would come from David’s line. Jesus Christ, born in the line of David, fulfills this promise.
“Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.”
( 2 Samuel 7: 16 )
This is an unconditional promise that finds ultimate fulfillment in the coming of Jesus Christ, who is the eternal King in David’s line.
5. The New Covenant
( Jeremiah 31: 31 -34 ) ( Hebrews 8: 6 -13 )
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. ( Luke 22: 20 )
The New Covenant is a promise made by God to restore Israel and Judah, but it is also a covenant that is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. The Old Covenant (Mosaic Covenant) could not provide lasting forgiveness or change hearts, but the New Covenant promises a transformation through the Holy Spirit.
Promise:
God promises to forgive sins and put His laws in the hearts of His people, rather than on tablets of stone. Jesus establishes this covenant during the Last Supper, where He speaks of His blood as the blood of the new covenant.
“The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.” ( Jeremiah 31: 31 )
In the New Covenant, God promises to write His law on the hearts of believers and forgive their sins. This covenant is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who brings salvation through His sacrificial death and resurrection.
6. The Covenant of Peace
This covenant is given during a time when Israel was exiled and scattered. It is a promise of future restoration, peace, and security.
I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will bean everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. 27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.’” ( Ezekiel 37: 26 -28 )
Promise:
God promises to establish peace, restore the people, and dwell among them.
The presence of God among His people, in peace and unity. This covenant points toward the final peace that believers will experience in Christ’s return and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.
7. The Eternal Covenant
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with every thing good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. ( Hebrews 13: 20 -21 )
The Book of Hebrews refers to Jesus’ death as the establishment of an eternal covenant.
Promise:
Through the blood of Jesus, God provides eternal redemption and makes His people perfect in Christ.The sign is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which brings reconciliation between God and humanity. This is an everlasting covenant, pointing to the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice and the eternal relationship between God and His people.
Through covenants, God offers promises, sets conditions, and demonstrates His faithfulness. Each covenant serves to further God’s redemptive plan, guiding humanity back to a restored relationship with Him, culminating in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ.
The purpose of Covenant:
1. To Establish a Relationship
A covenant is often an agreement or bond that forms a relationship between two parties, and in the Bible, it primarily involves God and His people. The purpose of the covenant is to establish and deepen the relationship between God and His people, revealing His desires for their conduct and His promises to them.
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” ( Exodus 19: 5 -6 )
Here, God establishes the covenant with Israel, making them a special people set apart for a relationship with Him. The purpose of the covenant was to bring them close to God, to make them His chosen people, and to set them apart from other nations.
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
( Jeremiah 31: 33 )
The New Covenant promises an intimate relationship where God’s law is internalized in the hearts of His people. This underscores the covenant’s purpose of creating a deep, personal relationship between God and His people.
2. To Reveal God’s Faithfulness and Glory
Covenants are a means through which God reveals His faithfulness to His promises. Even when humans are unfaithful, God remains faithful to His covenant commitments. This demonstrates His glory and faithfulness, and it serves as a witness to the world of His character.
Know there fore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. ( Deuteronomy 7: 9 )
God’s faithfulness to His covenant is highlighted in this passage. The covenant reveals that God’s commitment is unwavering, and His love is enduring across generations.
I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. ( Psalm 89: 34 )
God’s covenant is based on His unchanging word. Even when people fail, God will always remain faithful to His promises.
3. To Provide Blessings for Obedience and Discipline for Disobedience
Many biblical covenants include blessings for obedience and consequences for disobedience. God uses the covenant to guide His people to live in accordance with His will, which leads to blessings, peace, and prosperity. On the other hand, disobedience results in discipline and correction, reinforcing God’s justice.
If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: ( Deuteronomy 28: 1 -2 )
This passage shows that the purpose of the covenant includes bringing blessings to those who obey God’s commandments.
However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you: ( Deuteronomy 28: 15 )
The covenant also establishes consequences for disobedience, showing how God’s covenant is tied to His justice and the order He desires for His people.
4. To Be a Means of Salvation
The covenants in the Bible progressively reveal God’s plan of salvation. Starting with the Abrahamic Covenant, God promises blessings that would eventually lead to the salvation of all humanity through Jesus Christ. The covenants point forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, who fulfills the law and offers salvation to all who believe.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” ( Genesis 12: 3 )
The Abrahamic Covenant establishes that through Abraham’s descendants, all nations will be blessed. This is fulfilled through the coming of Jesus Christ, who is a descendant of Abraham and brings salvation to the world.
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. ( Luke 22: 20 )
Jesus introduces the New Covenant, which is made possible by His sacrifice on the cross, offering salvation and reconciliation with God.
5. To Provide a Framework for Holiness and Righteous Living
The purpose of the covenants is not only to promise blessings but also to provide a framework for living a righteous life according to God’s laws. The covenants call God’s people to holiness, to live set apart from the world, and to reflect His holiness in their behavior.
“Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.
( Leviticus 19: 2 )
Holiness is a central aspect of the covenant, and the people of God are called to live holy lives that reflect His purity and justice.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ( Romans 12: 1 -2 )
This New Covenant command continues the idea of holiness, calling believers to live transformed lives as a reflection of God’s grace.
6. To Demonstrate God’s Kingdom on Earth
God’s covenants reveal His kingdom purposes. Through the covenants, God is establishing His rule on earth and preparing for the ultimate fulfillment of His kingdom in Christ. His covenant people are to reflect His kingdom values and extend His rule by living according to His commands.
Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’”
( 2 Samuel 7: 16 )
God promises King David that his descendants will rule forever. This points to Jesus, the eternal King in the line of David, who will establish God’s kingdom on earth.
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” ( Matthew 6: 10 )
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches His followers to pray for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth. This aligns with God’s purpose of establishing His kingdom through His covenants.
7. To Offer Peace and Reconciliation
The covenants, especially the New Covenant, reveal God’s desire to bring peace between Himself and humanity. Through the covenant of Christ, the relationship between God and mankind, once broken by sin, is restored.
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” ( Ephesians 2: 13 -14 )
Jesus, through the New Covenant, offers peace and reconciliation, breaking down the barriers caused by sin and making peace between God and humanity.
The covenants in the Bible is multifaceted: to establish a relationship between God and His people, to reveal His faithfulness, to provide blessings for obedience, to guide His people toward holiness, to bring salvation, to demonstrate God’s kingdom on earth, and to offer peace and reconciliation. Each covenant progressively builds upon the previous ones, ultimately leading to the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ