The Concept of the Covenant in the Old Testament, maintains, establishes, and identifies the important ideas or the subject of the Israelites history in the Bible. According to The Encyclopedia of Judaism, covenant “refers to a general obligation concerning two parties. It was confirmed either by an oath, a solemn meal, a sacrifice, or by some dramatic act such as dividing an animal and passing of the parties.” God first established the cut covenant with Abraham before He established defining and yoking covenant at Sinai in Exodus. The term “Covenant” has been used for centuries to understand the content of the Bible and the flow of God’s purpose through age's. God use’s Abraham’s Culture to make him understand His covenant with him. God …show more content…
provides Abraham a cultural manner of conformation. God’s plan for humankind was bound in the covenant that was made with Abraham. The Purpose of this research is to investigate the Abrahamic covenant in Genesis chapter 12, 15, and 17. An exegesis is done on the respective chapter's this will allow us to know the translation of the author and look into the original Hebrew text. This exegesis will help to explore the foundation of the Abrahamic Covenant. The Ancient East was full of kingdoms and small tribes constantly war over land and resources. To have and understanding, these tribes made alliance with each other tribes in the form of covenants. These covenants existed way before Abraham. The interesting part here is God make's a covenant with Abraham based on Abraham's understanding of the covenant that is based on his culture. The concept Covenant is so vast and it can be very large topic when studying it through the Bible.
Sandra L. Richter says that the Covenant is a theme that flows through out the entire Bible and the covenant beginning with Abraham is an “everlasting covenant” not just between the divine God and Abraham, but also of all Abraham’s offspring. Most theologians argued that the entire Old Testament could be understood by understanding the Covenant. The Hebrew word for the Covenant is “berit” the explanation of where this word came from is uncertain. In different cultures like Akkadaian and Hittite it signify binding. The term “Alah” from Akkadian and Hittite is actually related to covenantal deed. Both the terms “berith” and “Alaha” together gives the idea of binding oath. In Bible, the Old Testament, covenants are established between states their representatives, between individual, between kings and their subjects and between husband and wife. Covenants are also considered as Holy and sacred. When God chose Abraham to make him a “great nation” (Gen 12) this promise of God to Abraham is called the Abrahamic Covenant, and the covenant on which the research will focus …show more content…
on. Abraham was son of Terah, 10th Generation from Noah through the line of Shem (Gen 11:10-26).
His wife was Sarah, a parental half sister (Gen 11:29; 20:12) at age seventy-five he received a divine call and promise of Nationhood. The covenant made by God with Abraham, God knows that by making this covenant He will be under the consequence burden of the other party and this is all because of his unconditional love. God wanted to establish a relationship out of love. Grace is understood in the New Testament Theologies but in Old Testament grace is clearly seen in Abrahamic covenant because God made the covenant out of love. God’s covenant with Abraham in (Gen 15, 17) which is concerned with a gift of land. This contradicts to the Mosaic Covenant, which are of an obligation type. God promised Abraham to give the land to his descendants although their loyalty to God is presupposed. This covenant with the patriarch is considered as valid forever. The Abrahamic Covenant is a promissory type. In this type of covenant the emphasis is on the reliable character of the party who has promised a gift or benefit to another. John S. Kselman says “all concern the attitude activity of God toward humankind, they can be understood to speak of divine
grace.”
Covenant according in bible's point of view is a promise made by God to man. According to the book of Genesis, Chapter 6 Verse 13, as a result of human's disobedient and evil ways on earth, God had planned to put an end to humanity with flood. The covenants between God and Noah was established in Genesis Chapter 9 Verse 11. God promised Noah and his descendants, never again would he destroy the earth by flood of water because of the pleasant sacrifice offered to God by Noah. God also confirmed his covenant by putting up signs in the sky in the form of a rainbow. The reason Noah and his family weren’t destroyed in the flood was because Noah found grace in God's sight. What this means is that God do not establish any kind of covenant with just anyone. Clearly Abel, Noah and Abraham were unshakable, upright and obedient towards God’s command.
An everlasting covenant is a promise from God that is characterized as eternal. Charles Spurgeon describes the significance of a covenant as, “the only ladder, which reaches from earth to heaven.” Covenants have historically connected to many passages all throughout the Old Testament; however, eternal covenant is mentioned in the New Testament as well (NIV, Hebrews 13:20). The reason eternal covenant is only mentioned once in the New Testament is because the Blood of the Lamb is the only needed element, as the work of the cross covers all sins for all people. An example of an Old Testament covenant is the Noahic Covenant , which is still significant today, is God’s promise to never flood the earth again (NIV, Genesi...
The Mosaic Covenant from exodus is a promise made between God and the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai. To begin with, the pattern of the covenant is very similar to other ancient covenants of that time because it is between God and his people. In the textbook, it explains how the Hebrews have struggled with the pharaoh around 1250 B.C.E. Moses, who was a prince that grew up in the household of the pharaoh, ran away. After returning he led the Hebrew slaves at the bottom of Mount Sinai. God spoke to the Hebrews who he freed them and explained the Ten Commandments. In addition, a quote form the readings “ I am the lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” (Judaism, pg. 397) This quote is the first commandment stating that he,
The first five books of the Hebrew scripture focus on Jewish law and teaching. The Torah is a key text in Judaism. Specifically, it refers to the five books which make up the beginning of the Tanakh. The Torah gives the history of the world and the Jewish people, as well as the laws passed down to them. God reveals his requirements to Moses. The commandments include rules for daily life. In Genesis 17, God changes Abram's name to Abraham which means "father of many." God affirms that His covenant is to be established with Abraham's physical seed. This is to be an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants through Isaac. The land is to be an everlasting possession of Abraham's descendants through Isaac. In future generations, sin may cause the people to lose control of the land, but it will always belong to them. The rite of circumcision is the physical sign of the covenant. In this covenant, God is saying that he is our Almighty God and we are his people. It is a physical reminder to the Israelites of the promises of God's covenant. Within this great covenant, Abraham received the promise of a son, land and descendants.
Surveying the Old Testament reveals the theme of God’s faithfulness to his people. In light of this understanding, the restoration of the Israelites prophesized in the Old Testament is essentially the fulfillment of every covenant with God. This perspective relates to the work of Christ and encourages any follower of God to trust in his faithfulness.
The previous covenant that was given to Adam was destroyed through disobedience. A continuation of the plan of God that started with Adam is now given to Noah. Many generations later we have another covenant given to Abraham. This covenant even though it continues from the creation of Adam, places salvation in order for the entire world. This coven...
God promises Abraham that He will “make your [Abraham’s] offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore” (Genesis 22:17). Abraham is married to Sarah who “was barren; she had no children” (11: 30). Ch...
Towns focused on the Edenic Covenant, before the fall, Adamic Covenant, after the fall, Noahic Covenant, after the flood and the Abramic Covenant, the Eternal covenant. Throughout these covenants one thing seemed to be similar, man failing to do their part on the covenant agreement. Accordingly the entire covenant shows the inability of man to uphold a covenant with God. The final covenant of Abram it is not man who will uphold it, but God. The Abrahamic covenant was sort of a prophecy and it begins in (Genesis 12) up to (Genesis 22). All the redemptive work of Christ at the cross of Calvary was based on this covenant. This covenant is the spring board of all God's blessings, springing forth from it extend to all mankind throughout the ages. Consequently this agreement was an unconditional covenant. This was an agreement where God unconditionally necessitates himself to bring to pass promises, blessings and conditions for his people Towns should have also included the Davidic covenant which is similar to Abrahamic covenant because it is also unconditional, it would have gave his whole argument a full circle. The covenant was between God and Israel, but was made more specifically with David. This covenant expands upon the seeds provisions of the Abrahamic covenant. The Lord promises to establish David's a Kingdom, house and throne forever (2 Samuel
Even though God saw people as evil, he wanted to show his grace. He wanted to separate certain people in the world as His chosen people. “He wanted a chosen people: 1. To whom He might entrust the Holy Scriptures. 2. To be His witness to the other nations. 3. Through whom the promised Messiah could come” (Mears 47). This covenant is made between God and Abram. This covenant marks the beginning history of Israel, God’s chosen people.
Judaism is one of the most ancient religions in the world. Abraham, his descendants, and Moses are believed to have been the founders. According to Jewish beliefs until Abraham man worshiped many Gods. The story begins with Abraham and his wife Sarah trying to conceive a child. When Abraham was 99 and Sarah 90 God came to Abraham and told him they would have a son. After the child was born God again came to Abraham and tested his beliefs by asking him to sacrifice his only son Isaac. Isaac willingly went with Abraham to be sacrificed. Before Abraham could sacrifice Isaac God sent an angel down to stop him. As a reward for his faith God made a covenant with Abraham that he and his descendants would be protected as long as they continued to show faith in him and live a life that was wholesome. Also from this it is said God blessed Abraham with many children. His son Isaac had two sons Jacob and Esau, Jacob who changes his name to Israel had twelve sons. Israel’s had twelve sons they are the “12 tribes of Israel” and their descendants are later known as the Israelites also called Hebrews.
This verse suggests that the children of Israel gave a special and different pledge to God, however the verse doesn’t specify exact time and place. It might have happened after the Primordial Covenant, God might had selected children of Israel and took from them a separate covenant, similar to the prophets’ covenant. Ubbay b. Ka’b had added a new Covenant known as “Latter Covenant” . He explained the first covenant is the primordial covenant while the other covenant is the “Latter Covenant” that occurs during lifetime of humans through the conscious application to the first Covenant. Thus all humans are born universally equally with the recognition to obey God according to the primordial covenant the nature state of all mankind is known as fitra. Contrary to the Sunni perspective, the Mu’stazili Shii believed that the Covenant, didn’t occur in physical representation as was described by Sunni exegetes; it took a symbolic form whereby God didn’t talk. God had cleared in Quranic verse that humans had their first life when they were in their mother’s womb conflicting with the Sunni perspective, whereby God will bring humans to life twice during the covenant and in their mother’s womb . Taking into consideration both perspectives, it is possible that God had gathered humans by their souls and took from them The Primordial Covenant, then brought them to life in their mother’s womb, this had been accepted by most exegetes. The Mu’stazili Shii diverge from Sunni exegesis, by stating that the Covenant was given to particular descendants of Adam connected to those who had polytheist fathers . This covenant raises questions about the prophet Mohamad’s primordial substance as described in other hadith ,“I was a prophet-stated Muhammad- as soon as Adam was between spirit and body” hence Mohammad was the
• The Old Testament and the New Testaments means the old and the new covenants. A covenant is a promise.
Throughout Genesis, God interacts with man and the world, and when he does this, there tends to be a theme of leading to the creation of or the actual creation of covenants with a special person or family line. During the events of these stories, God finds favor with a person or their lineage and makes a promise with that certain person or lineage. These covenants usually benefit both God and the person who God makes the covenant with. For example, in Genesis 12, God makes a covenant with Abraham that continues through his descendants, the other patriarchs. In this specific covenant, Abraham benefits from this because he is promised land, blessings, and descendants. God benefits from this covenant because he now has a lineage that will bring
Jesus fulfills the Covenant by being from the line of David. This was a promise made by God back in the time of God and Jesus fulfills this. In 2 Samuel 7:8-11, 8 “Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth. 10 I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place
There are five aspects of covenant. For the purposes of this paper I am going to be referring to primarily the new covenant that is offered us through Jesus. The first aspect is the parties involved. There are two parties: God and the elect. Unlike the old covenant, the elect goes beyond the Jews. It also includes the gentile, or non-Jew in all the nations. This is one aspect of covenant that has helped shape my worldview. I have spoken to people who believe that God only selects a few privileged people to be saved, and condemns the rest to eternal punishment in hell. I now wholeheartedly believe this to be completely false, and even a heresy. In John 3:16 God uses the phrase “panta ta ethne” which means “all the nations.” There are other places in scripture, for example, when Paul says in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…” He clearly says ‘everyone who believes’ not leaving anyone out. There are places in scripture, such as Ephesians 1:11 that talk about things which are predestined for believers. This verse is commonly taken out of context by those who believe in predestination. He has indeed planned out things He wants those in covenant relationship to accomplish for His kingdom once we accept Jesus and make Him Lord of our life. He does not, however, make the choice beforehand to save some, and damn some to hell! God created us in His image, therefore we have also been given the gift of free will to choose to love Him or love the world. This is the depraved condition of mankind in our fallen state.