Old Testament Covenant

674 Words2 Pages

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…

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…

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

More about Old Testament Covenant

Open Document