Biblical Covenants

Biblical CovenantsHow they fit together

The words Involved

In the Old Testament the Hebrew word is berith In the New Testament the word is diatheke.

The Meanings of the word Covenant

In everyday life- a pact, agreement, or bargain between two parties.

In Biblical studies- a sovereign declaration by God to bring selected individuals, nations, or mankind universally into a particular relationship with Himself and to bring to pass particular works or blessings in keeping with His purpose.

The Kinds of Covenants

General Covenants Shoe Covenant Salt Covenant Blood Covenant

Extra biblical Covenant of Redemption

Biblical

Biblical Covenants

Edenic Covenant- (covenant of works) Gen. 2:15-17 And the LORD God took the man,

and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Biblical Covenants The Adamic Covenant-

So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring [fn] and hers; he will crush [fn] your head, and you will strike his heel.” To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” Adam [fn] named his wife Eve, [fn] because she would become the mother of all the living. The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. Genesis 3:14-21

Biblical Covenants

Abrahamic Covenant- The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your

country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. "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. 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 12:1-3

Biblical Covenants

Mosaic Covenant 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, you [fn] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak. The people all responded together, "We will do everything the LORD has said." So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD. Exodus 19:5-8

Biblical Covenants

The Palestinian Covenant You are standing here in order to enter into a

covenant with the LORD your God, a covenant the LORD is making with you this day and sealing with an oath…. Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20

Biblical Covenants Davidic Covenant

I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders [fn] over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. " 'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever... Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me [fn] ; your throne will be established forever.' " II Samuel 7:4-17

Biblical Covenants The New Covenant

"The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to [fn] them, [fn] " declares the Lord. "This is the covenant I will make with the house 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. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the Lord. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:31-34

The Categories

General or universal- Covenants which deal with the whole of the human race as represented in its federal heads Edenic Covenant- nullified because of the fall Adamic Covenant Noahic Covenant

The Categories

General- Theological covenants- Covenants which deal

with God’s great theocratic purposes in the world Abrahamic Mosaic Palestinian Davidic New

The Characteristics

Edenic Covenant- Administered by Adam in an un-fallen state. Nullified after the fall

Covenants of Grace The Adamic Covenant- Administered by Adam The Noahic Covenant- Administered by Noah

Characteristics continued

The Abrahamic Covenant- Administered by Abraham (Patriarchs) Abraham, Isaac, Jacob

The Mosaic Covenant- Administered by Moses The Palestinian Covenant- Administered by

Moses The Davidic Covenant- Administered by David The New Covenant- Administered by Jeremiah

(the prophets)

General or Universal Covenants

The Edenic Covenant (Gen. 2:15-17) It’s time- From creation to the fall of man It’s Purpose- Adam charged to

Populate the earth (Gen 1:28) Subdue the Earth Exercise dominion over the animal creation Care for garden and enjoy the fruits of it (Gen 1:29;

2:15) Refrain from eating fruit of the tree of knowledge of

good and evil under penalty of death (Gen 2:16-17) Terminated at the fall. Fall made it necessary to

establish Adamic Covenant

General or Universal Covenants

Adamic Covenant It’s time- From fall of man to the millennium It’s Purpose-to set forth the conditions that will be in effect

until the curse of sin is lifted and earth is restored to Edenic conditions.

It’s Provision- Serpent on belly Satan is judged 1st prophecy of Messiah Ground cursed Perspiration Man died spiritually and ultimately physically.

It’s termination- At the millennium when earth is returned to Edenic conditions

General or Universal Covenants

Noaic Covenant Gen. 9:1-19 It’s time- from the flood to the millennium It’s purpose- so Noah and human race would know that

provisions of the Adamic covenant remain in effect, with the exception that human government is responsible for checking sin and violence.

It’s provisions Repopulate earth confirmed Subjection of animal kingdom reaffirmed Man allowed to eat meat, don’t eat blood Sacredness of human life established (capital punishment) Promise to never destroy earth with flood Rainbow Seasons and harvest

It’s termination- At the millennium

The Theological Covenants

Categories of Theological Covenants Minor (controls affairs of man)

Individuals with individuals (Laban and Jacob) Genesis 31:44; David and Jonathan (I Samuel 18:3)

Individuals and groups- Isaac and Abimelech Nations and Nations Marriage (Proverbs 2:17; Malachi 2:14)

Major- Deal with God’s great righteous programs of redemption, Israel, and the establishment of His reign of righteousness on earth.

Major Theological Covenants

Conditional- “If you will…I will” Unconditional- “I will” Characteristics of Major Theological Covenants

A clear, specific declaration of Scripture that a covenant is being made

A specific declaration concerning the application of the covenants both immediate and in the future

Definite, specific, demonstrable, covenant language or phraseology used

No hidden covenants in Scripture.

Examples of Maj. Theo. Covenants

Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12:1-3) unconditional It’s time- From Abraham to the millennium It’s purpose- to guarantee to Israel a nation

forever. It’s provisions

National provisions “I will make of thee a great nation”

Personal provisions “I will make thy name great” Universal provisions- “In thee shall all families of the

earth be blessed” It’s termination- at the end of the millennium

Examples of Maj. Theo. Covenants

The Mosaic Covenant (Exo. 19:5-20:26) It’s time- From Mt. Sinai in the days of Moses to

the crucifixion of Christ It’s Purpose- To show those who had believed the

Abrahamic Covenant how to live and what to do in the event that they sinned

It’s provisions The commandments (righteous will of God) The judgment (the social life of Israel) The Ordinances (The religious life of Israel)

It’s termination- The crucifixion of Christ

Examples of Maj. Theo. Covenants

The Palestinian Covenant (Deut. 27-30) It’s time- From Moses to Millennium It’s purpose- to guarantee Israel Land forever It’s provisions

The Legal Aspects (Deut. 27-29) Immediate/ Conditional

The Grace Aspects (Deut. 30:1-9) Distant/ Unconditional

It’s termination- At the end of the millennium

Examples of Maj. Theo. Covenants

Davidic Covenant (II Samuel 7:4-17) It’s time- From David to Millennium end. It’s Purpose- To guarantee Israel a King forever It’s Provision

A Place (LAND) forever (from Euphrates to the Nile) An unending Dynasty An everlasting Kingdom (government) A Throne forever

It’s Termination- End of the Millennium

Examples of Maj. Theo. Covenants

The New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34) It’s Time- From days of the prophets to the end

of the Millennium It’s Purpose- To guarantee to Israel a National

regeneration It’s provisions

National regeneration National restoration Personal ministry of the Holy Spirit

It’s termination- At the end of the Millennium